SAIMARAC is St. Mary Academy’s select choral ensemble. Comprised of treble singers from 9th-12th grades, the fifteen member choir performs in approximately two dozen performances throughout the academic year, including concerts, community outreach performances, liturgical services and other special events. St. Mary’s Academy is Denver’s premier all girls high school founded in 1864 by three Sisters of Loretto, and is highly regarded for its commitment to academic excellence and its Loretto values.

Jack McHugh is the Choral Director and Performing Arts Chair at St. Mary’s Academy. Jack directs the middle and high school choral ensembles and annual musical productions at SMA, and performs locally in the Denver metropolitan area. He holds degrees in music education and choral conducting from Northwestern and UCLA, has taught abroad in China, Nepal and India, and has sung with GRAMMY nominated and winning ensembles and conductors in Chicago and Los Angeles. Jack is grateful to the SMA community for their commitment to the performing arts, and would like to thank his wife Marissa for her inspiration and support.

Pop Voices welcomes people of all ages and abilities with a focus on coming together to share the joy of music, mixed with a large dose of friendship in a sociable, fun and relaxed environment! They love to perform modern classics and old favourites that everyone can relate to. Pop Voices prides itself on being inclusive and friendly and they enjoy amazing performance opportunities including The Commonwealth Games 2022, Disneyland Paris Christmas show and of course thrilled to be returning for our third trip back to sing in Total Vocal at Carnegie Hall.

Creator and Director of Pop Voices, Anya Small has been professionally singing for over 20 years, gaining vast experience with function and tribute bands.. She has a talent for harmonising which stems from years of working as a vocalist and session singer. She uses these skills to produce bespoke arrangements for the choir and create audio teach tracks and video tutorials. She has coordinated, led and tutored the choir sine 2013 in some amazing performances such as Christmas shows at Disneyland Paris, Total Vocal at Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall in New York, Derren Brown’s UK Tour and The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games mass choir.

The Head of School Singers stand as the premier choral ensemble at Montgomery Bell Academy. Composed of high school students who have participated in all five choirs at MBA throughout their academic journey. Distinguished for their exceptional talent and dedication, former members of H.O.S.S. have performed at renowned venues and events. Noteworthy performances include appearances at the 2020 ACDA Convention, Ryman Auditorium, National A Cappella Convention, Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville Public Radio, and Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The Head of School Singers embody a legacy of musical excellence and continue to contribute significantly to MBA's rich musical tradition.

Matthew Smyth has served as the Director of Choral Programs at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville since 2009, teaching boys in 7th-12th grades. Beyond the classroom, he coaches the MBA Rock Climbing Team and collaborates with the Outdoor Club. Matthew's vocal talents have resonated in prestigious venues nationwide, including The Ryman Auditorium, Jordan Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and the Bridgestone Arena. Balancing his professional achievements, Matthew finds joy in family life with his wife Ellen and their two boys, Hank (6 months) and Sawyer (3.5 years).

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!

Atlantic Harmonies Youth Choirs, inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Wells, Maine. This is their second appearance in Total Vocal! AHYC has had the honor of singing at the Maine State House, Portland Sea Dogs baseball game, Ogunquit's Christmas by the Sea celebration and more! AHYC is a non-auditioned community program that seeks to foster joy, growth, and confidence in all young musicians. They are thankful to DCINY for providing such enriching performance opportunities and grateful for the support from far and wide as they continually strive to provide access to music programs for all!

Bailey Smith is the founding artistic director of the Atlantic Harmonies Youth Choirs, inc.; a nonprofit organization based in Wells, Maine. This is Bailey's fourth DCINY concert and third time participating in Total Vocal! Bailey studied vocal performance at Berklee College of Music. She teaches private music lessons and classes, runs a summer performance day camp, and is the music director for the local high school's annual musical production. Outside of music, Bailey loves to travel, is an avid reader, and enjoys as much family time as possible.

Unaccompanied Minors is a student run auditioned a cappella ensemble at Woodson High School. Our student directors this year are seniors Claire Warden and Alyce Visioli. Participating students must be a member an enrolled member in good standing in the choral program at Woodson. Students rehearse together once a week before school from 7-8 am and are expected to practice on their won. Members are auditioend from grades 9 - 12.

Amy Sprague Moir received her BA from James Madison University and a M.M.E. from Florida State University. She has completed 23 years of teaching for Fairfax County Public Schools. She performs as a soprano, piano accompanist, clinician, and conductor. She is co-founder and active member of Caritas NoVA, a women’s chamber ensemble with the mission of charitable concerts for local non-profit organizations. She is a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association and the Virginia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Her favorite thing is watching students develop into responsible young adults through the empowerment of music.

The CDNIS Community Choir is an inclusive group of singers consisting of students, staff, and parents from the Canadian International School of Hong Kong. United by their shared passion for singing, this diverse ensemble comes together to create beautiful music. Despite meeting only once a week, the choir members understand the importance of independent practice, which fosters a strong sense of mutual responsibility and commitment. Together, they work harmoniously towards a common goal, nurturing a supportive and collaborative environment. Through their dedication and collective efforts, the CDNIS Community Choir showcases the power of music to bring people together and create something truly extraordinary.

