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Mass In Blue: The Music Of Will Todd

David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center

Acts

Alicia W. Walker, Guest Conductor
Todd: Mass in Blue
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Singers International

James M. Meaders, Guest Conductor
Todd: Songs of Peace
Todd: No More Sorrow
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Singers International

Also Featuring:

Kristin M. Claiborne, Soprano

Participating Groups

Weston Choral and Worle Chorale

University of South Carolina University Chorus

The Shandon Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir of Columbia in South Carolina

Encore! Women's Choir

Blythewood High School Choral Program

Caledonia High School Chorus

Portage Northern High School Songleader's Chorale

Kantorei

Williamsburg Women's Chorus

University of Dundee Choir

Brookland-Cayce Honors Choir

Union United Methodist Church Chancel Choir

Louisburg High School Select Choir

Helensburgh Oratorio Choir, Scotland

Skule™ Choir

Dreher High School Concert Choir

Newman Congregational Church Choir

Gilbert High School Chorus

Trumbull High School Concert Choir

Sumter High Concert Choir

Irmo High School Choir

Sutton Bonington Singers

Church by the Sea Chancel Choir

Special Guests

Artist's Name

Alicia W. Walker

Artist's Name

James M. Meaders

Artist's Name

Will Todd

Artist's Name

Kristin M. Claiborne

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Participating Group Directors

University of South Carolina University Chorus
Alicia W. Walker
Alicia W. Walker is Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of South Carolina, where she directs the University Chorus and the USC Men’s Chorus, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and music education. She holds degrees from Florida State University, Southern Seminary, and the University of Georgia. An experienced music educator, Dr. Walker taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels prior to joining the music education faculty at the University of Georgia.  Dr. Walker made her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in 2015, and will conduct at Lincoln Center in 2019.  Her choirs have been selected to perform for SCMEA and for South Carolina’s ACDA conference.

Each year Dr. Walker travels to South Africa to teach continuing education for choral directors, and in 2017-18 she taught and conducted in Taiwan and in England.   She is a Past President of Southern Region ACDA and Georgia ACDA, and she developed ChorTransform, ACDA’s service-learning initiative for student chapters.  Her commitment to professional mentoring led Dr. Walker to found Facets,™ a leadership retreat for women conductors. In Columbia, she conducts a chamber choir of music educators called Limited Time Only, and she maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.  A long-time church musician, Dr. Walker has served churches in Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, and South Carolina, and she presently conducts the Chancel Choir at Shandon Presbyterian Church.  She was a committee chair for the development of Celebrating Grace, a hymnal published in 2010, and is a contributing author for Sacred Choral Music Repertoire: Insight for Conductors, a resource to be published by GIA in 2019. ​ She is a Life Member of ACDA, and holds memberships in NAfME and NCCO.

The University of South Carolina University Chorus represents a broad swath of the population of USC. Students from a variety of disciplines -- engineering, sports management, business, education, computer science, hotel and restaurant management, to name a few-- joining with music majors to create a large, diverse ensemble. The repertoire draws from the broad spectrum of choral music, offering the singers opportunity for challenge and artistry at a high level. The group performs on campus, at USC football games, in the community, and around the state of South Carolina. In addition, the ensemble has received invitations to perform at state music conferences, and at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, including the world premiere of Daniel Elder’s World Without End. The choir combines with the USC Concert Choir and instrumental ensembles for major works, including the premiere of Herbert Howells’ Sir Patrick Spens in 2013 and Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deustches Requiem in 2014. In 2014 and 2018, singers from the University Chorus traveled to South Africa to perform and do service-learning in Johannesburg, Soweto, and Cape Town. Recent notable performances include Duruflé’s Requiem (2017) and the Poulenc Gloria (2018).

Weston Choral and Worle Chorale
Howard Sayer
Howard trained as a music teacher at Bath College of Higher Education. He specialised in piano, oboe and music education. His career was entirely based at Worle School in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, where he founded the Worle School Youth Choir, which toured Europe extensively. Currently MD of Weston Choral and Worle Chorale, Howard specialises in directing music of contemporary composers. When not engaged in music he enjoys travel, walking, cooking and following Brentford Football Club, from London, the city of his birth.

Weston Choral (formally known as Weston Choral Society) is one of the longest established in the town of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset as it was founded in 1865. The society's aim is to bring choral music of high quality to people in Weston and the surrounding area. Worle Chorale was formed in 2007 and is a small ensemble of friends who enjoy performing locally and abroad. We have a strong link with a choir in Spain and later this year will be performing with choirs in Budapest, Hungary.

