The Chapelwood United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, based in Houston, Texas, is a distinguished ensemble known for its artistry, versatility, and passionate commitment to worship. Under the leadership of Director of Music and Organist Cameron Cody, the choir leads weekly services, presents major concerts, and tours nationally and internationally. Their repertoire spans sacred masterworks, contemporary anthems, and collaborative performances with orchestras and guest artists. With a worldwide following through social media and nearly one million combined views, the choir’s ministry extends far beyond its sanctuary. At Carnegie Hall, they performed the world premiere of SOLAS by Heather Sorenson, commissioned to honor Cody’s ten years at Chapelwood.

Cameron “Cam” Cody is an internationally recognized concert artist, conductor, and organist from Warner Robins, Georgia. He serves as Director of Music and Principal Organist at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, leading a nationally recognized music ministry for a 7,000-member congregation. Endorsed by both Shigeru Kawai Pianos and the Allen Organ Company, he is a sought-after performer, conductor, and clinician. Cameron has appeared at Carnegie Hall, collaborated with renowned artists and ensembles, and tours extensively with programs celebrating sacred music, Gospel, Broadway, and classical repertoire while inspiring a global online audience through his performances and ministry.

Since 1987, the Oconomowoc Community Choir (OCC) has united singers of all ages through the joy of singing. With vibrant members of middle school through senior vocalists, this non-auditioned intergenerational ensemble brings music to life through concerts and community events throughout Wisconsin's Lake Country. OCC's repertoire spans sacred anthems, holiday classics, Broadway hits, pop favorites, and more. OCC actively supports area nonprofits, as well as future musicians with an array of scholarship opportunities, including those studying music as part of their career at the collegiate level. Driven by connection and a passion for song, OCC is "choir family" for all.

Tracy Garon is an accomplished music director, serving both as artistic director of the Oconomowoc Community Choir (OCC) and proud public school educator, based in southeastern Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Wisconsin Lutheran College and a Master of Education with an Adaptive Education License from Carroll University. Passionate about community arts, Garon frequently collaborates as a music/pit director and pianist in various musical theater productions, including the US Midwest Premiere of The Clockmaker's Daughter by Webborn & Finn. Garon is grateful to perform alongside OCC members in the debut of Jubilaeum, by Heather Sorenson.

The Richardson Community Chorale is a non-auditioned choral ensemble based in the Dallas metro area that strives to present FREE, quality choral performances for Richardson and the surrounding communities. Our goal is to make Richardson a singing city!

Ian Gill is the founding Music and Artistic Director of the Richardson Community Choral in Richardson Texas. He is a conductor, singer and guitarist who received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida in Music Education and Guitar and a Master’s of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Gill has conducted and performed in 31 states as well as throughout England, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Poland and Australia and currently serves as the Associate Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Richardson.

Our GCS fine arts program is very successful. We have everything from full band and full choir. Those ensembles are also divided into small ensembles that play through the school year. We have performed and our state competitions and have moved on to our national competition winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes in several catergories.

Beginning his 30th year of teaching, Mr. Harmony enjoys seeing growth in each of his ensembles. He has been the orchestra director of his church, band and choir director of his school and has enjoyed conducting all their favorite musicals. In addition to directing, he performs with several groups such as The Huntington Symphony, Brass Band of the Tri-State, and The Lincoln Brass. In his spare time, he enjoys restoring vintage cast iron skillets and training his Boykin Spaniel, Java. He is married to Jody Harmony and they have 2 young men and 1 sweet daughter-in-law.

The Dallas Baptist University Choral Program has a storied history of excellence since the university moved to its current campus in 1965. The university offers the flagship, auditioned tour ensemble - The DBU Chorale - as well as the Patriot (Tenor/Bass) Chorus and Liberty (Treble) Singers. The choirs frequently combine to perform larger, extended works as well as being showcased at major university events. The DBU Choirs perform an annual Christmas Festival with orchestra and have recently premiered works by Michael Trotta as well as pieces by student and alumni composers.

Dr. Joshua Brown has served as Director of Choral Studies at Dallas Baptist University since 2023 where he teaches conducting, choral literature and directs the DBU Chorale and Patriot Chorus. He holds degrees from Dallas Baptist, Baylor and the University of North Texas. His choirs have performed at Southwest ACDA, TMEA, Carnegie Hall and the White House. Dr. Brown is frequently invited to serve as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator and collaborative pianist.

The Chamber Choir at Oxford High School consists of students from grades 9-12 from diverse backgrounds and interested across the school community. This group is dedicated to musical excellence, and consistently earns superior ratings at adjudicated choral festivals. The Chamber Choir combines with the OHS Orchestra to perform a major choral-orchestral work each year, as part of the Masterworks Concert Series. Past performances include Mozart's Requiem (2026), Handel's Messiah (2025), and Elaine Hagenberg's Illuminare (2024).

Dr. W. Thomas Ardrey is in his 13th year leading the choir program at Oxford High School He holds degrees from Auburn University (BME) and the University of Mississippi (MM, PhD). Dr. Ardrey is a member of ACDA, NAFME, AGO, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He loves working with his wife, Dr. Hannah Ardrey, who is the choral director at Oxford Middle School and the 2020 Mississippi Teacher of the Year. They are both so proud of their students for participating in this experience with DCINY!