Anne Drouet is a dedicated and inclusive choir leader, known for her passion in bringing together students, staff, and parents from diverse backgrounds in a vibrant community choir. With an inclusive approach, Anne creates a welcoming environment where everyone is embraced, regardless of their musical background. Her warm and inclusive leadership style fosters a sense of belonging, uniting choir members through their shared love for music. Anne's choirs have had the honor of performing at the Shanghai F1 Grand Prix opening ceremony, captivating audiences on an international stage. Additionally, Anne is grateful for the opportunity to participate in TOTAL VOCAL for a third time and is excited for the impact that this magical musical experience will bring to all.

Forte A Cappella is a contemporary a cappella group at Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio. Forte was the ICHSA Champion in 2016 and they are a 4-time runner-up in this competition. The past couple of years Forte has been honored to be in the showcase at the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Orlando, Florida. Forte has recorded ten albums that you can find on all streaming platforms and each year they release new music videos on their YouTube channel. Three of Forte’s albums have consisted of all-original music, being the first high school group to release an all-original album. They have won many Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) and have been featured on the national compilation Best of High School A Cappella (BOHSA) albums. Forte’s music videos have won numerous A Cappella Video Awards (AVAs) including best high school video. Forte has performed with artists such as Andy Grammer, Pentatonix, Kirstie Maldonado, India Carney, Mario Jose, Ben Bram, Matt Bloyd, Sonos, Delilah, Overboard, and Deke Sharon over the years. You can find Forte on all social media platforms, including tiktok, where one of their videos even reached over a million views! Forte enjoyed singing on the Carnegie Hall stage with Deke Sharon in 2017 and is so grateful to have this opportunity to do it again.

Kelly Korpusik has enjoyed working with the students at Centerville High school since 2016. She is currently the head choral director at CHS and has the privilege of directing all 4 choirs & Forte A Cappella during the school day, along with Summit A Cappella and directing music for their school musicals after school. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education from Miami University in 1999. She started her music career teaching in the Winton Woods School district where she taught general music grades 1-6. During this time, she was also on staff with the Cincinnati Children’s Choir at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Mrs. Korpusik has taught private piano and voice lessons for over 20 years and has performed professionally with the Cincinnati Camerata. She currently lives in the Centerville School District with her husband and 2 children. Music has always been such a big part of her life and she loves that she gets to share it with her students.

Squad Harmonix is the first-ever year-round a cappella training program for dedicated singers and beatboxers aged 7 - 17. It was designed to give singers the highest quality education in singing and beatboxing and a true vocal team to belong to. Students learn harmonizing, blending, teamwork, accountability, and mic technique and perform multiple shows year-round. Students will get the chance to audition for multiple solos, record in a professional recording studio, and feature in official Squad Harmonix music videos on our YouTube (with over 1 million views). There are four 'squads' that students can train in that range in difficulty and commitment requirements; Pop Squad, Junior Squad, Senior Squad, and Varsity Squad with the Varsity Squad being considered our professional-level group. SquadHarmonix.com

Laura Saggers is the founder and director of The Laura Jean Music Academy, home of Squad Harmonix. Squad Harmonix is a unique program designed to give students a team to belong to, while also providing exceptional music education specifically designed to teach singing and beatboxing to developing voices. Laura began her music journey at the age of 4 studying classical piano, and worked her way through the rigorous ABRSM curriculum. (Associated Board of the Royal School of Music) in England. At 17 years old she completed her ABRSM exams and continued her music education studying for a diploma in Vocal Performance followed by a degree in Music Business at the Academy of Contemporary Music. During this time she opened her first studio teaching piano to elementary and middle school students. Upon graduating from college Laura moved to the US to pursue a career in live performance and songwriting. Her talent in piano earned her a sponsorship with Roland Keyboards and invitations to tour and perform with bands across the US. She also began writing and producing her own album, Chasing Dreams, a folksy love letter to artists following their dreams. In 2014 she founded the Laura Jean Music Academy which specializes in piano, voice, guitar, songwriting, and music business for pre-professional musicians. Laura is deeply passionate about the progress and development of her students both artistically and personally. She treats and loves them like family while holding them accountable for their own success and progress.

Sheppard Academy of Vocal Arts (SAVA), based in NYC, is a home for singers of all levels. Classes, workshops, and individual lessons provide training, development, and support for successful careers in music, while maintaining a safe, supportive, non-competitive environment of community and professionalism. With an emphasis on healthy vocal technique and all aspects of musicality, SAVA students work professionally on Broadway, TV and film, concerts, regional theatres, clubs, and recording contracts for those studying songwriting and composition. SAVA Singers have performed in Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, City Center, and have recorded music for the W.H.O.

Bettina Sheppard is a Welsh/American composer, performer, and arranger of music for classical, film, theatre, commercial, and dance pieces. Specializing in vocal and choral music, she is the founder and Artistic Director of Sheppard Academy of Vocal Arts (SAVA). Performances include theatre, classical choral, the swing jazz trio, Satin Dolls (founder), Celtic/Afro band and recording (Solus) under her Welsh name, Brythonwen. NYC-based, with graduate degrees in classical composition and media/film scoring, her compositions have been performed internationally. Sheppard is on faculty at City College of New York, CUNY, and is author of the book, The Everything Singing Book.

Canto Voce was formed 9 years ago to be the premier ensemble at Antigo High School, focusing on college level music. This will be their second appearance on the Carnegie Hall stage.

Mr. Jacob Oxley is in his 11th year at Antigo High School. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is a music educator, coach, and soloist. He lives in Antigo, WI with his wife and three children.