Rosemary Hughes, mezzo-soprano, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Piano from Valdosta (GA) State University and a Master of Education in English from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. She is in her ninth season as a member of the Greenville Chorale and the Chorale Chamber Ensemble. Rosemary is the Director of Music and Arts at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church. Before moving to Greenville, Rosemary performed for nine seasons with The Choral Society of Pensacola (FL) as accompanist, flutist, and vocalist. She has studied voice with Lisa Barksdale at Furman University, organ with Dr. Ed Dunbar at Bob Jones University, and tap dancing with Sandra Hunnicutt Griffin of Dance Ventures. Rosemary has previously appeared as a soloist with both the Chorale and the Chorale Chamber Ensemble, and she has also performed as guest conductor with the Chorale as well as assisting with sectional rehearsals.

The Buncombe Street United Methodist Church Chancel Choir (Greenville, SC) sings for two traditional services every Sunday morning. Comprised entirely of volunteers, they perform major works twice a year and are devoted to their leadership in worship and their dedication to growing in musicianship and perfecting the choral art.

Mr. Matthew Stenberg is Director of Choirs and Fine Arts Chair at Cambridge Christian School, where he is in his 11th year. He holds a B.S. in Music Education from Clearwater Christian College, and a M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of South Florida. He has performed with the Dale Warland Singers, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Richard Zielinski Singers, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and the Florida Orchesra. Mr. Stenberg is an active pianist and vocalist in the Tampa area. His most notable achievements are his wife, Cindy, and his two children, Chloe and William.

The Cambridge Christian School Choir is a mixed chorus of 90 singers ages 14-18. They maintain a rigorous performance schedule, including an annual international music mission trip, performances at Disney World, as well as many events on the school campus and in the Tampa area. Their goals are to pursue musical excellence, share their gifts with each other and those who hear them, and to positively impact the world around them.

Laura Huckin, Artistic Director of Cathedral Voices since 2009, has over 20 years of experience as a vocalist, accompanist, and conductor. An advocate for music education, Laura works in many musical capacities throughout Jackson Hole, but most frequently as a conductor and music director. She recently served on the Board of Directors for Jackson Hole's Center for the Arts. In 2014 she was honored for her contributions to the arts by receiving the Cultural Council of Jackson Hole's Award for Creativity. She holds a BA from Brigham Young University in Media Arts. 

Cathedral Voices Chamber Choir engages and inspires harmony in the community through musical excellence in performance, education and outreach. Cathedral Voices consists of 26 members - a mixed-voice chamber choir and a women's ensemble. Founded in 2003 by a small group of singers with a desire to sing challenging chamber-style choral music, the organization has grown under the artistic leadership of Laura Huckin, offering diverse repertoire, and creative collaborative projects. The choir's outreach programs include Singing in the Schools, Summer Sing, and Going Solo, providing opportunities, education, and inspiration for aspiring vocalists of all ages.

Ms. Denise Riley has distinguished herself as an outstanding performer, pedagogue, and arts advocate since earning a Bachelor and Master degree in Vocal Performance from Mississippi College. Ms. Riley has also distinguished herself on the stage performing roles in Die Fledermaus, Carmen, Suor Angelica and Ballad of Baby Doe. She has appeared with choruses throughout Mississippi as soloist in Haydn's The Creation, Handel's Messiah, Poulenc's Gloria and Respighi's Laud to the Nativity. Her teaching career includes Hinds Community College and Mississippi College. She is in her fifteenth year at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Studies.

The Co-Lin Concert Choir has a long history of outstanding choral performances including quality choral literature under the direction of many accomplished choral conductors. Each year, the concert choir presents Fall, Christmas, and Spring choral concerts. They also participate in the state community and junior college choral festival. The choral department also presents dinner theateres, madrigal feasts, and stage productions which showcase the rich talents of the students from the college's 7 county district. Former choral directors include Julia Guess, Robert Turner, Kenny Klaus, Sharon Radionoff, Greg Long, Bradley Ellingbow, Tim Duncan, and Brad Johnson. The choir is currently directed by Denise Riley.

The musical background for Jim Johnson has actually came through the performing route. He spent several years with the Utah Opera Company as well as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He has also been in many oratorio and stage productions. To actually put food on the table, his career has focused on finance and urban planning. 

The Davis Master Chorale began twenty years ago as a response to a community need for an annual, patriotic event. This non-auditioned choir now provides several full concerts each year, performing pop to classics. They have traveled around the region, to Washington DC, Hawaii and points in between. While this is a volunteer organization, it is known for providing several thousand dollars worth of scholarships to local students as they continue musical studies in college.