The choirs has performed Handel’s Messiah with DCINY at Carnegie Hall, performed at the Alta Pustoria International Choir Festival in Italy as well as many performances in Winnipeg MB.

Rhonda Head is from Opaskwayak Cree Nation and formed the Indigenous youth choir over 4 years. Rhonda is a multi award winning recording artist with 58 international music awards, and is a member of the Recording Academy.

The choir at Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church is composed of 50 volunteer choir members. They are a group of people that desire to use their voices to help lead worship every week, with the prayer of drawing those that attend closer to Christ. In addition to weekly rehearsals and services, this choir holds various concerts throughout the year.

Amy Reynolds received her BA in Music Education from the University of South Carolina in 1996. She taught elementary, middle, and high school chorus and orchestra as well as drama and music theory for 20 years before being called into full time church music. Currently, Amy is the Director of Music and Arts at Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church in Irmo, SC.

The Soddy UMC choir is comprised of extremely devoted members who enhance the weekly worship services with their beautiful voices. The all-volunteer group has a deep desire to provide a successful music ministry to the congregation as well as the community. A variety of music is performed throughout the year with cantatas and special music events. This is the second time the choir is participating in a DCINY performance.

Carla Anderson has been a volunteer pianist and choir director since her teenage years. This is her third time to perform with DCINY. She has been married to Mike for 43 years. They have one adult son, Kyle.

The Saint Paul UMC Chancel Choir provides worship music from August through May and presents several additional concerts each season. They are active in Lincoln’s music community and have enjoyed collaborating with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Abendmusik, Lincoln Choral Artists, the Lincoln Boys Choir, and other regional ensembles. Premiering new choral works and works of cultural art are especially important to them as part of their commitment to supporting living composers and diverse cultures. Their repertoire is varied, spanning classical, gospel, jazz, and genres in between.

Dr. Mary Young is Director of Music and Worship Arts at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Adjunct Professor of Music at Concordia University, Nebraska. A conductor, pianist, singer, and lecturer, her research focuses on Native American choral music and collaboration with Native composers and communities. She is co-editor of the Native American Choral Series with Hinshaw Music and founded the First Nations Choral Festival. Her work also includes research on underrepresented composers for the Institute for Composer Diversity and the New York Choral Consortium. Outside of music, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and traveling.

The Master’s Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Marius Bahnean, is an auditioned choir representing students from almost every academic major at the university. During its annual tours, the Chorale has traveled to various regions of the United States, to Israel every four years, and to the United Kingdom, Spain, Albania and Russia. In addition to performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, the Chorale has been featured in recordings with Bob Krogstad, Joni Eareckson Tada, Keith and Kristin Getty, Matt Redman, and for a special television segment for Wretched TV.

Dr. Marius Bahnean serves as the Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at The Master’s University, Newhall, CA. He is a conductor, musicologist, and educator specializing in Early and Baroque music. A versatile performer, he frequently leads period-instrument ensembles from the keyboard. His recent scholarship includes the reconstruction of Christoph Graupner’s Passion Cantatas and research into Medieval and Renaissance English music. Dr. Bahnean has presented at international conferences and actively adjudicates across North America and Europe. He holds a D.M.A. in Conducting and Musicology from Louisiana State University, with further studies under renowned mentors at Tafelmusik, King’s College, Cambridge, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The Madison Presbyterian Church Choir is a continually growing and vital part of our worship life. This multigenerational ensemble draws members from all walks of life—teachers, lawyers, professional musicians, and more—united by a shared love of music and ministry. Together, they bring a versatile range of repertoire to worship, from traditional hymns and classical anthems to contemporary sacred music, offering a rich and varied musical voice to the congregation each week.

Karisa Seymour is in her 18th year at Morgan County Middle School in Madison, Georgia, leading band and choral programs that consistently earn Superior ratings at GMEA evaluations, with students selected to All-State and District Honor ensembles. Her groups have performed at the Georgia Governor's Mansion and Macon Cherry Blossom Festival. Named 2016-2017 MCMS Teacher of the Year, she was inducted into Phi Beta Mu in 2024. She's active in Sigma Alpha Iota, NAfME, and GMEA. She holds degrees from the University of Georgia, VanderCook College of Music, and Piedmont University. She is the Music Director at Madison Presbyterian Church and lives in Madison with her husband, Robert, and their three adult children.

The Cantata Choir of Arvada United Methodist Church in Arvada, Colorado completed a tour of Ireland and Scotland in 2025 and was invited to perform on the Concert Series of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, Colorado in 2024. They have also been invited to perform the Brahms Requiem with the Arvada Chorale and Amahl and the Night Visitors with Loveland Opera. In 2024, the Cantata Choir presented the Colorado premiere of Taylor Scott Davis’ Magnificat. Other recent large works performed include Michael John Trotta’s The Seven Last Words of Christ and Heather Sorenson’s Requiem.

