The Sounds of War and Peace: Chapter 2; The Music of Karl Jenkins

James D. Moyer, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, is the Director of Choral Activities at Pennsbury High School, and the Curriculum Coordinator for Vocal/Choral Music (K-12) for the Pennsbury School District located in lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He has been the Choral Director at Pennsbury since 1999. Prior to his appointment at Pennsbury he was the Director of Choral Activities at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. This is Mr. Moyer's 24th year in public education having taught at all grade levels in PA, NJ, VA and NC. Nearly 450 students participate in the choral music program at Pennsbury High School which uses a model of team-teaching under a choral music staff of four professionals. Choirs under his direction have performed throughout the United States and across Europe, performing in such venues as The White House and the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.; Carnegie Hall in New York City; Boston University and Fenway Park in Boston; the Gewandhaus and the St. Thomas Kirche in Leipzig, Germany; St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London; St. Patrick's Cathedral and St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland; The Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff; Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris; St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna; St. Margaret's Cathedral in Prague; and at the 41st Spoleto Festival in Spoleto, Italy by direct invitation of composer Maestro Gian Carlo Menotti. His choirs have performed at state, regional and divisional conferences of the Virginia Music Educators Association, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, and the American Choral Directors Association. Moyer has led performances of important works such as: Weinachtsoratorium of Carl Heinrich Graun (North American Premiere), Dewi Sant of Arwel Hughes (2nd US performance), Requiem of Karl Jenkins (PA Premiere), as well as collaboration concerts with guest composers Meuryn Hughes (Wales), Tarik O'Regan (London), James Whitbourn (London) and Mr. Alexander Bernstein (son of Maestro Leonard Bernstein).Mr. Moyer is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Pennsbury Community Chorus as well as the William Penn Summer Honor Choir. Mr. Moyer serves as the Director of Music for the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville (NJ) and conductor of the Lawrenceville Concert Singers. He is a former ACDA State President (VA), has served on several National and Divisional convention committees, has held Repertoire and Standards chairs for Church Music, Youth and Student Activities, and High School music, and has written choral music, recording and book reviews for The Choral Journal. His choir has been featured in several publications of GIA publishing including "The Choral Conductor's Aural Tutor", "The Choral Rehearsal - DVD" and he has authored two chapters in "The School Choral Program" also published by GIA. Mr. Moyer has been guest conductor and adjudicator at many local, regional and national events including county/district choruses in Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, the University of Mississippi Choral Festival, and the summer vocal institute at Westminster Choir College. He holds degrees from Westminster Choir College (BM), and the University of Oklahoma (MM). Principal teachers have included Fauke Haasemann, Allen Crowell, Joseph Flummerfelt, Dennis Shrock, and James Jordan.

Aldis Sils has been Music Director of the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus since 2007. He is a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of the University of Adelaide, South Australia where he received an Honours degree in Musicology. Aldis has sung with the State Opera of South Australia chorus, Adelaide Chamber Singers and other choirs in Adelaide and overseas.
Aldis is Head of Music and Deputy Principal at Marryatville High School, teaching choral and orchestral programs. Since 2007, Aldis has led the Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus in many choral concerts including the Australian premiere of Karl Jenkins' Stella Natalis in November 2011.

Emily Cox, Music Director of the Brisbane Chorale since 2003, is known as one of the leading figures in Australian choral music. She is also founding Music Director of Canticum Chamber Choir (which represented Australia at the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto, Japan, 2005). Emily is Choir Director at St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point and Lecturer in Choral Studies at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University where she teaches conducting and directs the Conservatorium Chamber Choir.

As a conductor and chorus master with a diverse repertoire, her work is in demand by professional performing arts companies and major arts festivals. Through the innovative repertoire she explores with all of her ensembles, she has introduced Brisbane audiences to many unusual and beautiful works. A graduate of Dartmouth College (USA) and the Queensland Conservatorium, Emily has trained overseas with noted specialists in her field and continues to pursue professional development with these colleagues. She is known nationally for her work as a festival and workshop director, adjudicator and choral educator for all age groups.

A zealous advocate of the performing arts, Donnalynn Laver serves as Musical and Artistic Director for Vocal Spotlight. Classically trained in voice, piano, organ and woodwinds, she received undergraduate degrees from Nyack College and Southern Adventist University. Career highlights include singing under the direction of Derric Johnson in Walt Disney World Productions, "Voices of
Liberty," the world famous eight part harmony a cappella group. In and out of the Director's role, Donnalynn is a vibrant ambassador for music and an inspiring leader, drawing singers and audiences into music with an approach that is compelling and uniquely her own.

Phillip Buch has been a music educator for the past 36 years in the state of Wisconsin. During his tenure, the joy of singing has been instilled into the lifestyles of thousands of students, who now as adults, are advocates and ambassadors for choral music education in school districts throughout the country. Buch firmly believes that the study of music is vital to every student's education and core to a well balanced curriculum. In 1985, the Wausau School district awarded him Teacher of the Year. In 1993, he received the Senator Herb Kohl Fellowship and, in 1998, he was honored as recipient of the John L. Cook Memorial presented by the Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, in March 2010, he was chosen by the Wausau Daily Herald as one of the 50 Most Influential People of the Decade in the greater Wausau area. Under his leadership, choral music at Wausau West has developed a high standard of excellence. The program is respected and appreciated in Wausau and throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Antoaneta Radocaj-Jerkovic, music educator, conductor, and classical singer, graduated and completed postgraduate studies in Music Education and in Classical Singing. She works as Associate professor of Choir at the Academy of Arts of the University J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek. As a conductor and vocal music educator, Antoaneta Radocaj-Jerkovic won a series of awards at national and international competitions (in total 29 awards). She has recorded performances for the radio and television, and published several CDs and DVDs. Antoaneta Radocaj-Jerkovic is a member of international juries for competitions in choral music and holds seminars, lectures, and workshops for choir conductors.