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James D. Wetzel is Director of Music and Organist of the Parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer and Saint Catherine of Siena on Manhattan's Upper East Side, where he directs the professional Schola Cantorum and oversees a distinguished program of sacred music. Recognized for his work as a conductor, organist, and church musician, he is an active presence in New York City's choral and liturgical music communities.

Prior to his current appointment, he served as Organist and Choirmaster of the Church of Saint Agnes in Midtown Manhattan and as Organ Scholar of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Since 2010, he has also served as Assistant Conductor of the Greenwich Choral Society, helping lead one of the region's longstanding choral organizations.

An accomplished educator and arts leader, he served as an adjunct lecturer in the Music Department at Hunter College from 2011 to 2016. He is currently Dean of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and serves on the boards of the Catholic Artists Society and the New York Purgatorial Society.

A graduate of both The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music, he studied organ with the renowned Paul Jacobs and conducting with Robert Page and Kent Tritle. Through his work as a performer, conductor, and educator, he continues to champion the rich traditions of choral, organ, and sacred music in New York and beyond.

Dr. Everett McCorvey serves as Artistic Director of the National Chorale. Widely recognized for his commitment to vocal excellence, he has spent more than three decades leading choirs, mentoring singers, and conducting performances throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. His dynamic interpretations of both choral and operatic repertoire have earned him an international reputation as a conductor, performer, and educator.

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, he holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the University of Alabama. As a performer, he has appeared at many of the world's leading venues, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Aspen Music Festival, Radio City Music Hall, Teatro Comunale in Florence, and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. His international career has also taken him throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

He is the founder and Music Director of the American Spiritual Ensemble, a professional vocal ensemble dedicated to preserving and promoting spirituals and works by African American composers. Since its founding in 1995, the ensemble has presented hundreds of concerts worldwide and has been featured in PBS broadcasts.

In addition to his performing career, he serves as the OperaLex Endowed Chair in Opera Studies and Professor of Voice at the University of Kentucky. He was recently appointed inaugural Principal Guest Conductor of Opera Columbus and continues to appear regularly as a conductor, clinician, and guest artist with leading musical organizations.

Reflecting on his work with the National Chorale, he shares:

"Celebrating the National Chorale's 59th season of great choral singing is indeed an honor and a privilege. It is my fervent hope that we can continue to sing, share, and experience the goodness of humanity through music and learn more about one another through the arts."

César Leal is a Colombian-born conductor and musicologist whose work bridges performance, scholarship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He serves as Director of Orchestral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at Gettysburg College's Sunderman Conservatory, where he conducts the orchestra and oversees the musicology program.

He has conducted professional and academic ensembles throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe. In addition to leading international tours with the Gettysburg College Orchestra, he has served as Artistic Director of the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra and as a faculty member of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. His performances are known for combining historical insight with innovative programming, including collaborations with ballet and multidisciplinary arts organizations.

A champion of diverse repertoire, he is a regular guest conductor with the Panama National Symphony Orchestra and has collaborated with the American Spiritual Ensemble and acclaimed artists including Kallen Esperian, Cynthia Lawrence, Angela Brown, Kenneth Overton, and Reginald Smith Jr. Recent projects have included Carlisle Floyd's Pilgrimage, a new orchestration of Margaret Bonds's Credo, the world premiere of Princess Joy and the Emotions Factory, and a collaboration with the Martha Graham Dance Company as part of the America 250 celebration.

An active educator and lecturer, he regularly leads masterclasses, adjudicates competitions, and conducts youth and honors ensembles throughout the United States and abroad. He holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Kentucky and a Master's degree in Conducting from Florida International University, where he studied with Stewart Robertson.

Gregory Hopkins is the Founding Artistic Director of Harlem Opera Theater and one of New York's most respected conductors, vocal coaches, and choral leaders. For more than 35 years, he has served as Minister of Music at Harlem's historic Convent Avenue Baptist Church and is also Music Director of the Harlem Jubilee Singers and the Cocolo Japanese Gospel Choir.

An internationally acclaimed conductor, tenor, pianist, and organist, he has performed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. His work spans opera, sacred music, choral performance, and concert repertoire, and he has led performances and educational programs with ensembles and artists around the world. As Artistic Director of Harlem Opera Theater, he has championed both standard repertoire and works by African American composers while expanding access to opera and classical music in underserved communities.

