The AACC Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Singers are noted for their shared focus and energy making music sound new, fresh, and exciting. Their programs and performances are alluring, engaging and attract multi-generational audiences, particularly making classical music more appealing to younger generations. Highlights of their recent past tours include performances at St. Stephan's Cathedral and the Orangerie Concert Hall at Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna, Austria) as well performances throughout Spain. AACC was ranked the #1 community college in the county in 2024 and our music students exemplify the outstanding and rich cultural heritage of our community.

As Music Director/Conductor of the Anne Arundel Community College Symphony (Arnold, MD), the Naptown Philharmonic Orchestra (Annapolis, MD), the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association (Alexandria, VA), and a frequent guest conductor on the national and international scene, Anna Binneweg repeatedly captures audiences with her enthusiasm and passion for music. Her orchestra’s shared focus and energy make orchestral music sound new, fresh, and exciting. Binneweg has performed in some of the nation’s most reputable concert venues including the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall (Washington, DC), the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (Baltimore, MD) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, CA). Her international conducting experiences include tours to Austria, Spain and guest appearances with the Chernihiv Philharmonic, Lviv Virtuosi (Ukraine) and the Minsk Conservatory Orchestra (Belarus). She also serves as a guest conductor for prestigious All-State orchestra festivals and the International Music Camp (Summer School of Fine Arts, 2026). She has served on the national executive board of directors for the College Orchestra Directors Association and the International Conductors Guild.

Douglas Brandt Byerly is an internationally recognized choral conductor, composer and performer. He has directed and conducted choirs and orchestra throughout the United States, as well as extended international tours of England, Spain, Austria and Germany, performing at some of the world’s most prestigious venues. Doug has worked with and conducted All-County and All State High School and Middle School ensembles in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator. On stage, Doug is renowned for his operatic and musical theatre performances, having performed bass-baritone roles from Mozart and Verdi to Sondheim. Doug is a Professor of Music at Anne Arundel Community College, where he leads the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and is the founding director of Opera AACC. He has worked with some of the top choral conductors (preparing choirs to sing with) including Eric Whitacre, Steve Zegree, Robert Shaw, Mel Ivey, John Rutter, Karl Jenkins, and Margaret Hillis. Doug holds degrees from Western Michigan University and The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University.

Johnson C. Smith University’s choir has long stood as a pillar of the university’s cultural and artistic tradition. Established in the early 20th century, the choir began as a modest ensemble supporting campus worship and special events. Over the years, it has flourished, drawing talented singers from diverse backgrounds and cultivating unity among its members.

The choir’s repertoire expanded from traditional spirituals and hymns to embrace gospel, classical, jazz, and contemporary works, mirroring the vibrant tapestry of the university community. Under the leadership of notable directors—most recently Dr. Brooks—the choir elevated its artistry and reached new heights. Dr. Brooks, renowned for her passion for choral excellence and dedication to student mentorship, guided the ensemble through transformative years. Her visionary leadership led to acclaimed performances at national conferences, collaborations with celebrated artists, and appearances on prestigious stages across the United States.

Community engagement has always been at the heart of the choir’s mission. Members regularly participate in local service projects and organize concerts in support of charitable causes, reinforcing the choir’s role as an ambassador between the university and the broader community. The choir will be featured at the upcoming North Carolina American Choral Directors Association conference and is elated to make their Carnegie Hall debut today. The legacy of the choir endures, inspiring audiences and upholding Johnson C. Smith University’s commitment to a new era of excellence.

Dr. Angelica Brooks is an award-winning choral director and music educator. Dr. Brooks currently serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Johnson C. Smith University. Dr. Brooks earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Media Management from the Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. She completed her Master of Music with a focus in Vocal Pedagogy from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Dr. Brooks earned her DMA in Music Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. She also holds an Administration I Certificate from McDaniel College. In service to the profession, Dr. Brooks serves as a guest conductor and clinician, choral festival adjudicator, keynote speaker, and presents at state and national music conferences. Dr. Brooks is an experienced a mentor teacher, curriculum writer, and professional development presenter. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity where she serves on the DEI committee. Dr. Brooks is founder of The Table Music Education Corporation, a 501c3 dedicated to the recruitment and retention of music educators of color as an act of social justice and educational equity

Praised by The New York Times for its “incisive, agile strength,” Downtown Voices is a Grammy-nominated, semiprofessional choir conducted by Stephen Sands. This acclaimed ensemble was founded as a high-level chorus committed to performing great choral works across genres, eras, and traditions.

Downtown Voices has premiered several major new works, including Stephen Main’s The Image at Trinity Church; Reena Esmail’s Malhaar: A Requiem for Water at St. Paul’s Chapel; Luna Pearl Woolf’s Number Our Days at the Perelman Performing Arts Center; Zachary Wadsworth’s Spire and Shadow at St. Paul’s Chapel; and Benedict Sheehan’s Akathist, an expansive oratorio recorded with the Trinity Choir, the Artefact Ensemble, the Trinity Youth Chorus, and NOVUS.

Akathist was nominated for the 2025 Grammy for best choral performance.

In 2022, the choir made its Carnegie Hall debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta, during the Lukas Foss Centennial Celebration. At Trinity Church, the choir has performed at Compline by Candlelight and Choral Evensong, and has headlined numerous marquee concerts. Downtown Voices has been featured with Andrea Bocelli and can be heard on the epic recording Philip Glass: Symphony No. 5, released by Orange Mountain Music, as well as Benedict Sheehan’s Akathist on the Bright Shiny Things label. 

Stephen Sands is a Grammy-nominated conductor and “crystalline tenor” (Backstage), praised by The New York Times for his “focused, powerful tone” and for “beautifully balancing the sound” in performance. With a career spanning leadership, education, and performance, Sands brings passion and precision to every ensemble he leads.

He is the founding conductor of Downtown Voices, a dynamic semiprofessional choir at Trinity Church. Under his direction, the group has performed major works and world premieres at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, St. Paul’s Chapel, and other venues.

Sands also serves as the managing director of Ensemble Veritas, the professional choral ensemble at Harvard University, where he collaborates with the Harvard Choruses New Music Initiative to champion new works by emerging composers.

As artistic director of Music in the Somerset Hills (MISH), he has revitalized musical life in northern New Jersey through high-caliber performances and education initiatives. His latest project, MISH in the Schools, offers free musical enrichment to public high school students, fostering collaboration between students and professional musicians.