The Shandon Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir of Columbia in South Carolina
Alicia W. Walker
Also under the direction of Alicia Walker, The Shandon Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir is a semi-professional ensemble comprised of four choir scholars and 36 voices. They perform for weekly Sunday morning worship as part of a vibrant Worship and Music Ministry.

Encore! Women's Choir
Patricia Milford
Patricia Milford directs Encore! Women's Choir and Bravo! Men's Choir in Wichita Falls, Texas. She received a Master's Degree in Music Education from Midwestern State University and was a public school music teacher and church pianist. After retirement, she founded Encore! and Bravo! in 2005. They present public concerts several times a year and perform throughout the community. She and her husband play in the orchestra at First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year!

Encore! Women's Choir in Wichita Falls was founded in 2005 and has grown to over fifty members. The group is multigenerational and sings from a variety of genres. Members come from many different backgrounds but unite to share the gift of music with others.

Blythewood High School Choral Program
Kristin M. Claiborne
Ms. Claiborne is in her seventh year as choral director & assistant boys basketball coach at Blythewood High School. The choral program consists of four choirs & a pop/jazz a cappella group. Ms. Claiborne holds a Bachelors in Music Education & a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University. Ms. Claiborne performs in Limited Time Only, a semi-professional chamber choir out of Columbia, SC. She is a proud, active member of the both the American Choral Directors Association & Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

The Blythewood High School Choral Department, under the direction of Kristin Claiborne, consists of five performing ensembles: Mixed Chorus, Treble Singers, Concert Choir, Bella Voce, & the acaBengals. These ensembles have routinely earned the highest superior with distinction ratings at local, regional, & state competitions & assessments. Students from the program have represented the school & the district on a yearly basis in the RSD2 Honor Choir, the SC All-State choirs, & the American Choral Directors Association Honor Choirs (state, regional, & national). Blythewood choir members have toured throughout Italy, New York City, Atlanta, & in the NC/SC area.

Caledonia High School Chorus
Jayne Doolittle
Jayne Doolittle is in her sixth year of teaching. She is currently the choral director of Caledonia Middle and High Schools. Mrs. Doolittle holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in conducting from Mississippi College where she studied with Dr. James Meaders. She is a 2016 alumni of DCINY's Conducting Workshop. An active member of ACDA and NAfME, she is the director of the First Ladies women’s ensemble. Her favorite role; however, is mother to her three boys.

The Caledonia High School choral program was founded in the fall of 2016. The program has grown from 11 original members to 40 members. The CHS Chorus performs at state evaluations each year and has received both Excellent and Superior ratings. Members of the choir have participated in various honor choirs including TrebleSong, the honor choir of the MS Girlchoir, the ACDA Honor Choir, and the MS Baptist All-State Youth Choir and Orchestra. The choir presents two major concerts each year and regularly performs for the school and community.

Portage Northern High School Songleader's Chorale
Robert C. Jordan
Robert Jordan completed his BM in Music Education and Trumpet at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University - Bloomington and a MM in Organ Performance at Western Michigan University. He is Director of Choirs at Portage Northern High School and is the Organist/Music Director at the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo. He is trained in the Estill Voice Training model and Lincoln Center Education’s model of Aesthetic Education. Robert was a lecturer/presenter on the topic of Middle School Musicals at the Michigan Music Conference, the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and Western Michigan University.

Founded in the 1960s, the Songleader’s Chorale is the premier SATB choral ensemble at Portage Northern High School in Portage, Michigan. Members of this group participate in many festivals throughout the State of Michigan and are members in good standing of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. They presented Will Todd’s Mass in Blue at the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo and at the Portage Northern High School Collage Concerts in December of 2017. The Songleader’s Chorale partnered with Soprano Katelin Spencer and a local jazz combo to present this special work.

Kantorei
Matthew Palisch
Matthew Palisch has served as the Director of Music and Organist for St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Jackson, Missouri since 2008. He directs an expansive music ministry in both the church and school comprised of five children’s choirs, Kantorei, the Joyful Sound Ringers and a concert series which showcases local talent as well as professional musicians from around the country. Palisch has also served as Professor of Organ at Southeast Missouri State University’s Holland School for the Visual and Performing Arts since 2011. He holds bachelor degrees in music education and organ performance from Southeast Missouri State University and a masters degree in organ and church music from the University of Iowa. His organ teachers have included Gary L. Miller, Delbert Disselhorst, and Brett Wolgast. Mr. Palisch is active in the American Guild of Organists, the Royal School of Church Music in America, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and the Organ Historical Society.