Philip Smith holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and has served as the Music Director of First Presbyterian Church since 2009. Prior to his tenure at FPC, Mr. Smith directed choirs at FUMC in Round Rock, Texas, and FUMC in Pflugerville, Texas. At First Presbyterian, Mr. Smith conducts two full-time adult choirs, 3 part-time adult choirs, adult handbells, and the youth choir. Under his direction, the FPC Music Ministry has flourished and is regularly welcoming new members. Philip is married to Magen Smith, and they have one son, Mason.

The Cantata Chorus of First Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Texas, is a combined 70-voice choir that presents major works 1-2 times per year. This ensemble includes members of the Sanctuary and Chancel Choirs, and welcomes members of other FPC Music Ministry ensembles including the Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Youth Choir, Youth Handbells, and Jubilation Ringers. Under the direction of Philip Smith since 2009, the FPC Cantata Chorus has prepared and presented works with orchestra such as Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Utrecht Te Deum, Mark Hayes’ Gloria, Dan Forrest’s Te Deum, and most recently, Handel’s Messiah in its entirety.

Camille Blackburn was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from the University of Idaho, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University. Camille has taught choral music at Clair E. Gale Jr. High, Bonneville High School, and is currently the Director of Choral Music at Hillcrest High School. She is popular as an accompanist, as well as a choral and vocal adjudicator throughout the Northwest. Camille has served on the Executive Board for the Idaho Music Education Association and is currently the NW Division President for NAfME.

The Hillcrest Varsity Chorale is one of six choral ensembles at Hillcrest High School. The Varsity Chorale is an auditioned choir of primarily seniors and a few juniors. The choir has established a reputation for artistically fine and musically expressive performances. The Chorale regularly performs for community events and has been the featured choir with the Idaho Falls Symphony in Handel’s Messiah and the Mozart Requiem as well as collaborations with the Teton Chamber Orchestra. Many former Varsity Chorale students have gone on to be music educators or professional musicians.

Elizabeth Paynter has been an elementary music specialist with the Calgary Board of Education for more than 25 years, and has been directing choirs in the Calgary choral community for almost as long. She is the music director at Scarboro United Church, and often partners with Knox United choir and their director, Chellan Hoffman. Chellan Hoffman is one of Calgary’s most called upon organists for recital performances and church services. She is the music director at Knox United Church in Calgary, and one of her personal mandates is to collaborate as often as possible with other Canadian artists. The Knox and Scarboro United Church musicians are excited to be part of this New York adventure together.

The Knox and Scarboro United Church musicians are proud to continue the fine musical legacies that have been part of their individual church histories for decades. The two choirs often work together, presenting large choral works for their combined congregations and the Calgary community. This is their first time touring as a combined choir, and they are proud to be part of the Canadian contingent in this DCINY presentation.

Patton Rice is in his eleventh year as the director of the music program at MSA and holds a degree in Music education from Auburn University and a masters in vocal performance from Florida State University. While at MSA he has prepared the chorale for performances with DCINY at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Patton’s solo experience includes Memorial by Rene Clausen with DCINY at Carnegie Hall, Escamillo to Denyce Graves‘ Carmen with the Southern Festival Orchestra and Polonius opposite Sherill Milnes‘ Hamlet with Greater Miami Opera.

MSA's award winning Chorale has performed five times at Carnegie Hall and once at Avery Fisher Hall. The Chorale has also performed with both the Meridian and Mississippi Symphony Orchestras and has received superior ratings at District and State Choral Festivals for the past 10 years. Former and current MSA Chorale members include repeat finalists at state and Southern Region National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions, scholarship recipients to prestigious collegiate programs and even count an American Idol finalist among their alumni.

Suzanne Cain holds both Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Music Education from Mississippi State University and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She has completed International study in Italy, as well as continued graduate studies in music at University of Southern Mississippi. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and has taught High School Concert Choir, Mens Choir, Womens Choir, Show Choir and Middle School Choir for many years. She regularly travels with her students to New York and Europe, and has had groups to perform in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, as well as Washington DC. Under the leadership of Mrs. Cain, the Newton County High School Choirs have consistently received superior ratings at both District and State Choral Assessments, and this is their third appearance in New York. Suzanne is also Director of the Meridian Mississippi Symphony Chorus, a community chorus that performs with the Meridian Symphony. While Suzanne enjoys being on stage, singing in weddings, directing choirs and encouraging students, her favorite activities include being wife to Jim and mom to JD and Dylan.

