Harri Blaesi studied singing (Baritone), conducting, and music pedagogy at the Conservatory Lucerne, achieving his masters degree in 1990. For 30 years, he has been conducting various choirs and has led several musical productions with church and secular music. He has been a teacher at the Kantonsschule Sargans since 1991. In 1992, he founded the CantiChor Sargans and has prepared and performed more than 20 concert programs with it. Since 2015, he is also in charge of the choir of the Operette Balzers (Liechtenstein).

Florence Bassanini is Headmaster of a nursery school, the Vice President of the choir Cantoria Mâcon and responsible for managing Cantoria's contribution to this performance of Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man. Her passion for singing is a lifelong endeavor, and she sings as a soprano in the Cantoria, as well as with Buxtehude en Bourgogne, a baroque choir.

Created in 1958, Cantoria is currently conducted by Eric Geneste with Pierre Levenq serving as its President. Its repertoire consists of everything from Rolland De Lassus to Arvo Part, including the major works in the Baroque, Classical and Romantic catalogues. The Cantoria performs in its home region of Mâcon, as well as in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Vichy. Cantoria Mâcon is partnered with the Liedertafel, a choir in Neustadt, Germany. Meeting every two years, these combined choirs have performed approximately 50 concerts between their two cities.

Philip Wilson has worked as a musician and music educator for many years. He has been Director of Music at Christ's School for ten years, a period which has seen a massive expansion in the musical life and ambition in the school. Philip has also worked as a conductor, accompanist and theatre director in the past, and now finds fulfilment in putting all these skills together in the development of the artistic life of Christ's School.

Putting on Sir Karl Jenkins' Songs of Sanctuary with a professional orchestra in the summer of 2015 was a highlight for Christ's choir; the resulting invitation to be part of DCINY's project at Carnegie Hall has been a just reward for these young singers. Previous performances in the recent past have included Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Verum Corpus and Billy Joel's "And So it Goes". Since the choir formed ten years ago, its ambition and scope have developed hugely. Christ's choir works in a number of formats, containing a chamber group and an expanded choir including parents and friends of the school, and performs in informal and formal concerts, school events, services and large scale choral and orchestral concerts.

Richard McCreery studied Music at the University of Ulster and was appointed to Coleraine High School, a girls’ grammar school, in 1998. The school comprises 800 girls and has 5 choirs including a staff choir. This year (2015) the school will amalgamate with the boys’ grammar school, Coleraine Academical institution, to form Coleraine Grammar School. Richard is passionate about singing and its benefits to the well-being of all, so much so that auditions are not required to sing in any of his choirs. He is also Musical Director of Terrace Row Presbyterian Church where he conducts an enthusiastic SATB choir.

The Coleraine High School Chamber Choir was formed in 2011. In 2015 the choir reached the final of the ‘BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year’ competition for the first time – an amazing achievement! The choir is made up of 20 girls in the sixth form and has a seven month life cycle. Once the older girls complete their studies they leave school to continue their education at university. Younger members join and the process begins all over again. The ethos of the choir is one of singing at the highest standard while enjoying the experience.

With a repertoire of symphonic and choral masterworks of all periods, Argentina-born conductor Daniel Canosa has led orchestras and choruses in Argentina, the U.S., and Europe. He was Music Director of the Nieuw Amsterdam Barokorkest en Koor, touring extensively in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. He is the Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Apollo Baroque Orchestra, a first for the Sierra foothills of CA, and Founder and former Conductor of Camerata California. He served as the Artistic Director of the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. He is Artistic Director of Echo Chamber Orchestra and Marin Baroque in California.

First Presbyterian Church San Anselmo has always had a strong music tradition, including many excellent choral performances. For the last 30 years, the chancel choir semi-annually has presented sacred music as a central component of the worship service, accompanied by a distinguished orchestra of some of the finest instrumentalists in the SF Bay Area. These special services has included Bach's Magnificat, Fauré's Requiem, Rutter's Magnificat, Ramirez' Missa Criolla, and Vivaldi's Magnificat. In May 2015, the choir sang Jenkin's The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace in a well-attended evening performance. 
 

Roberta Paraninfo studied as a pianist, but works as a teacher and conductor. Since 1994, she has founded and directed various choir formations. At the moment, she directs the choirs of Accademia Vocale di Genova. She has personally started various progects of musical education in primary and secondary schools in Genova. She has also given continuining education courses to teachers and conductors in different Italian regions, for FENIARCO and Regional Associations. She was part of the Artistic Committees of A.R.Co (Associazione Regionale Cori della Valle d''Aosta) and Europa Cantat Torino 2012. Together with M° Gary Graden, she was appointed conductor of Coro Giovanile Italiano, founded by Feniarco, for the years 2015-2016. She was awarded five times with the prize for Best Conductor.

