Dr. David Baar leads the choirs at the college prep school - Providence St. Mel in Chicago, serves as the music director for the male chorus--the Rheinischer Gesang Verein, and conducts the Hope Christian Reformed Church Choir. He holds degrees from Northwestern University, Bowling Green State University, and Hope College. Dr. Baar is active in several professional organizations including positions on the board of the American Choral Director’s Association. He has held conducting/teaching positions at several universities, public/private schools, community groups, and appears regularly as a vocal adjudicator and choral clinician. In 2010 he received the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching.

Chung-Hwa Chen first became a music lover as a young child learning the piano. Later as a teenager, she served as a volunteer piano accompanist for a local Taiwanese choir. In 1999, Chung-Hwa was able to continue her passion for music by establishing and serving as conductor for the Austin Chinese Choir. The Austin Chinese Choir is now celebrating its 16th year as a well-respected community ensemble. Chung-Hwa has led the Austin Chinese Choir to perform in concerts across Texas in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, and even abroad in Taiwan. 

Edna Duffy, A.B., M.ED, Artistic Director, DuffyLit Music/Dance Studios, Cleveland, Ohio, a Singer/Dancer/Choreographer has performed throughout the USA, Europe, Australia and West Africa. Edna was featured artist with Broadway Tony Award Winner George Faison in a tribute to the sacred music of W.C. Handy, 2007. She was Dancer/Choreographer for the ABC-TV Easter Special “Joy Dawned Again”, 2007. In 2008, she choreographed and performed “We’ve Come Too Far” by Richard Smallwood with Smallwood at Northwestern University. In addition to being Artistic Director of DuffyLit, Edna is Director of Liturgical Dance at University Circle United Methodist Church, Cleveland, Ohio.

Iris Cheng - President and founder of The Music Association of Auckland in 2002. Advisory Board & Honorary member of Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra since 2003, Chief Adjudicator of Auckland Chinese singing competition events, Co-Chair of Yellow River Cantata with Manukau Symphony Orchestra - 2009, an active music promoter in the Chinese community, coordinating with professional musicians to perform in NZ from Hong Kong and China, supported by the Ministry of Culture PR China, Confucius Institute, NZ Arts Festival and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

Alexandra Merritt Mathews has been the Musical Director of Soul Umoja since 2012 and is currently Co-President with Zori Paul. She is a senior at the University of Chicago, majoring in Comparative Literature and minoring in Theatre and Performance Studies. Alexandra is a performer, director, and writer based in Chicago and Buffalo. She directs a summer musical theatre program for teens called Curtain Up! in Buffalo. For the past two years, she has portrayed Sylvia Plath in PLATH/HUGHES. Alexandra is also a member of the dance ensemble, Balkanske Igre. This spring, she will appear in a new musical devised at UChicago with Second City. Visit alexandramerrittmathews.appspot.com for more!

Ingrid Israel Mikolajczyk is pleased to direct the College of Lake County Chamber Singers. She has acted as Lyric Opera of Chicago Unlimited’s Tour Manager since 2011 and previously conducted Triton College’s Choral Ensembles. Ms. Israel Mikolajczyk performed in Carnegie Hall’s 2012 Opening Night Gala and 2015 Prokofiev-Scriabin program with the Chicago Symphony Chorus under Riccardo Muti. An MTNA, MCW, and NATSAA award winner, she has been featured in over 25 operatic works. Favorite roles include Countess Almaviva and Najade. In 2014, Ingrid worked with Timothy Cheek, Martin Katz, and fellow art song enthusiasts through Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago.

Walter is a native of Chicago and graduated from Northwestern University School of Music (Evanston) with a Bachelors in Music Education and was mentored by the renowned choral composer and arranger, Dr. Robert Harris. He studied conducting at Butler University with Dr. Michael Shasberger and Dr. Henry Leck. Walter currently serves as the Minister of Music and Arts at the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago , Rev. Senator James T. Meeks. Professional affiliations and achievements include: American Choral Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia , Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc., Editorial Committee, African-American Heritage Hymnal (Howard University Divinity School).

Shana Yang, founder and conductor of Zhi Yin Choir, holds a degree at the Shanxi University in China majoring in vocal music and choral conducting. She was the Head of Artistic Department at Taiyuan University in China before settling in Canada. She actively involves in many major fundraising and celebrations within the local Chinese community; and currently teaches private lessons in vocal training and piano.

Rachel received her undergraduate degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University and her Master’s with an emphasis in Kodály from Capital University. She teaches choir and general music to first through fifth graders in Barrington, IL. In addition, Rachel is a director for the Kids ‘n’ Musik choir with Kindermusik Northwest.  Rachel sang with the Palatine Children’s Chorus in high school, joined the staff in 2010, and has been Artistic Director since 2012.

Striving to provide joy to our communities with the highest quality of music; we are a non-profit singing group founded in 1989, with dedicated members actively performing locally and across the United States. We have performed at many world famous concert stages such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Chicago Symphony Hall, Strathmore Concert Hall, MD, Woolsey Hall in New Haven, and Bushnell Theater in Hartford. Members also have performed at prestigious universities such as Yale University, Princeton University, Butler University, Trinity College, Temple University, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut.

For enriching cultural life and cultural exchange, The RTP Chinese American Chorus of NC has performed every year within the local community since it was established in 1997. Its members are professors, doctors, senior management staffs, engineers, software designers, research personnel and singing-lovers who are led by Madam Shao-Ai as head master of the chorus and Mr. Zhi-Yong Li as Chairman of the Board.