The St. Paul Kantorei has been the adult choir at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Addison, IL for many years. The church began in 1906, with the current building built in 1908. Today, it is a small choir of 10-15 members, and an integral part of its own support system, through prayer for each other and those around us in need. They are dedicated to providing an enhanced worship experience through music for the congregation, including cantatas, tenebrae services, and special services.

Pepper Choplin is a full time composer, conductor and humorist. He has gained a reputation as one of the most creative writers in church music today. Beginning his music training at the age of four, he grew up singing and playing piano, trumpet, guitar and banjo. With a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

With a diverse musical background, Choplin incorporates varied styles such as folk, Gospel, classical, and jazz. His published work includes over 275 anthems for church and school choir with 19 church cantatas and a book of piano arrangements. Over 100 groups have commissioned him to write original works for them. An original hymn, "Come to the Water" appears in the recent hymnal, Celebrating Grace. His anthems consistently appear in the top seller lists of publishers and distributors. Since 1991, his choral music has sold several million copies. Each week, thousands of singers present his music in churches and schools in the United States and around the world.

In 2013, he made his Carnegie Hall debut in a joint concert with Joseph Martin. His Lincoln Center presentations include Our Father in 2015 and Go Sing It on the Mountain in 2016. He visits many schools, churches and conferences to conduct and to entertain. Beyond his choral music, Choplin has produced two humorous CDs and an inspirational recording. In his solo concerts, he moves audiences with his powerful ballads and his clever humor.

David L Shorts JR has been singing in church since he was 8 years old. He has been singing with the Warrenton Chorale for the past 10 years. David has a wide vocal rage from bass to Soprano. He currently sings in the praise band and Chanel Choir at Warrenton United Methodist Church in Warrenton, VA. He has worked at Giant Food for over 20 years and is very involved in the Warrenton Community. He has an inside jungle of plants with over 11 varieties. 150 plants in total in Brandy Station, VA.

Rachel Di Silvio has been singing in church since she was 5 years old and hasn’t stopped since. She has been singing with the Warrenton Chorale for the past 3 years. She currently leads worship at her non-denominational Christian church in Northern Virginia, where she sings, plays piano, plays guitar, and writes music. She is a high school teacher for Loudoun County Public Schools, where she teaches biology and science research courses. Rachel lives with her husband, three children, and a cat, who keep her very busy, in Warrenton, Virginia.

Michael Davis, conductor, has served as Assistant Artistic Director for the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir since 2002. He has supported choral preparation for conductors including Eric Stark, Nicolas McGegan, Mario Venzago, Erich Kunzel, Jack Everly, Patrick Quigley, Michael Christie, and Krzysztof Urbański. He was Chorusmaster for the Symphonic Choir’s world premiere of Mohammed Fairouz’s commissioned oratorio Zabur (released by Naxos Records 2016) and subsequent Carnegie Hall premiere. His work conducting the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra was included on Festival of Carols (Naxos 2019) featuring the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Sylvia McNair. Davis’s introduction to Carnegie Hall was in 1997 as a tenor for Robert Shaw’s Festival Chorus, with his conducting debut following in 2001. Through Carnegie Hall’s Professional Choral Workshops, Davis also sang for James Conlon, Sir Neville Marriner, Andre Previn, Peter Schreier, Charles Dutoit, Robert Spano and Chorusmasters Ann Howard Jones, Vance George, John Oliver, and Norman Mackenzie. Davis has managed and/or performed in concert tours nationally (44 states) and internationally (Europe, Asia, Canada). He is Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Noblesville, Indiana and holds degrees in vocal performance and the Doctor of Arts degree in Choral Conducting and Higher Education Administration from Ball State University. 

The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir is proud to be one of the nation’s most established and dynamic musical institutions. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric Stark, the Choir is among the most active symphonic choruses in the United States reaching over 20,000 persons each season through performances, education, and community engagement programs. The 160+ volunteer singers demonstrate the Choir’s commitment to musical excellence through their talent and dedication during each 10-month season. The Symphonic Choir is led by a professional staff and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Founded in 1937 at the Orchestra’s request to perform the great choral-orchestral repertoire, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir continues to be the primary choral partner of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO). In 2018, the Choir joined the ISO at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.) for SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras. In 2015, the Symphonic Choir commissioned and premiered Mohammed Fairouz’s oratorio Zabur, which was released internationally by Naxos Records (2016) and also featured the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. In 2019, Naxos records released Festival of Carols, featuring the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and Grammy award-winning soprano Sylvia McNair.

Alan Alder is an assistant professor of teaching in the School of Music at Ball State University, where he servers as Producer/Director of the world-renowned Ball State University Singers, Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors, and teaches Music History. Under Dr. Alder’s direction, the University Singers won the gold medal at the 2012 World Choir Games, making them the World’s Number One Collegiate Entertainment Organization. The group also won the top prize at the Xinghai International Choral Championships in Guangzhou China, making them the most awarded collegiate entertainment group in competition history. In 2018, the University Singers toured England and performed a concert with The Funky Voices, one of the world’s premiere pop music choirs.

Alder is a sought-after adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and has conducted and performed with artists such as Grammy Award winner Sandi Patty, Broadway’s Eden Espinosa, Doc Severinsen, and jazz legends J.J. Johnson and Jiggs Whigham. Alder published The Show Choir Handbook in 2016, and Essentials in Music Appreciation in 2017. He is thrilled to be making his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with such an outstanding group!

Nearly sixty years ago, the Indiana General Assembly elevated Ball State Teacher’s College to the status of “University.” In anticipation of the event, a new musical organization under founding director Don Neuen, was created in honor of the University.

The current cast of twenty-four singers, thirteen instrumentalists, five technicians and wardrobe personnel are under the direction of Dr. Alan L. Alder. At home, across the state, and around the world, the group is known as Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors. They have performed and captivated audiences all over the world, and hold the title of the World’s Number One Collegiate Entertainment Organization.

Representing Atlantic Harmonies Studio from Wells, Maine are our highly accomplished middle school choir and private vocal lesson members. Atlantic Harmonies Studio strives to provide a comprehensive music education, tailored to meet individual students' goals, with ample opportunities for performance and enrichment.

Laura Izaguirre-Pihowich (b. Caracas, Venezuela) is the Middle School Choir Director at Hong Kong International School in Hong Kong. She has directed church choirs, and primary and secondary school choirs locally and internationally. Her ensembles have performed on three continents and were selected for their first Distinguished Concerts International event in 2019. Laura has organized International Schools festivals in Venezuela and served as guest conductor at choral festivals in Shenzhen, Caracas, and Sao Paulo. She is an active member of the Association for Music in International Schools and ACDA. Laura holds a Bachelor’s of Music degree from McGill University and a Master’s from Westminster Choir College. She adapted and published The Music Tree Series in Spanish for Warner Bros. publications, edited by Alfred Music.

Hong Kong International School Choirs embody the school’s ideals of resilience, collaboration, and creativity. A robust program of varied curricular and co-curricular ensembles with over 300 members, their mission statement is “to foster a fun and harmonious community of passionate collaborators who enjoy singing and sharing their love for music, while rising to challenges in the pursuit of musical excellence.” HKIS Honor Choirs participate regularly at festivals across Asia and Europe and are thrilled to be part of Distinguished Concerts International performances again, persevering through unusual circumstances due to the global pandemic.