Giovani Cantori were founded in 2005 as a children''s choir. As well as studying classical polyphonic repertoire, and taking part in various concerts and festivals, the choir has had the opportunity of participating in musical operas (“I capelli del diavolo” and “Il Malafiato” by Piumini/Basevi; “Brundibar” by Krasa) and accompanying the pop singer Elisa in her concert at the theatre Carlo Felice in Genova. On May 24th the choir took part in the event “Conto Cento Canto Pace” in Arena di Verona, celebrating the hundreth anniversary since the start of World War I. Since 2009, the choir has partecipated in various national choir competitons, achieving rewarding results.

Our Director of Music in Lincoln England since 1995 is Neville Turner (Not present in the USA). Neville started as chorister at Hull’s Holy Trinity Church. He studied singing, piano and clarinet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He served three years with the band of H.M. Irish Guards. Neville was Director of Music in Hull and Grimsby schools . His work encompasses (as director and conductor) musicals and operas, and youth orchestras throughout Northern U.K. He has travelled worldwide on the panel of the Board of the  U.K. Royal Schools of Music (ABRCM).

Lincoln Choral Society began in 1896 as The Lincoln Music Society. Its first conductor was famed Lincoln Cathedral organist, Dr G J Bennett. A century later, the society commissioned the Centenary Cantata, from distinguished composer, Dr. Philip Marshall, in 1996. We still sing at the Cathedral; concerts feature both local and international talent, e.g. Bass Baritone Jonathan Lemalu, and the Black Dyke Band. We relish singing The Armed Man again with our German twin city Neustadt Liedertafel, and friends from Choir Macon France, as we did in Neustadt in 2014 for the Centenary Commemoration of The First World War.

Francis Faux is a passionate and inspirational musician based in Bath who is known for his flamboyant and energetic choral directing. He currently directs his own award-winning chamber choir, Noctis, as well as conducting the principal choir at Bath Spa University. In May 2014, after a sellout performance of The Armed Man at Bath Abbey which raised over £2,500 for the Royal British Legion, he combined the choirs of Organum and Corsham Choral Society into the newly-formed Lucis. He also works as a trustee for The Pound Arts, an organisation which promotes young talent across the South West of England.

LUCIS is a mixed-voice choir of around 70 members which was founded in 2014 by Francis Faux. The group is comprised of two former choirs, Organum and Corsham Choral Society, who forged a reputation for the high standard of choral singing in a number of their joint ventures, in particular their performances of Carmina Burana in 2013 at the Wiltshire Music Centre and The Armed Man at Bath Abbey in 2014.

Bath Spa University Choir is drawn primarily from students on the BA Music course at Bath Spa University. The choir mostly performs in the Bath and Bristol area, often in conjunction with the university orchestra, but has also toured around the UK and abroad. In 2014, the choir hosted a workshop with composer Will Todd before their performance of his 'Mass in Blue' in St George's, Bristol and their annual carol service a month later reached an impressive 10,000 people on social media for their rendition of Ola Gjeilo's 'Serenity'.

Over thirty years ago, the Oakham House Choir of Ryerson University was founded by English professor Marie Dowler and conductor Matthew Jaskiewicz .  Our membership is comprised of students, alumni, faculty and community singers. The choir performs two major classical or contemporary works a year with the Toronto Sinfonietta orchestra. Recently, we performed our first international exchange concert with a university choir from Karlsruhe, Germany. In June 2015, a group of our choristers performed in the acclaimed Luminato performance of “Apocalysis.” Enthusiasm, dedication, loyalty and love of all music have made our diverse choir continue to grow and explore infinite performance possibilities. 

James D. Moyer, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, is a veteran teacher of 29 years and is in his 17th 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 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 60-100 area residents, including Pennsbury students, graduates, teachers, arents, 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.

James D. Moyer, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, is a veteran teacher of 29 years and is in his 17th 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 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 60-100 area residents, including Pennsbury students, graduates, teachers, arents, 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.

Lindsey Bruno has been a Choral Director at Pennsbury High School since 2014 and was previously the Choral Director at North Stafford HS in Stafford, Virginia from 2005-2014. Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Lindsey graduated from Lebanon Valley College with degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance and a Master’s Degree in Choral Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Lindsey has served as ACDA Jazz R&S Chair for VA and PA and was named Teacher of the Year in Stafford County in 2011. She is an active adjudicator and clinician. Lindsey lives in Langhorne, PA with her husband and two sons. 

