Todd Arant serves as the Director of Traditional Worship Arts at Apex United Methodist Church in Apex, NC, where he oversees a growing worship arts ministry including vocal and instrumental choirs for adults, youth, and children. Todd earned the Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University and the Master of Music degree from Emory University, and he recently completed his Doctorate in Worship Studies from the Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, FL. Todd serves as the President of the North Carolina Chapter for the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts and also serves on the board of directors for Choristers Guild.

The Apex UMC Chancel Choir is the primary adult vocal choir of Apex United Methodist Church in Apex, NC. The choir provides musical leadership for two traditional worship services each Sunday and also presents music for special services during Advent/Christmas and Holy Week/Easter. The Chancel Choir is comprised of 65 volunteer singers who rehearse together weekly in preparation for worship and sings a variety of sacred choral repertoire.

 James D. Moyer, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, is a veteran teacher of 30 years and is in his 18th year as Director of Choral Music at Pennsbury High School. An inaugural inductee into the Westminster Choir College Music Education “Hall of Fame” in 2014, Jim holds degrees from Westminster Choir College (BM Music Education voice/organ) and the University of Oklahoma (MM choral conducting).

The Concert Choir is made up of Junior and Senior students from the nearly 400 singers in the Pennsbury High School Choral Music Department. It is one of seven choirs at Pennsbury. Recent performances venues include Thomaskirche (Leipzig, Germany), Leipzig Gewnadhaus, Smetana Hall (Prague, Czech Republic), Carnegie Hall and annual performances at the Princeton University Chapel. The Concert Choir has worked under guest conductors Joseph Flummerfelt, Dennis Shrock, James Jordan, Ron Dirk-Entleutner, Joe Miller and James Whitbourn. The Pennsbury Concert Choir was hailed by Joseph Flummerfelt as “one of the finest high school programs in the country” in 2013.

The Pennsbury Community Chorus (PCC) was founded in September 2000 by James Moyer and John McDonnell to provide a forum for talented singers in Lower Bucks County. James Moyer serves as the Artistic Director of the PCC. The group typically comprises 50-75 area residents, including Pennsbury students, graduates, teachers, parents, staff, and friends of the Pennsbury Community. Performances include a variety of choral repertoire and literature, often with guest soloists and orchestras. Recent works have included the Requiems of Mozart and Faure, the Magnificats of Pergolesi, Bach and Rutter, and Orff's Carmina Burana.

Paula Young has been involved in church music for most of her life. As a National Board Certified Music Teacher and organist at First Baptist Church, Paula took on the role of music director in January 2015. Under her direction, the Sanctuary Choir has increased membership, attended choral music and instrumental workshops. In addition to the Sanctuary Choir, Paula directs the Joysingers, Youth, Young Disciples, and Handbell Choirs.

For over 100 years, First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir has been the leader for Sunday Morning Worship. A volunteer choir, members range in age from twenty to eighty. Their repertoire includes a variety of church music styles from contemporary to cantatas. They also attend special clinics throughout the year.

The 60-voice First Baptist Church, Wilmington Chancel Choir maintains a musical tradition that goes back to the founding of the church in 1808. In addition to leading in worship each Sunday, the Chancel Choir presents musical offerings for special services and events, including their annual 3-night offering in December, “Christmas at First Baptist.” With a 40-piece orchestra and over 2000 attendees each year, the Choir uses this opportunity to bring Christmas cheer to the greater Wilmington community. The FBCW Chancel Choir is looking forward to singing at the Lincoln Center, and to bringing their Christmas spirit to New York!

Jeanette Gross is Minister of Music at First Congregational Church in Wallingford, Ct. She earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in organ performance from the Hartt School of Music, and her MA from Syracuse University. She studied organ with Arthur Poister while at Syracuse, and Ludgar Lohmann at Hartt. In her twenty-three years as organist and choir director in Wallingford, Dr. Gross has built a substantial multi-generational choral and music program. Her production of large-scale musicals (Sound of Music, Godspell and others) involve church members from ages three to ninety-three. Upcoming in the fall of 2016 is Fiddler on the Roof. Her choir has also performed many of the works of Pepper Choplin and other contemporary composers.

The First Congregational Church Ensemble is a representative group of members from the Frist Congregational Church Chancel Choir, Wallingford, CT. The full choir consists of 23 members and performs weekly at church services and special functions. The full choir has performed a multitude of Pepper Choplin's works: 'Once Upon A Tree', 'I Hear The Prophet Calling', 'Come Walk With Me', and 'One Silent Night'. Their repertoire also includes contemporary and baroque cantatas as well as a multitude of pieces familiar to all. The Ensemble is honored to be performing this concert under the direction of Maestro Pepper Choplin.

Tim has been at First UMC in Auburn, Indiana for two years working as the Worship Arts Director. His passion for music began in college and has been leading worship in churches for ten years. He previously worked as the Music/Fine Arts teacher at Shekinah Christian School in Plain City, Ohio and holds a B.A. in Church Music at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Outside of music, Tim enjoys sports and attending theater/musical performances with his wife, Lindsey.

