Julie Freebern received her Bachelor's degree in music education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst graduating Summa Cum Laude with a full tuition Chancellor’s Talent Scholarship for clarinet performance. In 1999, Julie was presented the Excellence in Teaching Award from Wahconah Regional High School and together with her husband was awarded the NARAS Foundation’s Grammy Signature School Award for outstanding music offerings at the high school level. In 2007, Julie received the Distinguished Music Educator Award from the Yale School of Music and was the 2088 recipient of the Bigelow Fund for Excellence Faculty Grant.

Burr and Burton Academy is an independent, coeducational New England secondary school located in Manchester, Vermont. Committed to exploring the artistic process, the music department’s course of studies include, music history classes, music theory, musician's process, electronic music, audio production as well as a vocal ensemble and instrumental ensemble that present collaborative performances throughout the year including Calling All Dawns presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall in April 2013 and The Drop that Contained the Sea by Christopher Tin presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York at Isaac Stern auditorium at Carnegie Hall in April of 2014.

            Dana W. Taylor has served as director of Vocal Music and Technical Theatre instructor at Mt. Vernon Senior High School for twenty-seven years. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting, each from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN). In 2011 the Educational Theatre Association named Mr. Taylor as recipient of their Founders' Award for significant contributions to theatre education in the United States. In 2014, Mr. Taylor received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Education by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. 
            The Fine Arts Academy at Mt. Vernon Senior High School is comprised of award winning students and faculty in music, theatre and the visual arts. In 2012, the Academy staged the Indiana premiere of "Calling All Dawns" with the Evansville Philharmonic and hosted Christopher Tin as artist in residence. The Mount Vernon Senior High Chamber Choir has particpated in each of the DCINY/Christopher Tin appearances and are thrilled to return this year to David Geffen Hall for an encore performance of "Calling All Dawns".
 

Mattia Lorenzetti had been studying classical piano for eight years, obtaining the “Compimento medio” partial degree in 1997; then he left the music academy, turning his studies to the information technology and keeping his music interests alive by self-teaching choral direction. He has been leading Coro di Villimpenta for 25 years in his spare time, trying to teach his volunteer singers how different voices can sing and stay together in friendship.

Coro di Villimpenta are the parish choir of St. Michael Church in Villimpenta, a village near Mantua, northern Italy. The choir are a friendly and familiar group of about 35 volunteer singers and musicians from 12 to 70 years old. They sing at Sunday services as well as Holy Days, weddings and other special services. At Christmas time, usually the last Saturday before the Christmas day, they perform in a concert they offer as a good wish to the village. The Choir is dynamic with a wide repertoire. Membership is open to anyone who has a love of choral singing.

Coro di Villimpenta would like to give a huge thanks to the their sponsors:

Fondazione Comunità Mantovana
Associazione Socio Culturale Villa Picta
F.lli Giovanardi Snc
RGB Bamboo Srl
Monte dei Paschi di Siena
G.P. I S'ciopadi
Nutritech Srl
Clare SA Video Web Marketing
Ristorante Antico Mulino
Phytogarda Srl
Anonymous Individual
Anonymous Individual

Shannon W. Mack graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music with degrees in composition (BM, 2003) and choral music (MM, 2006). He has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for the past ten years. Mr. Mack is in his sixth year as director of vocal music at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, California.

​The Crescenta Valley High School choral department has a proud tradition of excellence dating back to the school's founding in 1960. The choirs have performed at local, regional, and national festivals, achieving high honors at all levels. Choirs have also toured the United States and Europe. In March 2013, members of the CV choirs toured Rome, Florence, and Venice, Italy where they sang mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

David Holloway is in his thirteenth year as Choral Director at Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington, where he teaches five choirs, Music Technology and directs the musical. He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education. Mr. Holloway is a sought after performer, clinician and guest conductor, and his groups are consistently recognized for their technical excellence and expressiveness. His greatest accomplishments though, are his wonderful wife Patty of sixteen years, and three children, Riley, Caden and Skylar.

The Moses Lake High School Chamber Choir is a 48 member mixed ensemble of students in grades 9-12. This ensemble has built a reputation as one of the premier choirs in the state of Washington, earning top ratings and honors at festivals throughout the northwest and performing at the Washington State Music Educators Conference. Members of this ensemble are consistently selected to participate in the Washington State and All-Northwest Honor Groups and include regional and state solo & ensemble winners and finalists. This marks the group’s second performance with DCINY and they are excited to share the stage and their love of music once again in this beautiful hall.

