Amanda Sprague Hanzlik is the Director of Choral Activities at Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs, Connecticut. She is also the director of the Aspen Music Festival and School’s Maroon Bel Canto Children’s Chorus – Festival Summer Camp. Mrs. Hanzlik frequently appears as a guest clinician and conductor for both ACDA and CMEA festivals and most recently conducted the 2019 Rhode Island Junior Mixed All-State Choir. She is President-Elect of the Connecticut Chapter of the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and her students regularly participate in both State and National Honor Ensembles. Mrs. Hanzlik is a graduate of the University of Iowa (B.A. Vocal Performance/Music Education) and Teachers College, Columbia University (M.A. Music and Music education). She resides in Storrs, CT with her husband Louis and children, Ethan and Grace.

The E.O. Smith High School Choirs are from the Region 19 School District, located in the heart of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. Choral students participate in Concert Choir, Treble and Bass Choirs and the E.O. Smith Chamber Singers, as well as Regional, State and National-level Honor Ensembles with NAfME and ACDA. Edwin O. Smith High School proudly supports the arts in our high school and greater community.

Colin Varville holds both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Masters of Choral Conducting from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he studied with Dr. Gary Mabry and Dr. John Silantien. He is now in his third year as the head choir director at Earl Warren High School in San Antonio TX. Under his direction, the Warren High School choirs have consistently earned sweepstakes at UIL, and Warren Choir students have earned chairs in the Texas All-State choirs as well as the TMEA Region 29 choirs. He is an active clinician and judge for choral groups in Texas, and served as the UTSA All-State Choir Camp program director from 2015 – 2018.

The Earl Warren High School Choir is made up of students from all walks of life who love to sing, love to have a great time, and work hard to inspire each other and those around them to be the best people that they can be. They are excited to be performing with all of the other amazing singers tonight. Earl Warren High School is a part of the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio Texas.

Mark Teeters - Vintage High School Director of Choral Music Mark Teeters is Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Vintage High School, and has been Director of Choral Music since 2000. In 2009, he was honored as a California Teacher of the Year, and additionally was the 2009 Napa County Teacher of the Year, and Rotary Teacher of the Year in 2005. Previously he taught Choir at Potrero Hill Middle School of the Arts and Herbert Hoover Middle School in San Francisco. He holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied under Dr. Dennis Schrock, and a B.A. in Music Education from Northern Arizona University, where he studied with Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe and Dr. Edith Copley. Mr. Teeters is also Director of Music at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Napa, and is the proud father of twins.

The Vintage High New York Tour Choir is proud to showcase students from three of our five choirs. The VHS Choral Music Department meets the high standards of the University of California fine arts requirement, and exposes students to the historical and cultural context of music from many cultures. Students are given a foundation for lifelong learning and develop an appreciation of some of the world's greatest music. In addition, the Choral Music Program provides a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment that fosters friendships, tolerance, and a challenging academic environment. As performers, our students represent Vintage High School to the community and to other youth, and are expected to act as role models. Our singers spend a significant amount of time rehearsing; our choirs participate in competitions, festivals, and tours within and outside of the United States as part of a well-rounded choral experience.

Andrew Robinson, Munster High School Choir Director since 2016, leads six choirs, teaches class piano, and is Music Director for the Munster Theatre Company. He directs regional All-State Choir rehearsals, is Host Director for District Solo and Ensemble Contest and J/M/E Large Group Contest, and is Chair of the IMEA Indiana All-State Handbell Choir Committee. He was Chorus Master for the 2018 world premiere of "Symphony No. 5: Return to Middle Earth" by Johan de Meij. His award-winning compositions have been performed at four state music conferences. He is a member of ACDA and IMEA.

The Munster High School Chorale, the school’s premiere, audition-only choral ensemble, maintains an active schedule: five concerts, multiple community performances during December, and Commencement each June. Past highlights include trips to California, New York, and Florida; concerts with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; and the 2018 world premiere of Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 5: Return to Middle Earth. An upcoming collaboration with the Northwest Indiana Youth Orchestra (selections from Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living) is slated for this May. The Chorale consistently receives Gold “With Distinction” at ISSMA State Qualification and is a three-time State Finalist.

