The high school offers marching band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, concert choir, madrigal choir, jazz choir, voice class, steel pan ensemble, Tri M, and a guitar class called pop music. The concert band, concert choir, voice class, and pop music class meet every day during the school week for 52 minutes a day. All other ensembles are extra-curricular and meet before or after school. In the past 18 years, the music program has performed in numerous community events, parties, and festivals. The band and choir are a sought after group in our community with a busy schedule throughout the year. They regularly perform for private parties, community gatherings, and community events. All ensembles compete at local festivals and competitions. The choir, percussion ensemble, and jazz band have been featured on stage at Southern Illinois University alongside the university’s ensembles. The program is consistently well represented at the district ILMEA festival, and has had students selected for both the All-State and Honors Choirs for the last 18 years. The program has four formal concerts a year for our community and has also performed at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Quincy Market in Boston, and the Statue of Liberty in New York. In 2014, the concert band made its first ever appearance at the Illinois Music Educators Conference (IMEC) as a featured group and played in Carnegie Hall in 2016, and 2022. The choir performed at IMEC in 2018, Carnegie Hall in 2022 and will perform once again in 2025.

Mr. Steve Browne has taught the last 17 years of his 21 year teaching career at Nashville Community High School. Mr. Browne has an undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and a Masters in Music Education from the University of Florida. Mr. Browne is a National Board Certified teacher in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood in Band. Mr. Browne has been the guest conductor for multiple High Band and Jazz Band Festivals and has helped with high school choir clinics at Southern Illinois University. He currently enjoys playing drums for a jazz band and a cover band, mandolin in a bluegrass band, plays in the Nashville St. Paul UCC praise band, and sings in the choir. He has also served District 6 as band chair for the ILMEA District Festival, choral judge, and percussion judge. The NCHS Mixed Choir has sung at Carnegie Hall in 2022, Walt Disney World in 2018 and 2023, and were a featured performer at the Illinois Music Educators Convention in 2018 and 2024. Mr. Browne operates his own free website dedicated to helping young drummers play in their school jazz band. Steve has been married to Jamie Browne for 24 years with two children, Murray State Music Major, Trent and NCHS junior, Addison.

SoundCrowd is Toronto’s first large-scale contemporary a cappella ensemble led by Founder and Artistic Director Scott Pietrangelo. Since their first performance backing up former Barenaked Ladies front man Steven Page in concert, they have since repeatedly sold out concerts in Toronto each year, appeared at Carnegie Hall with Total Vocal in 2017, opened for Disney’s a cappella sensation, DCappella, appeared as special surprise guests on the Canadian national talk show, “The Social,” and launched their first album, “All Voice, No Limits” in May of 2023. For more info, visit soundcrowd.ca or find us on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).

Scott Pietrangelo is the Founder/Artistic Director of SoundCrowd, celebrating its 9th year and 2nd appearance at Total Vocal. He has been a Toronto-based performer for two decades, having appeared across Canada in such shows as Dear Evan Hansen, The Secret Garden, Songs for a New World, The Last Five Years (BroadwayWorld Award Nomination – Best Actor) and Murder for Two. His music directing credits include productions of Rent, The Rocky Horror Show, Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof and more. Scott sends his sincere gratitude to Deke for the support he’s shown this wonderful ensemble since its inception.

The Barrington High School Overtones are in their fourth year of performing and competing. These are the top 18 voices from Barrington High School who enjoy performing for audiences throughout not only the Barrington community, but for people all over the country.

Brandon Pemberton earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, a Master of Music Education degree from Florida State University, and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership.  Pemberton serves as the Director of Choirs at Barrington High School. His position includes conducting five curricular choirs, overseeing five a cappella groups, directing a multi-tiered madrigal program, directing the Freshman Spotlight production, and serving as the Vocal Director of the musical. Pemberton recently received the Outstanding Educator award from the University of Chicago. In 2024, The Barrington High School Chamber Choir was selected to perform at the Illinois Music Education Conference.