His distinguished career includes serving as Music Director for the NAACP Centennial Celebration, preparing choirs for the National Baptist Convention, and appearing as a featured performer at the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. He has also prepared singers for major Lincoln Center events, including Martina Arroyo's Prelude to a Performance and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrations.

An accomplished educator, he has served on the faculties of Howard University, Morgan State University, Westminster Choir College, and other institutions. Through his teaching, conducting, and community engagement, he has helped shape generations of singers, conductors, and arts leaders.

A lifelong advocate for vocal excellence and arts education, he continues to perform, teach, and conduct while leading several of New York's most influential musical organizations.

James John is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College–CUNY, where he conducts the Queens College Vocal Ensemble and Queens College Choral Society and leads the graduate program in choral conducting. He also serves as Artistic Director of Cerddorion, a Manhattan-based chamber choir known for innovative programming spanning the breadth of the choral repertoire.

Under his leadership, the Queens College choral program has become one of the region's premier collegiate choral programs, earning invitations to perform at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and appearing at distinguished venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Trinity Church Wall Street, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. His ensembles have been featured on numerous recordings, including releases on the Naxos label and the 2024 world premiere recording of Shanan Estreicher's A Concordance of Leaves.

As a guest conductor, he has led performances of Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the Tokyo Oratorio Society and Oratorio Sinfonica Japan, conducted the National Chorale's annual Messiah Sing-In at David Geffen Hall, and appeared with honor choirs and professional ensembles throughout New York and beyond. His work has also included collaborations with the Queens Symphony and vocal contracting for acclaimed artist Josh Groban.

An active conductor, educator, clinician, and adjudicator, he is widely recognized for his contributions to choral music and music education. In 2025, he received the Queens College President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music, as well as master's degrees from Queens College and Dartmouth College.

Under his leadership, the choral program at the Aaron Copland School of Music has become recognized as one of the finest collegiate choral programs in the region, with performances at state and divisional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as performances in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. His ensembles are featured on several recordings, including The Partsongs of Hamish MacCunn, released by the QC Vocal Ensemble, and Songs of Peace and Praise, a compilation of choral music by Queens College composers, released on the NAXOS label. The QC Vocal Ensemble’s world premiere recording of Shanan Estreicher’s cantata, A Concordance of Leaves, was released on the NAXOS label in February of 2024.

Dr. John’s guest conducting appearances include Brahms’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Tokyo Oratorio Society and Oratorio Sinfonica Japan, the annual Messiah Sing-In at David Geffen Hall, a concert of American choral music with the Virginia Chorale, and honor choirs throughout New York State. As a teacher and scholar, Dr. John has served as guest lecturer in conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany and presented seminars on American choral music in Basel and Stockholm. He has given presentations at both divisional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.

Dr. John received his Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the Eastman School of Music. His prior appointments also include Director of Choral Activities at both Tufts University (Boston, MA) and Nassau Community College (Garden City, NY), as well as Conducting Fellow at Dartmouth College.

Jason C. Tramm is an award-winning conductor whose work in opera, orchestral music, and choral performance has earned critical acclaim throughout the United States and abroad. Praised by Symphony Magazine as a "conductor to watch" and noted for his "Italianate passion" by The Huffington Post, he is recognized for his dynamic leadership and versatility across a wide range of repertoire.

He serves as Director of Choral and Orchestral Activities at Seton Hall University, where he was named University Faculty Teacher of the Year in 2017. In addition, he is Executive Director of the Light Opera of New Jersey, Director of Music at the historic Ocean Grove Great Auditorium, Artistic Director of MidAtlantic Artistic Productions, Music Director of the Taghkanic Chorale, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Long Island Concert Orchestra.

A frequent guest conductor, he has led symphonic, operatic, and choral performances throughout the United States and internationally, including engagements in Italy, Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Equally at home on the concert stage and in the opera house, he has built a reputation for bringing energy, passion, and musical insight to both standard repertoire and contemporary works.

Beyond the podium, he is a dedicated educator, arts advocate, and host of Music Matters with Jason Tramm, a series featuring conversations with leading artists about creativity, innovation, and the performing arts.

A frequent guest conductor, he has led symphonic and operatic performances in Italy, Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. He also hosts Music Matters with Jason Tramm, a podcast on YouTube that explores artistic innovation under extreme circumstances, as seen through the eyes of distinguished artists.

Dr. Jennifer Pascual is Director of Music at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, becoming the first woman appointed to this prestigious position in 2003. A distinguished conductor, organist, and educator, she also serves as Director of Music for the New York Archdiocesan Festival Chorale and is widely recognized for her leadership in sacred and choral music.