Lynn Morin is Director of Choirs at Wilson Central HS. Before she and her husband moved to the Nashville area, Mrs. Morin served as Director of Choirs at Torrington HS in Connecticut and Richland HS in Washington. She managed CMEA All-State Chorus (2006-2011) and NAfME 2013 All-Eastern Chorus. Studies include voice and theatre performance at the University of Wyoming and Rocky Mountain College and music education at the University of Montana and Boston University. Mrs. Morin extends her sincere gratitude to DCINY and Eric Whitacre for this memorable and educational experience.

Wilson Central HS Chamber Choir is regularly invited to perform for community and regional events. Recent performances include the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Sounds game and TN House of Representatives. Wilson Central Choirs consistently receive superior and excellent ratings at regional, state and national festivals. WCHS Chamber Choir is proud to represent Wilson County in Carnegie Hall!

Jessie Bullock is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University with his BA in Music Education. He has been teaching at Carlsbad High School since 2013. This will be Jessie's third performance with Eric Whitacre.

The Carlsbad High School Concert Choir is composed of the CHS Chamber Singers and Advanced Show Choir. This group performs major works every year with the CHS Orchestra. They have performed Bach's Magnificat and Mozart's Requiem. This year they are performing Vivaldi's Gloria in May.

David Mead is the Director of Choral Music at Sidney High School in Sidney, Nebraska. Choirs under his direction have traveled to Washington D.C. and Chicago as well as having received Superior ratings at competitions in Kansas City, New York City, Denver, and Los Angeles. He is a frequent clinician and adjudicator at conference and state clinics and contests in Nebraska and Colorado. David has been married to Jennifer, who is co-director of the choral program at Sidney High School, for 31 years. Together they have 3 adult children; Mike, Kate, and Madeline.

The choral program at Sidney High School is comprised of an All-School non-auditioned choir, an auditioned mixed choir, and an auditioned treble choir. The program has earned honors including, performing the National Anthem for State Championship sporting events, performing in Washington D.C. for the dedication of the WW2 Memorial, and performing for exclusive corporate events. They have received 20 straight years of Superior ratings at Nebraska’s District 6 music contest, and at competitions in Kansas City, New York City, Denver, and Los Angeles. Sidney is located in the Nebraska panhandle, and proudly boasts a 9-12 student population of 350.

Erin Collins is a proud alumnus of O'Neill C.V.I. After graduating from Western University, she returned to O’Neill as an arts educator in 1998. She currently conducts the O’Neill Men’s Choir, Jazz Choir, Chamber Choir and is co-conductor of Concert Choir. These ensembles are recognized for their outstanding musicianship. To support music teachers and students provincially, Ms. Collins serves on the Executive of the Ontario Vocal Festival Organization (OVF) and is a Course Coordinator for the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre (OELC). She is also an active performer in the Durham community.

The O’Neill Collegiate Chamber Choir is a 28 voice ensemble comprised of enthusiastic students dedicated to upholding the tradition of choral excellence that has been a part of O’Neill for over thirty years. Their diverse repertoire includes sacred and secular works from Renaissance through Modern. In May 2018, they were honoured to perform with Toronto's renowned chamber choir, the Elmer Iseler Singers. Following this concert, DCINY discovered a Youtube recording from it and invited the choir to participate in the Eric Whitacre Residency at Carnegie Hall! The students are so grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Warren Mack is a well known organist, choral director, and prolific composer in western Canada. In addition, he is also sought after as a pipe organ serviceman, and builder. His non musical activities include acting, set design and painting, astronomy, and portraiture.

The Choir of United on Whyte Church proudly carries on the choral tradition of its several grandparent churches in its new home, a church formed from a four congregation merger- a Canadian first, by the way. The choir performs in many varied genres from classical to popular. The Willan Chorale celebrated the twentieth anniversary of its founding last year. Begun by Warren Mack and Henry williams to sing at an Anglican Catholic Bishop's Synod, it has continued to the present day with an unchanging mission to preserve and transmit the best of church and cathedral music of the past and present to a generation who may never have heard it Both groups have toured England together, are pleased to return to Carnegie Hall for a second performance with DCINY.