Kantorei is St. Paul’s adult choral ensemble comprised of 48 singers ranging in age from sixteen to well-seasoned. Kantorei is a non-auditioned choir that provides musical leadership for St. Paul’s worship services as well as special concerts and events. They perform an annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, an annual Hymn Festival, and participate in the Jackson Community Choral Festival. Their accompanist is Mrs. Patricia Palisch who also serves as assistant conductor. Kantorei recently recorded their first CD entitled “Music at St. Paul” and made their first tour through the mid-west recently as well as a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. as part of the annual Memorial Day Choral Festival.

University of Dundee Choir
Graeme Stevenson
Graeme is the 3rd generation of his family to have become an organist. At the age of just 12 he took his first organist post at St John’s Episcopal Church, Dundee. He studied at Aberdeen University where he was awarded an organ scholarship at Kings College. After graduating with First Class honours, he took on a Masters Degree on the Music for the Mass by Johann Ludwig Krebs. Currently he is the Director of Music at the University of Dundee, directing the choirs and orchestra. The Chamber Choir have toured throughout Europe and both the Chamber Choir and Bach Consort have recorded CDs. He is Master of Music at Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s) and Angus Choral Society.

The Choir has been singing together since the University was established. The choir is made up of students, staff and alumni and is part of Dundee University Music Society - a student led society which provides the opportunity for students and staff to come together to make music. In March 2019 the choir will give the Scottish premier of Will Todd's Passion Music, as well as other choral favorites over the years such as Carmina Burana, Haydn's Creation, Will Todd's Mass in Blue and Godzilla eats last Vegas! The choir have performed for Her Majesty The Queen and the Dalai Lama.

Williamsburg Women's Chorus

Brookland-Cayce Honors Choir
Wendi E. Humphries
Wendi is a 34 year veteran teacher and the Choral Director at Brookland-Cayce High School. She is a graduate of Airport High School, the University of South Carolina and Columbia College. She teaches music to students through several classes that include: Chorus, Honors Choir, and Beginning and Advanced Piano Keyboard. Wendi began with Lexington District Two in 1987 at Claude A. Taylor Elementary teaching music and chorus; she moved to R. H. Fulmer Middle in 1991 where she taught chorus, piano keyboard, and handbells. She was named Teacher of the Year at both Claude A. Taylor (1991-92) and Fulmer Middle School (1996-97). Since moving to Brookland-Cayce High in 2007, she has directed six leading musicals and again named Teacher of the Year (2013-14). Wendi also serves as Minister of Music at Park Street Baptist Church in down town Columbia and Music Director at New Hope Christian Fellowship in West Columbia.

The Brookland-Cayce Honors Choir is the top performing mixed ensemble at Brookland-Cayce High School in Cayce, SC. In addition to 4 major concerts annually, they also perform at school and community functions. The BC Honors Choir consistently receives "Superior" ratings at State and Regional Festivals. Students in the Brookland-Cayce Honors Choir participate in the SC ACDA State Honor Choirs, SCMEA All-State Choirs, ACDA Regional Honor Choirs, 9-10 All Carolina Select Choirs at Wingate University, the SCMEA Solo and Ensemble festival and the SCMEA Concert Performance Assessment. Students in the BC Honors Choir receive numerous scholarship awards and place in local and regional vocal competitions. In 2013 & 2016 the Honors Choir received invitations and performed at Disney’s Epcot Candlelight Procession. In 2014 the B-C Honors Choir traveled to New York to participate and study with professionals through Backstage Broadway. This is BC Honors Choir’s second appearance with DCINY, the first being in 2015 performing in Carnegie Hall.

Union United Methodist Church Chancel Choir
Donald R. Kirkindoll
Donald Kirkindoll is the Director of Music Ministries at Union United Methodist Church in Irmo, SC. He holds a Master of Music from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Music from Centenary College of Louisiana. Don and his family live in Chapin, SC.

The Union United Methodist Church Chancel Choir is the primary worship ensemble for the church. In addition to preparing music for Sunday worship they present major music and worship programs throughout the year. The choir toured Vienna, Austria in 2006 and hopes to travel again soon. This concert is the ensemble's second DCINY event.