The Newton County High School Choir has been in existence for over twenty years, and has only had two directors. Gloria Harms initiated the program with a handful of students, teaching 7th -12th grade choirs. Suzanne Cain was hired during the last two years of Mrs. Harms career, and the two directors enjoyed the collaboration. Under the direction of Suzanne Cain for the last ten years, the program has continued to grow, and now has separate Middle School and High School Choir programs. Emily Massey supports the High School program as Middle School Director, where her students are given a strong foundation, preparing them for High School Choir. The Newton County High School Choirs regularly earn Superior ratings at both District and State Choral Assessments. This is their third New York Performance under Dr. James Meaders.

Dr. Christopher D. Haygood is Associate Director of Choral Studies at Oklahoma State University where he conducts University Singers, Spirit Jazz Choir, and Statesmen. Having conducted choirs across Europe, Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand, he most recently was guest conductor at the International Institute of Conductors in Romania and the Taiwan National Choir in Taipei. Christopher has prepared choral groups for collaborations with Helmuth Rilling, Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, and the Tonight Show. He completed the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Music from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he taught undergraduate and graduate conducting and was the assistant conductor of the renowned USC Chamber Singers. 

The University Singers of Oklahoma State University is the largest choral ensemble at the university comprised of students from a diverse range of degree programs. The ensemble enjoys performing varied repertoire from the Renaissance to the Modern Era on several programs throughout the year. The University Singers have enjoyed recent collaborations with Morten Lauridsen, Matthew Harris, and Ēriks Ešenvalds. In addition to their regular concert schedule, the ensemble performs for the President’s Masterworks Concert each year with full orchestra, with an upcoming performance of Berlioz’s Tristia.

Dr. Melanie Williams, Director, is currently serving as Minister of Worship Arts at The Baptist Church of Beaufort, in Beaufort, South Carolina. She oversees the church's worship arts ministry and directs instrumental and vocal ensembles in all age groups. Previously, she was  founder and director of LowCountry Children's Chorus; co-founder and director of Northern Kentucky Children's Ensemble; and artistic director of Central Illinois Children's Chorus. Her community ensembles have been invited to perform as featured presenters in many venues such as choral conventions and national choir festivals. She has also taught voice on the faculties of the University of Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University, University of Dayton, and Northern Kentucky University. She has been frequently invited to serve as clinician and adjudicator in a variety of choral settings. Dr. Williams earned her D.M.A. and M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Illinois and her B.M.E. from Georgia Southern University. She also holds membership in MENC, ACDA, NATS, and SAI. 

The BCOB Covenant Choir is the flagship of the music ministry at the Baptist Church of Beaufort, Beaufort SC, musically leading the way in our weekly worship. In addition to leading in worship, they have sung in many community concerts, theatrical productions, and are regular participants in choral workshops. The choir is directed by Dr. Melanie Williams and accompanied by Sarah Hoffmeister Stender.

Amy Barrett Lee serves as choral director in Richland, directing the Resonance Show Choir, Madrigals, Chamber Choir, Advanced Singers and Beginning Singers. During fourteen years, she has taught English, theatre, and visual arts. Holding Bachelors of Arts in Music Education and Art from Mississippi College, she garnered the Mississippi Governor’s Award for her district through the Whole Schools Initiative. An active member of Mississippi Music Educators Association (NAfME) and Mississippi Choral Directors Association (ACDA), she was awarded Yale University’s Teacher of the Year for 2013. Her husband Michael is a registered nurse, and they have two children, Barrett and Anna.

The Richland Singers, under the direction of Amy Barrett Lee, is a multi-award-winning choral program in Mississippi. Their accolades include sweepstakes superior choirs, ensembles, and music literacy scores and invitations to perform in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and Rome, Italy. Students in the Resonance Show Choir, Madrigals, Chamber Choir, High School and Junior High Choirs are consistently selected to the Mississippi All State Honor Choir, Delta State Honor Choir, and the Treble Song Honor Choir. With a strong belief in “music for life,” many singers continue to sing through college and choose music and education as their career choices.

Tony Burdette is the Founding Artistic Director of Voices of the Commonwealth, a 65-voice adult community chorus in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. Tony is sought after as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and tenor soloist. Tony earned a master's degree from the prestigious University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Founded in 2011, Voices of the Commonwealth is a 65-voice community chorus comprised of adults from throughout the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Southeast Indiana area. With a reputation for presenting high-quality choral experiences for their members and audiences, Voices of the Commonwealth has become a vital part of the arts community in Greater Cincinnati in its four short years of existence.