Williston High School Vocal Jazz students must audition for this ensemble. These students are also involved in another choir at WHS. They perform around the community singing carols at Christmastime and delivering singing Valegrams for Valentine's Day. Every year they participate in the University of Mary Jazz Festival and receive excellent ratings from professional jazz musicians.

Katie Rooke has been the director at Williston High School for the past 16 years. She directs 4 choirs of students grades 9-12 plus Varsity and JV vocal jazz ensembles. The Williston High School Chorale was selected as the North Dakota Governor's Choir for the 23-24 school year. Mrs. Rooke is also the vocal coach for the musicals put on by the drama department.

The Ram Voices of Hillcrest is comprised of sixty voices. We also have forty-eight in the beginning choir. We participated in the Carowinds Music Festival, Music in Our Schools Festival, and Performance Assessments where the students achieved superior and excellent ratings. They perform several concerts at the school including winter and spring performances, singing at sporting events, community events, Veteran’s Day programs, Christmas events, Black History Month assemblies and more. The Ram Voices has twelve students to represent in the District Honors Choir for Greenville County and eleven students to represent in the Region Choir for the western part of the state. We have also had students to represent Hillcrest High at the All-State Chorus at Winthrop University. Our chorus was chosen to participate in NYC at the DCINY event at Carnegie Hall in 2023. We had thirty-two students to represent South Carolina in this premiere under the direction of Mack Wilberg. The HHS Choral and Theater Department held the production of “Freaky Friday” in April of this past school year. Mrs. Hill is so proud of all of the accomplishments of these students.

Holly Traynham Hill, Choral Director at Hillcrest High School, graduated in 1998 with a BA in Music Education from North Greenville College (presently North Greenville University). She currently serves on the Music Alumni Association at North Greenville. She has been at Hillcrest for four years and is a member of SCMEA. Mrs. Hill has also taught at Bryson and Ralph Chandler Middle School. Mrs. Hill proudly served as Ralph Chandler Teacher of the Year in 2020-2021, Bryson Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2004-2005 and is a recipient of the “Who’s Who among American Teachers’ Award for 2003, 2004, and 2005. Mrs. Hill has had three separate groups to perform in a DCINY performance at Carnegie Hall.Mrs. Hill is blessed to have such an energetic and talented group of fine students and a supportive family who motivates and encourages her daily. She is honored to have her chorus participate in this event, and it is with great anticipation to hear them perform.

The Baton Rouge Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, chartered in 1960, is a celebrated Baton Rouge, LA ensemble. Directed by Sherry Barron, this all-female group excels in a cappella, four-part barbershop harmony. With 27 talented members, they are part of Region 10, (MS, AL, LA, and south TX). Over their 64-year history, they have garnered numerous regional awards, including Most Entertaining Chorus. Known for their captivating performances, they have graced the stage of the Sweet Adeline International competition, delighting audiences with harmonious melodies. The chorus continues to inspire and entertain, upholding rich traditions of musical excellence, education, and community involvement.

Sherry Barron, esteemed music educator with 40+ years experience, is the Director of the Baton Rouge Chorus of Sweet Adelines and the founder of the Academy for Cultivating Creative Arts LLC. Obtaining her Music Education degree from Louisiana State University, she also holds certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. A passionate advocate for music education, she co-founded The Baton Rouge Homeschool Choirs and directs various arts initiatives. Sherry’s dedication to cultivating talent is evident through her work with children and adults, believing that music nurtures creativity and intelligence. Sherry aspires to inspire and empower the next generation.

The Lakehouse Music Academy Singers are top-tier students from Lakehouse Music Academy, a progressive learning community preparing students to engage in an artistic landscape with learning tracks in instrumental and vocal performance, songwriting, and production. Along with the Asbury Park Music Foundation, the Academy serves students from their Asbury Park and Red Bank locations and in K-12 programs across Monmouth County by providing students of all ages with unparalleled opportunities to study privately and participate in one of over 60 ensembles. Their “Stripes” curriculum and faculty have been recognized by world-renowned artists, have launched the recording and performance careers of numerous students, and have prepared the Academy’s Singers to perform in venues along the Jersey Shore and across the region.