Louisburg High School Select Choir
Alison Moore
Alison Moore graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Music Education. She has taught elementary music for 12 years and has directed Louisburg Middle School and High School choirs for 6 years. Alison also teaches Theatre Arts, directing the high school and middle school musicals and plays. She was chosen as Master Teacher of the year in 2015. She and her husband, Tommy have 4 children: Austin, Alyse, Ashton and Adelyn. She is very excited for the LHS Select Choir to have this opportunity and deeply appreciates the support the Louisburg community has shown throughout her career.

The Louisburg High School Select Choir is an audition only group comprised of sophomores, juniors and seniors. The Louisburg High School Select Choir performs throughout the year at various school and community events. They also compete at the state large group ensemble each year, consistently earning superior ratings. The Louisburg High School Select Choir members would like to thank their families for making this trip possible.

Helensburgh Oratorio Choir, Scotland
Jonathon Swinard
Conductor and pianist Jonathon Swinard is the Artistic Director of the Scottish Opera Young Company and the new Head of Music at Garsington Opera. He studied at Oxford University and the Guildhall School and began his career at Scottish Opera as the company’s first Emerging Artist Répétiteur. From 2013 to 2014 he held the Alexander Gibson Choral Conducting Fellowship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus. From 2014 to 2016 he was Solorepetitor and Kapellmeister at the Staatstheater in Nuremberg where he conducted opera, ballet, and musical theatre. In 2016 he returned to Scottish Opera as Chorus Master and Répétiteur. He studied conducting with Sian Edwards at Dartington and is the Musical Director of the Helensburgh Oratorio Choir.

Helensburgh Oratorio Choir from Scotland performs large-scale choral repertoire with professional soloists / orchestra and enjoys an active calendar of social / fundraising events. The choir now numbers between 80 – 90 singers who are all auditioned by the Musical Director – Jonathon Swinard. It has provided many opportunities for young soloists, of whom several have gone on to international success. Recently the choir has worked with musicians from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland giving them exposure to choral orchestral performance. Over its’ 55 years the choir has sung music by a wide range of composers covering four centuries of composers from Purcell to Todd, much of it for the first time in Helensburgh. Despite the need to raise money to subsidise the cost of Orchestral concerts the choir has raised substantial sums of money for other charities.

Dreher High School Concert Choir
Nathaniel Walter Graham, III
Mr. Graham is in his 7th year as Director of Choral Studies at the Dreher High School. Mr. Graham holds degrees from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor in choral music education (1999) and a master in choral conducting (2015). Prior to coming to Dreher High School, he has taught in middle and elementary schools. Mr. Graham is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music/ Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood (2011). In 2015, Mr. Graham was the first recipient of the Marjorie Stands Music Educator Award from the Symphony League of the South Carolina Philharmonic. The mission of the Symphony League is to foster, promote, and increase musical knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts in the community and to cooperate with and support the South Carolina Philharmonic. Mr. Graham is active as a choral clinician, guest conductor, musical director and adjudicator throughout South Carolina.

Under Mr. Graham's direction, the Dreher Concert Choir has received Superior ratings at Choral Performance Assessments. The choir was one of the featured choirs selected to perform at the SCMEA Conference in 2018. The choir has sung with the University of South Carolina Symphony, Ethan Bortnick (prodigy pianist), Damian McGintey (from the television shows Glee and The Glee Project), one of the featured choirs at the South Carolina Governor’s Carolighting Ceremony, and throughout the Midlands in South Carolina.

Skule™ Choir
Lauren Levorson-Wong
Lauren Levorson-Wong is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in music at the University of Toronto, and studies under Jennifer Tung at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She conducts and works as a clinician with groups in Toronto. Lauren has been a recipient of many scholarships and awards for her performance, and is an RCM Quad. Ceritifer. She has done conducting work at Opera York and Glenn Gould School. Currently, Lauren is writing a pragmatic manual on a holistic approach to voice in solo and choral context. Lauren has been conducting Skule™ Choir since 2016.

Skule™ Choir is a 30-member auditioned SATB mixed chorus at the University of Toronto Engineering performing a wide range of music, from Baroque to contemporary classical, and from world music to folk songs. The choir was re-established in 2015 by engineering students with a goal to create a space to share choral music within the engineering community. It is open to all members of the university, regardless of field of study or music background. The choir also has a small ensemble, Choir++, which is composed of more experienced singers who strive to advance their skills while performing more challenging music. The group often collaborates with other music groups in the university community like Skule™ Music ensembles and the Royal Conservatory School Community Chorus. Skule™ Choir holds a major concert every semester and performs at various university and city events, striving to provide students with a unique community and music experience while expanding their skills.

