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Mozart’s Requiem

David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center

Memorial Day Weekend 2024 heralds in a world premiere of a new work by composer Mark Hayes. Centered on themes of unity and kindness, the new piece will appeal to a broad range of singers and audience alike. Opposite of this piece will be an act led under the skilled baton of DCINY Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Jonathan Griffith, as singers from around the globe come together to perform the masterwork Mozart’s Requiem, featuring the outstanding DCO.

Acts

Jonathan Griffith, DCINY Artistic Director and Principal Conductor

Mozart: Requiem

Mark Hayes, Composer/Conductor

Kindness (World Premiere)

Participating Groups

Greater Lake Area Chorale

Reclaim Arts Academy Chorale

New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County, VA

Belin Memorial United Methodist Church Chancel Choir

Yelm Community Choir

Celebration Community Church Choir

1st United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande Chancel Choir

Weymouth Choral Society

Pilgrim Choir, First Congregational Church

Joyful Band of Singers

Bach Society of Dayton

North Decatur Presbyterian Church Community Choir

The Manassas Chorale

SoJo Choral Arts

St. Louis County Community Chorus

Dickinson County Community Chorus

Special Guests

Artist's Name

Jonathan Griffith

Artist's Name

Mark Hayes

Press & Marketing

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Participating Group Directors

Greater Lake Area Chorale

Tracy Garrett
For more than 30 years, the Greater Lake Area Chorale has entertained Lake of the Ozarks listeners with the sounds of choral music ranging from sacred and classical to Broadway and pop. We are a volunteer choir open to all adult vocalists. Each year, the Chorale performs 10 to 12 concerts split between Christmas and Spring seasons. To fulfill our goal of bringing the gift of choral music to the broadest possible audience, we perform in area churches, schools and community venues throughout the counties surrounding mid-Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks.
Tracy Garrett is the Director of the Greater Lake Area Chorale, a group of more than seventy volunteer singers at the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri. Tracy studied conducting with former Dallas Symphony Conductor, Anshel Brusilow; choral conducting with Dr. Lloyd Pfautsch; and vocal performance with composer and conductor Simon Sargon. She has pursued multiple creative paths. After receiving a Masters Degree in Music in flute performance from Southern Methodist University, she was invited to do post-graduate work in voice performance, studying with Hungarian international soloist and recording artist Catherine Akos.

Reclaim Arts Academy Chorale

Sarah Spillman
Reclaim Arts Academy believes the arts should be used to point people to our Creator, and bring attention and glory to Him. Our God is a creative God and we want to share His creativity with the people of our community. The Reclaim Arts Academy Chorale is an advanced choral ensemble for students ages 12-18. Chorale serves as a platform for students to develop their God-given vocal abilities, fostering a challenging environment that hones the collaborative skills and musicianship necessary for successful participation in a musical ensemble. The Chorale is honored to be participating with DCINY in performing this beloved choral masterwork.
Sarah Spillman is a music educator dedicated to fostering generational music appreciation. With a career spanning more than three decades, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise to her roles as choral conductor and worship pastor, intertwining pedagogy with discipleship. As a performer, she brings practical insight to the classroom, promoting creativity, proficiency, and music literacy. Believing that we are created to worship, Sarah strives to equip students to use their God-given gifts to bring Him glory. She holds degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the University of Texas, and a masters degree in Worship Studies from Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary. Her rich background includes performances with prestigious ensembles like the Austrian-American Mozart Academy and the Austin Lyric Opera.

New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County, VA

Katherine Nelson-Tracey
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County, Inc. is an award-winning chorus of dedicated amateur and professional musicians. NDC is widely recognized for its musically diverse performances as well as its commitment to serving the communities in which it sings. NDC strives to be the premier community chorus in Prince William County and has a growing audience in the Washington DC area. NDC provides a supportive environment for the musical growth and development of its members and serves as an example of a quality adult chorus.
Originally from North Dakota, Katherine holds a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Music Education and a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Dakota. In 1998 she earned a second Master's Degree in Choral Conducting from George Mason University. Katherine teaches voice and piano in her private studio. She has directed the New Dominion Choraliers for 27 wonderful years. She is active in the American Director's Association. She sings with the Richmond Symphony Chorus in Richmond Virginia.

Belin Memorial United Methodist Church Chancel Choir

Jim Sellers
The Belin Chancel Choir is known throughout the Grand Strand of South Carolina as one of the premier church choirs in the region. Over 65 volunteer singers help lead traditional worship services weekly, with special liturgical presentations throughout the church year. The non-auditioned choir has also made two appearances at Carnegie Hall. It's motto is, "The message is in the music!"
Jim Sellers recently completed his 20th year as director of the Belin Chancel Choir. He also serves as organist for traditional worship serves. Since he holds a degree in journalism, not music, he attributes the success of his ministry to the dedicated and talented people around him.

