Gregory Gathright is a native of Harlingen, Texas and a graduate of Sam Houston State University. Dr. Gathright has served churches in Texas as a director of choral, handbell and instrumental music. His wife Dani is an accomplished musician and graduate of SHSU. The Gathrights serve in the music ministry of FUMC Marble Falls. They have three sons and six grandchildren.

The Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church, Marble Falls, TX is the main performing ensemble of the church. Its 48 members present music in worship and in seasonal presentations, including those of Mr. Martin and Ms. Sorensen. Their director, Gregory Gathright, is in his first year as director of the Choir. The Choir delights in being a part of the DCINY series of concerts in New York on an ongoing basis.

A native of Wister, Oklahoma, Kara Story has performed as a conductor and soloist in venues across the world, including the White House in Washington D.C., the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, the Duomo in Milan, and has completed many tours of the Middle East, Europe, and U.S. A graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Master’s in Choral Conducting, Kara recently completed her first year as Director of Music and Fine Arts at Marvin Methodist Church in Tyler, TX where she resides with her husband, Jonathan, and their three rescue dogs.

The Marvin Chancel Choir has been bringing world class music to the people of Marvin Church and East Texas for over a century. The Choir is renowned for its performances of great sacred choral literature, as well as masterworks including Handel’s Messiah, the Requiems of Verdi, Durufle, Mozart, Faure, and Rutter, the Masses of Mozart and Rossini, and works by contemporary classical composers as well. The Choir has performed in international locations including Austria, England, Greece, Italy, & Switzerland, and has sung on hymn and music festivals across the United States, including at Carnegie Hall.

Director/Composer/Musician Vickie has been with 1st Methodist of Quitman for 2 years. She first performed with DCINY under the direction of Joseph Martin in 2018.

I will be the only one attending this year - part of my choir decided they didn't want to be vaccinated, the others felt they didn't want to travel just yet. I will be coming with my husband - who is a VIP

Brad Nix is a widely-recognized composer, orchestrator, and arranger, and has written for many of the nation’s major publishers. He currently serves as Choral and Keyboard Editor for the Lorenz Corporation, and has well over 200 choral pieces in print, as well as many piano folios and orchestrations. Brad frequently travels throughout the country as a clinician for reading sessions and conferences, and his music has been heard in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the famed St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in central London. He and his wife, Pattie, along with their three children, live in Bastrop, Texas. Learn more about Brad at www.bradnixmusic.com.

A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS is an annual musical event that brings together singers from churches all across Bastrop, TX. Together, these singers form a mass choir, and along with other ensembles and musicians from the area, present a free evening of Christmas music. ​ At the end of each A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS event, a love offereing is taken up and given to a local non-profit group that is making a difference in the lives of the people of Bastrop.

Carol Evans, Director of Music Ms. Carol Evans is Assistant Professor of Music and Choral Director of The Voices of Gwynedd at Gwynedd Mercy University. Ms. Evans has distinguished herself by receiving the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching at Gwynedd Mercy University and also the Gwynedd Mercy University Outstanding Professor of the Year Award. Ms. Evans holds a Masters of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Temple University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. Under the direction of Ms. Evans, the Voices of Gwynedd has expanded into a highly professional choral ensemble presenting quality programs of many different genres. The Voices of Gwynedd has been invited to participate in high profile performances with international recording artists in both the pop and classical fields. Some include: Barry Manilow, Linda Eder, Judy Collins, Sarah Brightman, The Tenors, and with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra on Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and the Verdi Requiem, and with John Rutter conducting the magnificent Requiem by Mozart on the stage of Carnegie Hall. Ms. Evans has also conducted the following major works with choirs and orchestra: Messiah, Elijah, Requiem Masses by Brahms, Schubert, Faure, Mozart, Amahl and the Night Visitors and Godspell. Ms. Evans is a trained lyric soprano and continues to sing professionally in the local Philadelphia area.

The Voices of Gwynedd of Gwynedd Mercy University The Voices of Gwynedd is a 100-member choir representing full and part-time students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Gwynedd Mercy University. Directed by Carol Evans, a seasoned soprano and assistant professor of music in the University’s School of Arts and Sciences, the choir has developed into a highly professional choral ensemble presenting quality programs representing many different genres. Performances by the choir and its musical collaborators are establishing the college as a strong cultural presenter in South Eastern Pennsylvania and the entire Tri-state area. Enriching the campus and the region, the Voices of Gwynedd provide on-campus concerts and events throughout the year, currently attracting its largest audiences ever. In addition, the ensemble has represented the university at a number of high profile regional events. Their most recent regional events include performances at the Philadelphia Phillies games, performances with Barry Manilow on “The Ultimate Manilow” Concert Tour, performances with Broadway singer Linda Eder on her Holiday Tour, the featured choir with Judy Collins on her Christmas Tour and with Sarah Brightman on her HYMN Tour. The group has expanded its repertoire with concert tours to New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Nashville, Boston, Alaska and California. The ensemble was invited to New York City to perform at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, “Music Makers” program and at Carnegie Hall, performing the Mozart Requiem. The choir has also been featured as the opera chorus on many performances of the opera Vanqui, by Leslie Burrs. The Voices of Gwynedd has successfully completed international concert tours to England, Italy, Ireland, Prague, Austria and Spain.