Newman Congregational Church Choir
Geoffrey Greene
An active musician in the New England music scene, Geoffrey Greene has been the Minister of Music at Newman Congregational Church, UCC in Rumford, Rhode Island since September, 2001. While at Newman, Mr. Greene has directed the choir with orchestra in several performances. Greene has led the Newman choir in the premiere of Paul Nelson’s Psalms of Praise and was honored to premiere Nelson’s sacred anthem entitled O Love Divine, dedicated to the choir of Newman Congregational Church. Most recently Greene has presented concerts at Newman featuring original compositions by composers Chris Turner and Steven L. Jobe. These concerts feature instrumental selections of chamber works (Greene plays accordion, piano, and organ) as well as choral works for the Newman choir. The choir premiered Jobe’s composition, The Newman Cantata. In April of 2018 the choir premiered Chris Turner’s Parable of the Trees to great acclaim. Mr. Greene has been a featured organist in concerts throughout New England. In November, 2008 he performed a concert for English horn and organ with Jane Murray. In November 2006 he performed the premiere of Paul Nelson’s Variations over a ground bass by Pachelbel for organ. In 1996, Geoffrey Greene received his Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Rhode Island. As part of this degree program, he studied organ with Mr. George Kent and composition with Dr. Geoffrey Gibbs. In recognition of his academic and performance achievements at the University of Rhode Island, Mr. Greene was inducted into the membership of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. In 1987, Mr. Greene received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Math/Computer Science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While attending Trinity College, Mr. Greene studied organ with Mr. John Rose, Director of Chapel Music. Geoff loves all kinds of music and leads his reggae band, Professor Roots. He also plays squeezebox in the folk band The Providence Wholebellies.

An active musician in the New England music scene, Geoffrey Greene has been the Minister of Music at Newman Congregational Church, UCC in Rumford, Rhode Island since September, 2001. While at Newman, Mr. Greene has directed the choir with orchestra in several performances. Greene has led the Newman choir in the premiere of Paul Nelson’s Psalms of Praise and was honored to premiere Nelson’s sacred anthem entitled O Love Divine, dedicated to the choir of Newman Congregational Church. Most recently Greene has presented concerts at Newman featuring original compositions by composers Chris Turner and Steven L. Jobe. These concerts feature instrumental selections of chamber works (Greene plays accordion, piano, and organ) as well as choral works for the Newman choir. The choir premiered Jobe’s composition, The Newman Cantata. In April of 2018 the choir premiered Chris Turner’s Parable of the Trees to great acclaim. Mr. Greene has been a featured organist in concerts throughout New England. IIn 1996, Geoffrey Greene received his Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Rhode Island. As part of this degree program, he studied organ with Mr. George Kent and composition with Dr. Geoffrey Gibbs. In recognition of his academic and performance achievements at the University of Rhode Island, Mr. Greene was inducted into the membership of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. In 1987, Mr. Greene received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Math/Computer Science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While attending Trinity College, Mr. Greene studied organ with Mr. John Rose, Director of Chapel Music. Geoff loves all kinds of music and leads his reggae band, Professor Roots. He also plays squeezebox in the folk band The Providence Wholebellies.

Gilbert High School Chorus
Craig J. Coelho
Craig Coelho is Choral Director at Gilbert High School in Lexington County School District One of South Carolina and in his seventh year of teaching. Craig has also served as Choral Director at South Aiken High School and Irmo High School. Craig received both his Bachelor of Music with emphasis in Music Education and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina. He serves as Youth R&R Coordinator for the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association and All-State Chorus Weekend Coordinator for the South Carolina Music Educators Association. Craig has been involved in church music over the past fourteen years and currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at Cayce United Methodist Church.

Gilbert High School is located in a rural community of the Lexington County School District One, outside of Columbia, South Carolina. The Gilbert High School Chorus is comprised of three honors level ensembles, Bel Canto, Sola Voce, and Chamber Choir. This highly successful choral program consistently earns superior ratings in both performance and sight reading at Choral Performance Assessment and other festivals. Students consistently audition and participate in the South Carolina All-State Chorus, South Carolina American Choral Directors Honor Choirs, and ACDA Regional Honor Choirs.