Graduate of Charles Sturt University-Performance. Nicole taught Children's Drama in the USA. Studied with City of Sydney Studio - John Davies & Florence Taylor AM. Two Recitals in Sydney Town Hall highlighting Gilda's Caro Nome & Mozart's Magic Flute. Moving to Perth she studied under Molly McGirk AM, Nicole successfully became the ABC Young Artist Finalist 2 years running, singing with the Tasmanian & West Australian Symphony Orchestras. As a West Australian Opera Young Artist, she sang in Pearl Fishers, Orpheus in the Underworld, Magic Flute, Il Trovatore, Carmen, and Alcina. Signed with the Australian Opera, she studied under Donna Anna in Don Giovanni & Agatha-‘Die Freischutz’. Musical Theatre Shows include lead roles in Charlie Girl, La Malade Imaginaire, Away, Beach Blanket Tempest, Man of La Mancha, Giles is that you & Some Enchanted Evening. She released 2 CDs as an APRA Full Writer member and holds references from The Juilliard School and Dame Joan Sutherland. Previously having performed at the Sydney Opera House & Parramatta park with Western Sydney Community Choir, Nicole is currently undertaking master class's with ‘Pacific Opera’ Maestro Simon Kenway; sings in Jazz Duo "Sense n Soul"; and recently played Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera. She is the principal teacher at Springwood Singing Studio and the founding director of the Shine Community Choir.

In 2012, singer and teacher Nicole Giezekamp-Bakija awoke from a dream in which she was conducting Ode to Joy. “Odd,” she thought, “I’m a singer.” But shortly afterwards she found herself having a discussion in the Springwood Neighbourhood centre about a needed community choir. A successful community meeting followed later and the choir formed. Many of those who attended that first meeting are coming to New York. Shine is supported by the Blue Mountains City Council and is an activity of the Springwood Neighbourhood Centre. Shine takes its community service to heart, performing regularly at local nursing homes, in Blackheath’s renowned Choir Festival and carol singing in Springwood’s shopping heart also part of the Western Sydney Community Choir. “I can attest to their hard work, commitment, reliability and community spirit,” says state MP Trish Doyle. Now the Shine Choir is taking that dream to the world community, accepting an invitation from Distinguished Concerts International New York to perform at New York’s Lincoln Centre in April 2016. “Opera Australia wholeheartedly endorses the Blue Mountains Shine Choir’s endeavours … to make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality.” Lyndon Terracini, Artistic Director, Opera Australia.

Robert Bakker (1957) studied Recorder, Piano and Music-Education at the Amsterdam Conservatory in The Netherlands. He also trained for choir- and orchestra direction. Since 1980 he weekly directs several choirs among which his own “Voice Company”. Rehearsing with him is sheer entertainment.

The Voice Company is an easy-accessible choir that works on a project-base that mostly taken no longer than ten weeks. Projects close with several concerts. During its sixteen-years-existence, performances have been given of (a.o.) Matthew Passion (Bach) The Armed Man, Stabat Mater, The Peacemakers (Jenkins) Misa Criolla (Ramirez) [also in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam] Jesus Christ Superstar (Lloyd Webber) Abba, Beatles and Queen In 2014 the choir performed successfully in the world famous Carnegie Hall.

Mr. David B. Weaver, Conductor A native of Windsor, Ontario, Mr. David Weaver has taught music in London since 1989. He has performed in numerous tours across Canada, the USA, and Europe and his choirs have received many honours and awards. He received his B. Music & Governor’s Medal from U. Windsor, M. Music Choral Conducting from U. Cincinnati, Associate Music Piano Performance from Western Ontario Conservatory of Music and honoured with the Award of Distinction in 2013 from the Thames Valley District School Board. Mr. Weaver would like to thank the Beal and London Singers, his parents, and all supporters who helped us make it to New York.

The London Singers - London, Ontario, Canada Our mission is to nurture the spirit of our audiences through the joy and gift of music. Our chief aim is put young people in the midst of great music through collaboration with the Beal Singers and other community partners. Masterworks from Bach to Vivaldi have been performed annually with full orchestra since the choir was founded in 2000 by Director David B Weaver. Together with the Beal Singers, the Choir represented Ontario at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Canada Day 2014 and at Carnegie Hall (Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass, Earl Rivers, Conductor) in 2010 and are delighted to return to NYC to perform at Lincoln Centre. HB Beal Secondary School Singers – London, Ontario, Canada H.B. Beal is a large inner city high school known for its excellence in visual and performing arts for the past 103 years. The Beal Singers are a diverse group of grade 9-12 students and have received numerous awards and honours in the Kiwanis Music Festival and Ontario Provincials. Each year, the Beal Singers join with The London Singers to perform major choral masterworks including the the Canadian Premiere of Calling All Dawns by Christopher Tin (with full orchestra)! Special thanks to DCINY and all who have helped make this dream to perform in New York a reality.