Yelm Community Choir

Warren G Shaffer
Yelm Community Choir (Yelm, WA) was founded by Keith Skogsburg who was the Yelm High School choral director in 1997. He was succeeded as director by Warren Shaffer in 2014. The choir normally performs a Christmas concert and a late spring concert each year.
Warren Shaffer, conductor & baritone - Warren currently serves as a musician in two Yelm area churches, and conducts the Yelm Community Choir. He studied voice with Larry Boye and Jess Webster, and has a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska, where he studied composition with Randall Snyder and conducting with Emanuel Wishnow.

Celebration Community Church Choir

Marcie Ellen Duplantis
The Celebration Community Church Choir of Fort Worth, Texas, is thrilled to make its New York City debut at Lincoln Center in David Geffen Hall with composer Mark Hayes and the world premiere of Kindness, a Chorale and Fugue in the Baroque Tradition. Ensemble members include Scott Bellen, Jacob Brown, Drew Echols, Olivia Flores, Scott Green, Ron Hill, Joel Joslin, Claudia Knowles, Raymond Lipinski, Michele Peek, Randi Potenzo, Debi Roberg, Tami Rush, Elizabeth Schroeder, Charla Shobe, Kee Sourjohn, JLonnie Stafford, Randall Storey, and Elizabeth Young. Celebration Community Church is known for its extravagant hospitality, #traditionwithoutjudgment - and being a church for ALL people.
Marcie Ellen Duplantis, M.M., M.A.T., spinto soprano, conductor, and educator, is thrilled to make her Lincoln Center debut at David Geffen Hall with the Celebration Community Church Choir of Fort Worth, Texas. Duplantis is a member of The Dallas Opera Chorus, faculty at Texas Christian University, and a C.C.M. artist charting at #14 on the Christian and Gospel charts of Apple Music/iTunes. Duplantis is heralded for her powerful and lyric vocals with operatic roles, including Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes, Suor Angelica in Puccini's Il trittico, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Il Hexe/Mutter in Hänsel and Gretel. Her original music and collaborative team of creatives are rooted in Nashville's music industry.

1st United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande Chancel Choir

Julia M. Burns
The Chancel Choir of the First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande, CA is made up of 23-28 multi-generational singers. The church established over 130 years has always had a strong choir. They are located on the beautiful Central Coast of California. Along with rehearsing and singing in church every Sunday from Sept - June, they have sung at many festivals and traveled to England to sing praise to God in amazing cathedrals. They have hosted Mark Hayes for a composer's work shop and sang under his direction at Carnegie Hall in 2019.
Julia Burns has been profoundly blessed as serving as the Director of the 1st United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande, CA for the past 16 years. While she has studied voice, piano and flute for over 40 years, her love for directing came about in 2008 when she began her career as choral conductor. She stepped out of the choir she had loved and sang with over 30 years to direct. Julie has studied under Dr. Gary Bonner (formerly of Cal Baptist University) who instilled the connection of voices and love to make beautiful music. “It’s all about the connection between director and singers.”

Weymouth Choral Society
Helen Brind
We are an enthusiastic choir of over 70 members with a history stretching back more than 150 years. Based in the seaside town of Weymouth in Dorset on England's Jurassic Coast. We perform three or four concerts a year - usually with guest singers and musicians - and sing at other events like weddings, funerals and carol services at local hospitals. In 2016, some of our singers were pleased to sing Howard Goodall's "Eternal Light - A Requiem" at Carnegie Hall. We are delighted to have been invited to participate in New York again.
Helen attended the Royal College of Music then studied Music at Southampton University. Since 1985, Helen has lived and worked in Dorset, teaching (CTABRSM, PGCE), directing (LRSM in Choral Direction) and performing (DipABRSM in Singing Performance) including as a member of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus. She is also a member of the Association of British Choral Directors. Helen has been our Musical Director since 2000; she has also held that post with several other local choirs. Helen has an active private teaching practice, including in local schools and holds regular singing workshops.

Pilgrim Choir, First Congregational Church

Linda Corbitt
The Pilgrim Choir is a dedicated group of volunteers. Many are classically trained musicians, making the choir a top notch group. Members of our choir sang in the DCINY concert at Carnegie Hall in April 2018 for the King Singers 50th Anniversary Celebration. We had performed the Bob Chilcott "Little Jazz Mass" at our church and the video was posted on YouTube, we were invited to participate.
Linda Corbitt is the retired Director of Music and organist of First Congregational Church, Riverside, CA. She served there for over 20 years. Linda studied organ and voice at Chapman University in Orange, CA.

Joyful Band of Singers
Finley Woolston
An invitation only chamber ensemble organized as needed for various concerts.
Retired United Methodist Church Music Director. Music Director of Crystal Coast Choral Society. Tenor with Schola Cantorum of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern North Carolina.

Bach Society of Dayton

David Crean
The Bach Society of Dayton performs and promotes an appreciation of choral music, both sacred and secular, including the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, to nurture the next generation of choral singers. Through an annual concert series that features diverse repertoire and innovative collaborations and educational elements, the Bach Society provides musical excellence across the range of classical music.
David Crean is an accomplished conductor, teacher, recitalist, church musician, and radio personality. In July 2022 he was appointed the music director of the Bach Society of Dayton. Dr. Crean has taught organ, harpsichord, and music theory at Wright State University and has held adjunct positions at Wittenberg University, The Juilliard School, and The University of Iowa. Dr. Crean has been the Midday Host and Music Director at Discover Classical WDPR since 2017. He currently serves as Organist and Director of Music at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Dayton.