Mary Louisa Jodry is a proud instructor of voice and piano at Lakehouse Music Academy. She has recently begun her journey in music education and is grateful to be directing the talented group of students who make up the Lakehouse Music Academy Singers. For fifteen years she has studied both classical and musical theater vocal techniques. Mary has always had a love for choral music which led to her becoming the choral manager and a soloist in her university’s chamber choir. She hopes to encourage her students to find no limit in their creative journeys and continuously grow their artistry.

For over 30 years, the KEIKI KANI CHOIR has served Hawaii as a community performing group composed of students, working adults, and retirees from Oahu, Hawaii. The KEIKI KANI CHOIR has performed at many events (including radio and television shows) and have been featured in professional audio and video recordings since 1991. We were honored to sing for the Harlem Globetrotters in 2017 and made our Carnegie Hall debut with "Total Vocal" in 2022. A year later, we were happy to open DCINY's "Total Vocal 2023" with our acapella hula, "E Ku'ulei". KEIKI KANI is looking forward to again bring the spirit of ALOHA to the Big Apple. Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much), DCINY and Deke Sharon, for including KEIKI KANI CHOIR in Total Vocal 2025.

CAMILLA CORPUZ YAMAMOTO has directed the Keiki Kani Choir for over 30 years. Camilla founded her private Keiki Kani Music Studio in 1990, teaching piano, choir, voice, and general music. Camilla's work includes music specialist for the Hawaii Public Schools system and local private schools for over 20 years. She has directed numerous school productions, with up to 700 singers and actors in any given show. She served the teaching community in many local professional music educator associations, including volunteering as Executive Director for the Hawaii Music Educators Association (National Association for Music Educators) for many years. Raised in a musical home, Camilla began her music career at age 11 as church accompanist and Worship Team member. Keiki Kani and music education is her love-work, and she feels blessed that her vocation is her avocation.

Formed in 2012, Pop Chorus has over 400 singers in Suffolk, England, across 7 friendly and fun groups. They unashamedly sing great pop songs in harmony, from Adele to Johnny Cash. The choir love to perform around East Anglia, whether it’s a local school or Latitude Festival. Pop Chorus are known for bringing the party wherever they go, and their infectious enthusiasm makes their performances a joy to experience. With a strong ethos of inclusivity, kindness and generosity, the choir have raised over £60,000 for local charities and work tirelessly in their local communities to promote wellbeing through music.

Classically trained, and with a wealth of experience, Yula’s voice crosses genres effortlessly. Her theatricality, and belief that the voice is the most versatile of instruments, has taken her from singing opera in Harrods to session work; via jazz, folk, cover-bands, contemporary dance and ABBA tributes! She has a love of harmony, having sung in small ensembles forever, and even the BBC Symphony Chorus. Yula founded Pop Chorus in 2012 and also leads wellbeing singing sessions for a diverse range of people, including those with dementia. She basically lives to spread the joy of singing together, and under her warm and enthusiastic leadership, any group of people can become a choir!

Googapella is an employee a cappella group at Google’s headquarters in the California Bay Area. Founded in 2012, Googapella brings passionate singers together to continue their love for a cappella in the post-collegiate world. They rehearse weekly and perform for fellow Google teams, at holiday parties, and at our favorite showcase, Techapella.org! Check them out on YouTube.

Divya is a Software Engineer at Google and has been a member of Googapella since 2016, stepping into her role as Music Director in 2021. Prior to joining Googapella, Divya was a member of the Soundbytes a cappella group at Carnegie Mellon University where she received a Bachelors of Science and Arts in Computer Science and Music Technology, and earned her Masters of Science, Information Design and Strategy from Northwestern University. Shout-out to fellow Googapella leaders Jen Nguyen-Ly Han (Assistant Music Director), Megan Copeland (President), Ricky Jacobson (Vice President), and Lindsay Alford (Founder).