Sumter High Concert Choir
Ashlee Poole
Ashlee Poole is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Masters of Music in Conducting. She began her teaching career as Choral director at Sumter High School in 2015 growing the program from 67 students to well over 100. Native of Sumter, SC Ms. Poole chose to return to her roots so she could give back to the community that initially fostered her love of music. Now Ms. Poole enriches the lives of her students by immersing them in music and inspiring them in all aspects of their lives.

Concert Choir is the largest and most advanced ensemble at Sumter High School. Students within this choir are selected strictly through auditions and recommendations from former music teachers. Because of the select nature of this ensemble the SHS Concert Choir has become home to many of SC’s best choristers. Under the direction of Ms. Poole soloists and Concert Choir itself has consistently earned Superior ratings from adjudicators within the Southeast. Students from this ensemble have also participated in many select honor choirs including: University of South Carolina, SC All-State Chorus, SC ACDA, Regional ACDA, and National ACDA.

Trumbull High School Concert Choir
Anne Tornillo
Anne Tornillo has been the Director of Choral Music at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut for the past thirty-one years. Ms. Tornillo is the recipient of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra Excellence in Music Teaching Award and was named Trumbull High School’s Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016. She performed with the Connecticut Grand Opera for fifteen seasons, has appeared with Yale Opera, and with New Rochelle Opera, and performed with several area choral groups as both soloist and chorister. Ms. Tornillo is grateful to share in the joy of music making with such an extraordinary group of students.

There are five choral groups at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, each of whom performs regularly throughout the year receiving consistent high praise from experts in the field. The Concert Choir has toured extensively throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States and most recently traveled to San Francisco, California giving performances at Mission Dolores Basilica, Grace Cathedral, and Stanford University. The Concert Choir has had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall by invitation on nine separate occasions and at Avery Fisher Hall as well, performing major works in the standard repertory as well as three world premieres. The Trumbull High School Concert Choir is thrilled to return to David Geffen Hall to perform the music of Will Todd.

Irmo High School Choir
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is in his second year as Choral Director at Irmo High. At Irmo, Frank teaches all chorus classes, group piano, adaptive music, and works as the music director for musical productions. Mr. Turner received the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Mississippi College, and the Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina. Since moving to South Columbia, he has served as the Associate Director of Music at Union United Methodist church, and held choral scholar positions at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Shandon Presbyterian Church. Presently, Frank serves as the Associate Artistic Director for the Palmetto Mastersingers, a community men's ensemble.

The Irmo High School Chorus combines students-9th through 12 grade-from the various choral ensembles within the music department. Students range from beginner to advanced levels, but all must have a love for choral music. Students participate in daily choral rehearsals that develop their vocal technique, enhance music literacy skills, build vocabulary for performance critique, and sing diverse choral repertoire.

Sutton Bonington Singers
Rachael Crosland
Rachael is in her 3rd year at the University of Nottingham. She directs and conducts the choir alongside studying Veterinary Medicine. She has sung in choirs from a young age, in a range of genres, from chamber to gospel! Choral singing has given her some fantastic opportunities: from performing in the Royal Albert Hall in London, to singing on tours in Europe. She is incredibly excited to add ‘bringing a choir to New York’ as part of this list. This is Rachael’s second year of running the choir, and they are the first choir she has ever directed!

The Sutton Bonington Singers are based at the University of Nottingham’s ‘Sutton Bonington’ campus. The choir is currently around 55 people strong, made up of a wide range of people: from students, university staff and lecturers, to members of the local villages. We pride ourselves on being a community as well as a choir. We have a variation of abilities, some who have never been in choirs before and can’t read music, to trained singers- all are welcome! We sing a wide range of music: from classical to musical theatre to pop to gospel and everything in between.

Church by the Sea Chancel Choir
Harold Dioquino
Mr. Dioquino, holds a degree in music from the University of Immaculate Conception, Davao City, Philippines with a major in piano. Along with his position as Director of Music at Church by the Sea, he is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida.

The Chancel Choir at Church by the Sea is a vital force in the mission of the church, providing healing, comfort and care to the congregants and visitors. The choir’s presence profoundly impacts the worship each Sunday, inspiring all and initiating peace and beauty for the coming week. The choir is noted for producing quality music with the members creating exquisite blending of instruments and voice. Many in the community attend the twice annual Worship thru Music program, expecting and receiving the blessings of Christ through music. The Chancel Choir welcomes all who long to experience the joy of singing.