Throughout her career, she has served as an organist and choir director in four U.S. dioceses and three Roman Catholic cathedrals. An active recitalist, clinician, and guest conductor, she has performed and conducted throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, and the Philippines. Her contributions to church music and performance have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Paderewski Medal, the Theodore Presser Award, the Paul Creston Award, and appointment as a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Among the highlights of her career was overseeing the liturgical music for the New York visits of Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and Pope Francis in 2015. She conducted major liturgical celebrations at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Yankee Stadium, and Madison Square Garden, and led the St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir at the White House National Day of Prayer in 2008.

In addition to her performance career, she serves as a frequent conductor, adjudicator, and educator. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the Eastman School of Music, along with graduate studies at Mannes College of Music. She is a longtime participant in the National Chorale's annual Handel's Messiah Sing-In at David Geffen Hall.

She has served as a member of several sacred music organizations as well as a frequent recitalist, clinician and adjudicator at national conventions. She has participated in numerous international music festivals in the United States and abroad, is a recipient of the Paderewski Medal and Theodore Presser and Paul Creston awards and has performed as an organist and conductor in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain and the United States.

Highlights of her career include the privilege of overseeing the liturgical music Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York in 2008, as well as the visit of Pope Francis in 2015. She also served as conductor for Mass (2008) and Vespers (2015) at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mass at Yankee Stadium (2008) and Mass at Madison Square Garden (2015). In 2008, she conducted the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir for President Bush at the White House for National Day of Prayer and was also named a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, papal recognition of service to the Church. Annually, Dr. Pascual participates as a conductor in the Handel Messiah Sing In at Lincoln Center.

With the broadcast of live Mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral on The Catholic Channel, SIRIUS/XM 129, the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir which she conducts can be heard at the 10:15 a.m. Mass on Sundays from September to June. Since 2006 she has hosted a weekly radio talk and music show called “Sounds from the Spires” broadcast on the same channel on Saturdays at 1:00am, Sundays at 12:00am, 6:00am, 8:00pm, and Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. (all Eastern times). Three of Dr. Pascual’s organ recordings and a St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir recording can be found at JAV Recordings.

John J. Palatucci is a conductor, educator, and performing artist whose distinguished career has spanned more than four decades. He has served on the faculties of Caldwell University, Montclair State University, William Paterson University, and Teachers College, Columbia University, and is widely respected for his contributions to choral music and music education.

From 1990 to 2023, he served as Music Director of the Orpheus Club Men's Chorus of Ridgewood, New Jersey. Under his leadership, the ensemble significantly expanded its artistic scope, presenting a wide-ranging repertoire that included major choral-orchestral works, contemporary compositions, and innovative concert programs. He led the chorus in its Lincoln Center debut in 2005 and a celebrated performance at Carnegie Hall in 2013 before being named Music Director Emeritus in 2023.

Throughout his career, he has performed and collaborated with many of the music world's most distinguished artists, including Plácido Domingo, Dave Brubeck, and Frankie Valli, and has appeared under the baton of renowned conductors such as Henry Brant, Lukas Foss, Morton Gould, and Skitch Henderson. Among his many conducting accomplishments was leading a 3,000-voice choir for a Rev. Billy Graham crusade at Brendan Byrne Arena.

In addition to his work on the podium, he is an accomplished composer and arranger. His setting of The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol is published by the International Percy Grainger Society, and several choral works have been dedicated in his honor. He holds degrees in music education and performance from Montclair State University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from NJ EXCEL.

John Nardolillo is an acclaimed conductor who has appeared with more than thirty of America's leading orchestras, including the Boston Pops and the symphony orchestras of Seattle, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Cincinnati, Nashville, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Utah. His conducting career has also taken him to major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Kimmel Center, as well as performances throughout Europe and Asia.

He has collaborated with many of the world's most celebrated artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Sarah Chang, Gil Shaham, Jennifer Koh, Lynn Harrell, Christine Brewer, and Denyce Graves. His versatility as a conductor extends beyond the concert stage to collaborations with popular artists such as Pink Martini, Marvin Hamlisch, Time for Three, Wynonna Judd, and Arlo Guthrie. His recordings have been released on the Naxos and Albany labels, and his work has been featured in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Vanity Fair.

An experienced opera and theater conductor, he has led productions ranging from Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, and Donizetti to contemporary opera, musical theater, and live-to-film performances. His repertoire includes Porgy and Bess, La Bohème, Carmen, The Barber of Seville, Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, and The Phantom of the Opera.

He serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Prague Summer Nights Festival and as Director of Orchestras at the University of Kentucky. He holds degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music and in violin and conducting from the Peabody Conservatory.

Michael Spierman is Artistic and Music Director of Bronx Opera, one of New York City's most respected regional opera companies. Under his leadership, the company has earned a reputation for artistic excellence, innovative programming, and a commitment to making opera accessible to diverse audiences.

A passionate advocate for both emerging artists and established performers, he has helped create a vital platform for singers and musicians at every stage of their careers. Many artists who have appeared with Bronx Opera have gone on to perform with major opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera and other leading national and international organizations.

Known for his imaginative approach to programming, he has guided productions ranging from beloved operatic masterpieces to lesser-known works and contemporary compositions. His commitment to presenting all productions in English has helped broaden audiences for the art form while maintaining the highest artistic standards.

Through his work as a conductor, administrator, and artistic leader, he has played a significant role in strengthening New York's operatic community and expanding opportunities for both performers and audiences. His dedication to artistic excellence and opera education continues to make Bronx Opera an important cultural institution in the city.

Robert Baldwin is Music Director of the Salt Lake Symphony, Music Director of Sinfonia Salt Lake, and Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Utah. He also serves as conductor of It's a Grand Night for Singing with the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and is a visiting performing professor at Wuhan University in China.

An accomplished conductor with an international career, he has held conducting positions with the University of Kentucky, the Lexington Philharmonic, the New American Symphony, the Flagstaff Symphony, and Northern Arizona University. His guest conducting engagements have taken him throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, including appearances with the National Chorale at Lincoln Center, the Hunan Symphony and Wuhan Conservatory Orchestras in China, the Busan International Music Festival in South Korea, the Eutin Music Festival in Germany, and the Kuopio Academy of Music in Finland.

In addition to his work on the podium, he is an active violist and performer on the viola d'amore. He has appeared in recital throughout the United States, Mexico, and Germany, and has performed with ensembles including the St. Petersburg Quartet, the Stanford Quartet, and the Amadeus Trio. His performances have been featured on WQXR and nationally syndicated public radio programs including Performance Today, Weekend Edition, and Highway 89.

A dedicated educator and advocate for orchestral music, he continues to perform, conduct, and teach internationally while leading some of Utah's most prominent musical organizations.

Thomas Juneau is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Wagner College, where he conducts the College Choir and teaches conducting, orchestration, and music history. He also serves as Music Director of Summit Chorale in Summit, New Jersey.

An accomplished conductor and educator, he has led choirs in performances at many of the world's most distinguished venues, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, La Madeleine in Paris, the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, and the Vatican. His work has earned recognition for its musical excellence and commitment to the choral tradition.

Recent conducting engagements have included performances of Bruckner's Te Deum and Duruflé's Requiem, showcasing his passion for both the sacred choral repertoire and large-scale choral-orchestral works. Through his work with collegiate, community, and professional ensembles, he continues to inspire singers and audiences through thoughtful programming and artistic leadership.

He is delighted to return to David Geffen Hall as a conductor for the National Chorale's annual Handel's Messiah Sing-In.

Vagarshak Ohanyan is an internationally recognized conductor, baritone, educator, and vocal coach whose career spans opera, concert performance, and music education. Born in Armenia, he has appeared as a soloist with orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States, Europe, and the former Soviet Union, earning acclaim for both his artistry and his dedication to developing young musicians.

His operatic performances have included roles such as Silvio in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Sid in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West with New York City Opera, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. As a concert soloist, he has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra under Leon Botstein, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bachanalia Orchestra, and numerous choral and orchestral organizations. His performances have taken him to prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Trinity Church, and Tanglewood.

A dedicated educator and mentor, he serves as a member of the National Chorale's Artist-in-Residence program, where he teaches advanced voice and serves as a principal conductor for the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City. He has guided and trained numerous professional singers, including internationally recognized cantors and vocal artists.

In addition to his performing and teaching career, he is co-founder of the Armenian Youth Talent Music Competition at Carnegie Hall. He holds a Doctorate in Arts Education and a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance from the Armenian State Conservatory and has pursued additional studies at The Juilliard School. In recognition of his contributions to music and education, he has received distinguished honors from the Republic of Armenia, including a Professor Honoris Causa distinction from Yerevan Haybusak University.