Timothy Kennedy is a Choral Conductor, Stage Director, Music Director, Performer, Playwright and Teaching Artist. As a Music Director, Kennedy has conducted ensembles and musicals at Loveland Opera, Pensacola Opera, Ovation West, Louisiana State University, and University of West Florida. As a solo performer, he has been seen at the Graz Music Festival, Linz Choral Festival, Colorado Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, High Point University, Louisiana State University, Shreveport Summer Music Festival, New Opera Festival di Roma, Pensacola Opera, Natchez Opera, Arvada Chorale, and Northwest Florida Symphony.

The choir has been an important presence throughout the century-long history of Gramling Methodist Church. Despite its small size, the church has supported a vibrant music ministry. The choir contributes a wide range of music, from Handel’s Messiah to toe-tapping gospel anthems. The group is proudly volunteer, without audition requirements, but holds to a high performance standard. The earliest appeal for choir members in 1932 stated, “You do not need a trained voice to help. You need only a consecrated voice.” This remains the credo of these dedicated singers. An accomplished pianist/organist, Ann Hodge has served as accompanist for more than 50 years. She holds a degree from Furman University.

Mindy Burgin has served Gramling Methodist Church as choir director and pianist since 2013 and has worked as a church musician since her college years. She started her musical journey with piano and cello lessons as a child and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance alongside her ongoing cello studies. Also a non-profit director (www.kirabokids.org) and ICU nurse, Mindy finds continuous joy and amazement in the quality of music the musicians of Gramling create together.

The Covington First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir is the main Sanctuary Choir and leads in traditional worship weekly. The completely volunteer choir presents cantatas annually and participates in special worship services around the metro Atlanta area.

Dr. Nathan S. Autry is in his 14th year as the Director of Music Ministries at Covington First United Methodist Church. At CFUMC he oversees all worship music and conducts the Chancel Choir. Dr. Autry holds degrees in Choral Conducting, Music Education, and Educational Leadership. He is in his 22nd year as an Educator and currently serves as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Sprayberry High School in the Cobb County School District in Marietta, Ga.

DVPC is a small church nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern VA, with a huge heart for giving praise and glory to God since 1832.  For annual Christmas cantatas, teenage boys and girls join our choir family, giving them an opportunity to learn to sing, and praise God with us. In 2024 we joyfully presented a Heather Sorenson cantata, which providentially led us to the once in a lifetime opportunity for 8 teenagers and 15 adults to sing about the birth of Jesus at Carnegie Hall. Director Kimberly Saufley, with friend and co-Director Olivia Donald, lead the group.

Kimberly Saufley is the music director at Draper’s Valley Presbyterian Church in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. She majored in Bible/Religion, with a minor in Music from King College in Bristol TN. She is a talented soprano, having sung in choirs, one of which toured through Europe. She has also sung in a worship team, and performed the National Anthem for US Navy Change of Command ceremonies. She homeschooled her eight children, teaching music in various ways through the years, and currently directs the DVPC Youth and Adult choirs. Ps 16:6 …the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…

Amelia Rollings Bigler, PhD, MM, PAVA-RV, serves as Director of the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church Myrtle Beach and Associate Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at Coastal Carolina University. She holds a PhD in Vocal Pedagogy from The University of Kansas and an MM in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from The Pennsylvania State University. An award-winning voice pedagogue and published researcher, she is the founder and director of the Center for Group-Voice Pedagogy and Research and a past president of the Pan-American Vocology Association. Learn more at www.ameliarollingsbigler.com.

This church choir out of Highlands Ranch, Colorado is one of the finer church choirs in the Denver Area. At its full size it has 180 members. This choir has traveled to the Lincoln Center, Italy, the UK and has previously performed at Carnegie Hall.

Mark Zwilling is Director of Music and the Arts and Principal Organist at St. Andrew United Methodist Church. He holds four degrees in music. He has served the St. Andrew congregation for 26 years. He oversees a program of 18 choirs and ensembles, which have over 400 participants each week. Mark has accompanied for the National Endowment for the Arts, and maintains an active private studio in piano, voice, and organ.

The Chancel Choir of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC directed by Justin Wham.

Justin has lead choirs and musicians for over 30 years in Charleston, SC. He is the Director of Music at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Artistic Director of the Holy Spirit in Harmony Concert Series and founder of the Lowcountry Lutheran Choir combining over 100 voices from all over the Charleston and surrounding areas. He is classically trained in piano and organ performance and owner of Flowers and Events by Justin Wham.

The Lord of Life Choir provides musical leadership for the traditional worship services at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas. A mostly volunteer ensemble, they sing a wide variety of music and participates in the many liturgical services throughout the year.

Daniel J. Fenn has been the Director of Worship and the Arts at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas since January 2019. He studied choral conducting with Anton Armstrong at St. Olaf College as part of his master of sacred music degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dan also studied organ at Mississippi College and the University of Houston. He has been very active in organizations such as Choristers Guild, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and is a past Dean of the American Guild of Organists in Houston. The son of two church musicians, Dan became the organist of his home church in Mississippi at the age of twelve and has been an active church musician ever since.