The Women’s Ensemble from Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hill, PA consists of 65 students ranging from sophomore to senior year. Each year, ladies audition to be a part of this ensemble which rehearses during the school day every other day. In 2015, many of the ensemble’s members traveled to Leipzig, Germany to perform Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with the Leipzig Youth Orchestra under Maestro Ron-Dirk Entleutner. In 2011, the choir performed the US Premier of Karl Jenkins’ Songs of the Earth at Carnegie Hall.

Hans Jochen Braunstein has been the choirmaster of the Liedertafel since 2001. He studied music, including organ, piano, singing and conducting at the Stuttgart Conservatory. He then took a post-graduate course in conducting at the Heidelberg/Mannheim Conservatory, studying under Prof. F. Bernius among others. He has conducted choirs and ensembles in Landau, Bensheim, Heidelberg and Darmstadt since 1996 and was awarded the Handel music prize by the city of Halle/Saale in 1999. In 2000, he set up the "Heidelberger Abendmusiken“ musical soirées and serves as its artistic director. Through his sense of humour and artistic expertise, Braunstein inspires his ensembles to embrace the great works of music.

The Philharmonischer Chor Liedertafel Neustadt was founded in 1867 in the wake of the Liedertafel choral society movement of the 19th century. While initially established as a male choir, whose purpose was "the fostering of choral singing and conviviality“, it has, since 1910, evolved into a large, mixed, oratory choir of 100.The choir focuses on great choral works from the Baroque era to modern times. The choir not only performs in Neustadt but values joint performances with other choirs. With its partnerships with Cantoria Mâcon (Burgundy/France) and Lincoln Choral Society (England), the Liedertafel Choir has, for decades, been making its own contribution to a greater understanding between nations and reconciliation between former wartime enemies.

Mairéad Duffy studied Music at the University of Ulster. During this time, as a member of the Belfast Harp Orchestra, she performed as a solo vocalist at Milwaukee Irish Fest and in Carnegie Hall, with The Chieftains. Mairéad is Head of Music in St. Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon. Under her direction the school choirs have had many successes, including winning the best performance of a song in Irish at the Cork International Choral Festival, with an arrangement written by Mairéad. Working with Doreen Rao and Mandy Miller, Mairéad studies conducting with Choral Music Experience. As a soloist Mairéad won the prestigious Feis Ceoil competition for voice and harp in 2010. She released her debut single ‘Little Bridge’ in November 2013, embarking on a new journey as singer songwriter.

Members of St. Patrick’s Academy Choir are drawn from students and staff. The choir is not auditioned and they rehearse after school once a week, performing at all major school events. The choir has performed Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Peacemakers’ in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, with the South Ulster Youth Orchestra and has competed locally and nationally. Singing is an important part of school life, with a Junior Choir and a Cambiata group for boys’ changing voices providing the training ground for this senior choir. Performing in Carnegie Hall will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable experiences for this group of singers!

Emma Worthy began her musical training at the tender age of 2 when she was given her first violin; indeed, Emma could read music before she could read words! Her training advanced to Conservatoire level under the UK's renowned Royal Musician, Nesta Franklin M.B.E. being 'Aspiring Pupil of Choice'. This training continued throughout her childhood, travelling the UK and Europe as a chorister or violinist. Today, Emma is the Musical Director for many choirs/operatic societies as well as a Music Teacher in schools around the South West, UK.

Winscombe Community Choir began as a 'one off' choir for a village celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. However, all involved realised that, for an auditioned choir, something special had been created. They decided to continue and in the 4 years they have been together they have performed nationally and internationally for companies such as BBC, Disneyland; in venues from tiny churches to Royal Albert Hall, London. Despite such success, they remain firm that at the heart of what they do is to produce the magic of 'family' and 'community' - singing is 'fun' and 'for all' regardless of training.​

Eleanor F Honnor is a Music graduate of Worcester College, Oxford University, where she held a choral scholarship and studied as a singer and composer. She later went on to train as a teacher and now has 10 years of experience teaching academic Music, and directing young people's choirs and musicals. She performs as a recital singer and oratorio soloist around the south of England when not working with her childrens' choirs, instrumental ensembles and teaching classes.

Wycombe High School is a girls' grammar school in southern England. It has a number of flourishing youth choirs, of which this is the most advanced. The choir and other instrumental ensembles travel around Europe performing every year, with the most recent tour before coming to New York being to Barcelona, which included a performance in the famous Sagrada Familia. In 2014 the group performed Jenkins' Songs of Sanctuary with great success both at home and to audiences in The Netherlands. They look forward to the opportunity to carry the work forward on to a more major stage.