The First UMC Cantata Choir is made up of approximately 30 singers of all ages, with members ranging from our Chancel Choir to singers from the Auburn, Indiana community. This choir typically performs special works during the Christmas and Easter seasons which includes the yearly Christmas cantata at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. This Christmas Eve tradition has become one of the most anticipated events of the year for the whole community.

Larry G. Dickens has served as a minister of music for over thirty years in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. For 15 years before joining the faculty at Campbell University Divinity School, he led the music ministry of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC, where he oversaw the work of twenty-two music groups and the Snyder Music Academy. Campbell University became an integral part of Larry’s life long before joining the faculty. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree at Campbell before completing two degrees at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. (Master of Divinity/Master of Church Music, Doctor of Ministry). He considers returning to the Campbell campus to teach church music and worship a huge honor and a great opportunity to “pay it forward.” Dr. Dickens has served as a guest conductor with the Anderson Symphony, Beaufort Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, and the Fayetteville Symphony, and he is the founding director of the Snyder Orchestra. Choirs under his direction have toured in over 20 states and have taken music/mission trips to England, Trinidad & Tobago, Germany, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. He has also served as the director of the North Carolina Baptist All State Youth Choir.

The Hayes Barton Chancel Choir provides choral music for worship every Sunday in Raleigh, North Carolina. They perform regularly with regional choirs and local orchestras. They are featured each week in a local television broadcast viewed by an audience of over 25,000. 

Campbell University Divinity School Singers is an auditioned ensemble of graduate students who are pursuing a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degree. They lead chapel services weekly and participate in various choral festivals. Many of these students are pursuing a Concentration in Church Music as part of their degree curriculum. In 2014 the Singers performed with selected choirs at the National Cathedral in Washington,DC. This past summer they were featured in the Oasis Music and Worship Conference at Campbell University.

Peggy Marshall has served as Director of Music Ministries at Meridian Street UMC for 11 years. She has also served in Methodist churches in Missouri, Iowa, and Colorado before settling in Indianapolis. Peggy studied vocal performance and piano in Missouri and Colorado, holding degrees in both areas. She has sung in various community groups, organized and directed community choirs, and sung the National Anthem for the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers. She is honored and humbled for her choir to be part of this New York premiere!

Meridian Street Chancel Choir is 33 voices strong and still growing! They sing at two worship services every Sunday morning as well as special services for Christmas, Easter, and throughout the year. They recently presented the Rutter Requiem and portions of Handel's Messiah during worship. One of their favorite cantatas is Pepper Choplin's 'Night of the Father's Love', which they have sung at Christmas numerous years. Members of the Chancel Choir are thrilled and honored to be a part of this wonderful presentation!

Jeff Beshore holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education Degree from Kent State University. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists holding certificates of Service Playing and Colleague. Jeff is currently in his 21st year of service to the Minerva United Methodist Church as music director, which includes the roles of playing the organ, directing the choir, children's choir and hand bell groups.

The Chancel Choir of Minerva UMC sings three to four Sundays of the month from September to May. The Chancel Choir currently has 19 active members. The choir performs cantatas for Christmas and Easter worship service as well as music for special occasions.

Dr. Marcy Mittelstadt is the Director of Music Ministry at Mt. Zion UMC in Cornelius, NC. Prior to serving Mt. Zion, she was Director of Worship Arts and Programming at St. Lukes UMC in Memphis,TN. Dr. Mittelstadt has extensive experience in higher education in vocal and choral music and academic administration. She has degrees from Lawrence University Conservatory of WI; University of WI-Madison and the University of Memphis. Her vocal teachers include the late Eleanor Steber and Earl Coleman. In addition she has sung for Master Classes with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Todd Duncan.

The Chancel Choir of Mt. Zion UMC is a dedicated volunteer groups of singers that sing fro worship each Sunday and for special occasions throughout the year. Mt. Zion UMC is an 1800 member congregation located in a suburb of Charlotte, NC. This church recently celebrated the 189th anniversary of its founding.

Director Todd Shively has been with The Choir at Trinity UMC since 2005, first as a performer and accompanist, then as Co-Director with Robert Olson before accepting the position of Director in 2013. Born into a family of musicians, his father Jerry is an accomplished choral director and pianist and Todd’s mother Ann shares his passion for organ and piano performance. A love of choral music was a gift given to him freely by the many musical mentors in his life. Mr. Shively believes that singing in community is one of the purest and deepest ways to experience your humanity.

Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Ballard in Seattle, Washington, The Choir At Trinity UMC is a welcoming community that thrives through its diversity. Open to singers of all skill levels, this dynamic and fun-seeking group has developed a taste for musical excellence that can’t be quenched. Their sell-out Christmas concert, The Festival of Light, has become a centerpiece of the holiday season in Ballard. With a particular focus on community building, expression, acceptance and silliness, the choir has grown from a steadfast group of 12 singers in 2011 to a current roster of over 35 performers.