Sean Perry is ecstatic to mark his second year at Canandaigua Academy by preparing students for The Music of Eric Whitacre presented by Distinguished Concert International New York (DCINY)! He holds degrees in Vocal Music Education from Ithaca College and Boston University and is celebrating 10 years of teaching high school music. He would like to thank the amazing group of parent and community volunteers and who tirelessly organized and promoted our fundraising campaign -- this would not have been successful without you! Love and thanks to his wife Jessica and daughter Ella who have been supportive through this lofty endeavor. Taylor Eike is very excited to be working with the musicians in the Canandaigua City School District for a third year in a row preparing them for this amazing concert. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Ithaca College and a master’s degree in Music Education from Nazareth College. She would like to thank these amazing musicians for all of their hard work preparing for this concert as well as all of the families realizing what an amazing opportunity this is and supporting them through it all. Thank you to my family and fiance Derrick for their endless love in this preparation.

The Canandaigua Academy Chamber Choir is a temporary merger of the longstanding Jazz Choir, directed by Taylor Eike, and Madrigal Choir, directed by Sean Perry. These two ensembles are known in the Canandaigua community for their innovative performances “Pop Night at the Bistro” and “Madrigal Dinner”. The students and families of Canandaigua Academy are proud to perform with Eric Whitacre again after their 2010 collaboration in their hometown.

Emily Ottwein holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, a Master of Music in both Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance, and a Vocal Pedagogy Certification from SIU Edwarsdville Accomplished in many styles of singing, Ms. Ottwein has performed throughout the area as a featured concert soloist. She has also performed in, directed, and musically directed various theater productions in the area. She is passionate about the choral art form and about encouraging others to be a part of the magic of corporate singing. She endeavors to create meaningful experiences for both those in the choir and those listening.

Edwardsville High School Choirs consist of a total of 120 students in 3 curricular choirs. The performers in this concert are from Concert Choir II and Chamber Singers, both auditioned groups. These groups have performed multiple times at the Illinois Music Educators Association annual conference.

Zelda Johns has been the chorus director at Pope High School for 13 years and has served as department chair for the past three years. She has served in several leadership rolls throughout the states of Georgia and Florida. Zelda and her college crush have been married for 10 years and they have four children. Zelda owns a portrait and wedding photography business as a side hustle because her girls are in competition dance and teaching doesn't pay for that. In her spare time, she does lots of laundry.

The Fine Arts Department at Pope High School boasts highly regarded musical ensembles, drama productions and visual arts. The chorus at Pope High School is among this group of dedicated staff, students and parents. The chorus consists of five performing ensembles that regularly earns superior ratings at annual performance evaluations. This year, the chorus is hosting a rock music festival to benefit Curing Kids Cancer, featuring such performing artists as Angie Keilhauer, Sam Burchfield and Zach Seabaugh. Pope High School chorus is honored to be singing with Eric Whitacre for the second time.

Sarah Gleason has worked with New Canaan Public Schools choral and theatre programs since 2002 after starting a new middle school choral program in Killeen, Texas. She holds a BME from Texas Christian University and an MME from Columbia Unversity. She is currently the Choral Director and AP Music Theory instructor at New Canaan High School, and serves as a vocal director for the NCHS theatre program. Previously, Sarah revived the theatre program at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan and served as choral and musical theatre director for many years. Sarah is also currently on the voice and musical theatre faculty of Concordia Conservatory in Bronxville, NY and has served as the CMEA MS Western Region Choir chair.

New Canaan High School is an award-winning and high achieving public school in Western Connecticut. The Choral Program at the high school includes the Concert Choir and the auditioned Madrigal Ensemble, as well as individual vocal and music theory studies. The program maintains a tradition of quality choral music-making that has toured several world cities performing literature in a wide variety of styles, genres and languages while nurturing the individual voice and student. The Madrigal Ensemble is a sought-after performance group in the New Canaan community who are working this year under a grant from the Four Freshman Foundation to study and perform the music of this iconic group. Recently, the Concert Choir has performed Handel's "Messiah" with the New Haven Civic Orchestra and traveled to perform and compete in Florida, New Jersey and Massachusetts.