Kenneth Brooks received the Bachelors of Arts in Music Education from Gardner-Webb University and Masters of Arts in Education from Appalachian State University. He received certification in School Administration and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Mr. Brooks retired from teaching choral music after 35 years of service. Mr. Brooks is a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association where is a Past Chairperson of the Choral Section, Music Educators National Conference, and American Choral Directors Association. Mr. Brooks has been the conductor for The Cleveland County Choral Society since 2002.

The Cleveland County Choral Society of Shelby, located in the foothills of the beautiful state of North Carolina, was organized in 1979 to meet the needs in the community for good choral music and to achieve musical excellence in all aspects of choral performance. Through its dedication to excellence in choral music, the Choral society offers 4 major concerts per year, with the purpose to enhance the vocal, musical, and cultural development of Cleveland County and its surrounding areas. Our live performances uplift our members and inspire our audiences. The CCCS creates opportunities for musical training and vocal pedagogy in a challenging, supportive, and enjoyable environment.

Tatiana Hurley is a wife and mother, originally from Chicago residing in Dallas, TX. She has a diverse musical background having trained and performed with both gospel and classical community and professional groups. She credits her mother for her love of choral music, and the church for her soul. Rachel Konchinsky-Pate is a proud military spouse residing in Indiana. She is a veteran of the stage, having spent nearly 30 years performing with community and professional theatre companies and choirs in California, Florida, Indiana, New York, and Ireland. What a treat to return to Lincoln Center for this event!

Rachel and Tatiana are members of the original ensemble from the Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ Choir, a diligent, enthusiastic, and joyous chorus based in San Diego, California. The last time we all sang together was to perform Heather Sorenson’s “Little Lion, Little Lamb” in December 2019! Due to unpredictable circumstances and out of an abundance of caution, the majority of the original group could not be here today. Despite a change in leadership and a great deal of distance between them, Rachel and Tatiana hope to make their dear friends proud and wish they were here!

J. Williams is the Minister of Music at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ in Selma, CA and coordinator for the Selma Community Church Choir. When he isn't doing church work, he freelances as a collaborative pianist for opera and musical theatre productions in the Central Valley and coordinates a concert series at his church. Williams received his B.A. (2014) and M.A. (2016) in Piano Performance from California State University, Fresno.

The Selma Community Church Choir is comprised of members from churches of different traditions, breaking down denominational barriers, uniting through choral music, and sharing it with our communities. All are welcome in the ensemble and "all" means ALL.

Based in Central Texas, Kijana Knight-Torres has led the Austin First SDA and Stonehill SDA Church choirs as director since 2005. Under her leadership the group performs a number of concerts each year for audiences in the area. She is especially passionate about singing in community and encourages singers of all abilities to partner together to make music. She employs creativity in her programming, engaging spoken word, video, instrumental ensembles, and children’s chorus. She has advanced degrees in engineering and is currently working towards a Masters in Choral Conducting.

The Stonehill SDA Church Choir is the main choir of the Stonehill Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pflugerville, TX. The non-auditioned group is diverse in age, experience, and ability. They have performed in various venues around the greater Austin area including the Capitol building, George Washington Carver Museum, and various local churches. The choir specializes in a cappella works as well as accompanied music from a variety of composers from Bach to Moses Hogan. In addition to special programs, the Stonehill SDA Choir performs Easter and Christmas programs annually that engage and involve members from the congregation and surrounding community.

Kim Duggins is the Director of Worship and Fine Arts at Smyrna First United Methodist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. She has served here for thirty-five years, inspiring musicians to lean into their talents and serve God. Her adult and youth choirs perform with musical excellence and share God’s message throughout the U.S. and Canada. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University and is an accomplished hornist and private horn instructor. She resides in Mableton, GA, with her husband, Jeff. They have two adult sons,Thomas and Andrew, who along with her husband accomplished musicians.

New Praise is from Smyrna First United Methodist Church in Smyrna, Georgia and is under the direction of Kim Duggins. This ensemble received invitations in 2017 and 2020 to be the guest choir with composer Heather Sorenson, at the JW Pepper and Pine Lake Music Atlanta conferences. In 2019, Newpraise accepted an invitation to sing Heather Sorenson’s Christmas Dreams at Carnegie Hall. This group performs varied musical styles with excellence, while experiencing the joy of worshiping God through music. NewPraise is grateful to DCINY for the invitation for this Lincoln Center Performance.

Brian Stevenson has been serving as the choir and theater director at Plainfield High School for the past 16 years. Before that, he directed the choir at Portland High School as well as Park Congregational Church. Over his tenure at PHS, the chamber choir has been invited to sing with DCINY at Carnegie Hall 6 times and are very excited to be back and making our debut at Lincoln Center!

The Plainfield High School Chamber Choir is an elite group of young singers that share a vision of creating beautiful music together. This ensemble performs at a wide array of venues throughout the year and always actively seeks to engage the community around us with our music.