North Decatur Presbyterian Church Community Choir

Huu Mai
The NDPC Community Choir is an ensemble of vibrant voices and spirited musicianship, renowned for its captivating concert series that illuminate the rich tapestry of choral music. Under the skilled guidance of Huu Mai, the choir presents an array of masterworks that resonate with both the connoisseur and casual listener alike. Their repertoire spans the sublime complexities of Mozart's Requiem to the ethereal beauty of Fauré's Requiem, offering audiences a transcendent journey through the ages. Each performance by the NDPC Community Choir is an exploration of emotional depth, technical precision, and a celebration of choral artistry at its finest.
Esteemed for his multifaceted musical expertise, Huu Mai serves as the Director of Music at North Decatur Presbyterian Church, where his visionary artistry enriches spiritual and communal life. As Assistant Director of the Atlanta Boy Choir, Mr. Mai skillfully shapes young voices into emotive, cohesive ensembles, earning widespread acclaim. His role as Artist-in-Residence in Piano at Kennesaw State University showcases a unique blend of instrumental and choral finesse, encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations. Distinguished by his profound understanding of musical architecture and exceptional communicative prowess, Mr. Mai is celebrated as a luminous figure in both choral and instrumental music domains.

The Manassas Chorale

Rebecca Verner
The Manassas Chorale is an auditioned community chorus in its thirtieth year. It is in its fourteenth year as an Arts Partner at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Va. The Chorale won the 2017 Kathleen Seefeldt award for Outstanding Arts Organization. The Chorale performs four major concerts a year at the Hylton Center, along with concerts at the historic Bruton Parish church in Williamsburg, Va. Chorale members have sung in concerts at the National Cathedral in Washington DC and at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center in New York City, and on tours in many European nations.
Rebecca Verner has served as the Artistic Director of the Manassas Chorale since 1997. Under her leadership the Chorale has sung twenty Candlelight Concerts in Williamsburg, Va, performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and sung internationally in Germany, France, Ireland, Wales, and England. Rebecca is also an excellent pianist and organist, and directs a handbell choir. She also works as the artistic director of the Greater Manassas Children's Choir which introduces elementary and middle-school children to high quality musical performances.

SoJo Choral Arts
Sojo Choral Arts is a non-profit community organization focused on creating exceptional musical performances. Seasons Chorale & Orchestra has been providing a music outlet for singers for over 20 years. With over 100 voices (no audition required) and a 40-piece orchestra (by invitation or audition), the Chorale welcomes musicians from South Jordan and nearby communities with all backgrounds. Currently, rehearsals are held weekly in the fall. No fees are required. Deci'Belles, a women's audition chorus, sings year-round. They rehearse weekly, and give approximately 50 performances annually throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

St. Louis County Community Chorus

Andy Waggoner
The St. Louis County Community Chorus is a nearly 200-voice ensemble located in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. Next season, the Chorus will celebrate their 50th anniversary. The Chorus performs a wide variety of repertoire from classics to Broadway. In 2023, they were invited to perform at the Missouri Choral Director's Association Summer Conference. In June 2024, many singers will travel to London and Dublin on a performance Tour. Andy Waggoner has been at the helm as Artistic Director since 2016. Their motto is "Everyone Has a Song to Sing" and encourages the joy of life-long singing.
Andy Waggoner, Artistic Director of the St. Louis County Community Chorus, also serves as Director of Worship Arts at Webster Hills UMC in St. Louis, Missouri. He served Missouri ACDA as representative for both community choirs and worship. In July, Andy will begin serving the Southwest ACDA as Community Choir Representative. Andy has conducted at Carnegie Hall, most recently with DCINY, and has prepared choruses and conducted residencies in New York City, Washington DC, and festivals throughout the Midwest. He is currently preparing a 2024 tour to Dublin and Ireland. He resides in St. Louis with his husband, Steven.

Dickinson County Community Chorus
Crystal Hogan / Dawn Kranz
The Dickinson County Community Chorus was formed 55 years ago. The chorus presents three concerts a year. 'The Sounds of Christmas' concert kicks off the Christmas season. In the spring the chorus collaborates with local ministers to present a Holy Week concert at a local cathedral entitled 'Choral Offerings.' Our 'Music Under the Stars' summer concert features patriotic, pop, jazz and musical theatre selections and is performed at the local park bandshell. DCCC is a 65-90 member volunteer chorus with a 30 member children's chorus who perform for large audiences due to their popularity and longstanding tradition.
The Dickinson County Community Chorus has been in existence since 1967. Crystal Hogan has served as the Principal Conductor since 2013 and Dawn Kranz has served as the Assistant Conductor and Children's Chorus Director for the past five years. Both directors taught choral, general and instrumental music in the public schools throughout their musical careers. Since retiring from the public schools, Crystal continues to work in church music and Dawn continues to teach private lessons at her own music studio. They also sing together for local events and venues.