American Youth Chorus (AYC) provides music education, performance experience, and community for Washington, DC-area children in grades three to eight. Artistic Director Jonathon Hampton teaches music theory and history, plus reading and writing of diverse music of all genres, centered on U.S. composers spanning centuries. AYC was founded in 2008 as part of a multigenerational family of choruses who they sing with and learn from—NorthEast Senior Singers and parent organization Congressional Chorus. Performance highlights include The White House, The Kennedy Center, The National Archives Museum, Library of Congress, and the U.S. Department of State. Several performances and collaborations throughout the school year give students experience showcasing their artistry, developing teamwork, independence, and confidence, engaging with professional musicians, and having fun. AYC also contributes to more inclusive and accessible arts by performing at civic events and community venues, singing for diverse audiences with dynamic, varied, impactful choral music. AmericanYouthChorus.org

Colors of Life Concert

Sunday, June 9 at 4pm
Holy Comforter St. Cyprian Catholic
1357 E. Capitol St SE, DC

American Youth Chorus and NorthEast Senior Singers perform a diverse concert of American music celebrating love, nature, and the vibrancy of life across generations. These ensembles of the Congressional Chorus family sing a wide array of songs including Native American and Shaker hymns, African American spirituals, plus pop, jazz and gospel favorites—works by Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson, Train, Christina Perri, Burt Bacharach, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and more!

$15 suggested donation at the door or online here: please designate fund 3. American Youth Chorus

Jonathon Hampton is a unique and versatile singer and conductor with nearly 20 years teaching experience, specializing in spirituals, early classical music, and contemporary popular repertoire. He is Artistic Director of American Youth Chorus in Washington, DC and previously created choral programs at Washington International School; at Grace Church in Newark, New Jersey; at his alma mater Cornell University and with alumni in New York; and in California at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Richmond's King Elementary, Caliber Beta Academy, and San Francisco Early Music Society's Music Discovery Workshop and Youth Collegium.

Having spent his youth in The American Boychoir, Hampton became Associate Director of Music and Outreach for another rare choir school, the Grammy-winning Pacific Boychoir Academy. Over 14 years, he taught all ages, recorded several albums, conducted tours, camps, and orchestral collaborations, managed recruitment, community programs, marketing and communications administration, and was principal conductor of the training chorus for day-school grades 4-8 and the after-school a cappella group of high schoolers, Continuum.

Hampton has also been Artistic Director of the adult Renaissance ensemble, Tactus SF, and Associate Director of San Francisco Youth Chorus. Also in California, he’s been guest conductor of Piedmont East Bay Children's Chorus, Cantare’s Nova Choir, the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Lafayette Christian Church, and Enriching Lives Through Music. In New York he has guest conducted the Cornell University World Music Choir and at Trinity Wall Street and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church; in New Jersey at Trinity Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Trinity and St. Philip's Cathedral. 

In addition to business management for several of the aforementioned, Hampton spent five years in arts administration with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, and more recently with American Bach Soloists, Vocal Arts DC, and now Strathmore. He’s also recently been appointed as a board member of Experiments in Opera.

As a professional vocalist, Hampton sings alto, tenor, and baritone. He’s heard on 17 commercial recordings, including his solo album, Negro Spirituals: Songs of Trial & Triumph. In 2022 he was honored as a Heritage Keeper by Friends of Negro Spirituals. With guitar and piano, he also sings contemporary, popular music, including songs of his own. He often performs with Washington Douglass Chorale and with the choir of Washington National Cathedral. He has also recently performed with the schola of St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington Master Chorale, Cathedral Choral Society, National Philharmonic Chorale, and Washington Men’s Camerata among many others. JonHampton.com

Noted for her “dynamic and graceful” performances imbued with “virtuosity” and “truly lyrical expression,” American pianist Iris Cheng has given performances across the United States and Canada and has garnered numerous awards. An avid soloist and chamber musician, Iris is a founding member of the Cheng-MacLean Duo and has collaborated with a wide variety of outstanding instrumentalists and singers including violist Marina Thibeault, cellist Julie Trudeau, pianist Heidi Louise Williams, the Florida State University Singers, and the National Children’s Chorus. In 2022, the Cheng-MacLean Duo gave their New York debut in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, performing works from the 20th and 21st century, including a commissioned piece by Kyle W. Brown. Iris has worked with distinguished American composers including Shawn Okpebholo, James Primosch, Liliya Ugay, and Brian Raphael Nabors; her programming highlights the rich diversity of contemporary works through the performance of solo and chamber works by Henri Dutilleux, George Enescu, Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók, Jennifer Higdon, and Joan Tower. Upcoming projects include a solo debut album to be released by Albany Records featuring contemporary piano works and recorded premieres by Eleanor Alberga, James Lee III, Brian Raphael Nabors, Shawn Okpebholo, and Hannah Kendall.

Prizewinner of the International Young Artist Piano Competition and Florida State University College of Music Carnegie Hall Entrepreneurship Competition, and recipient of the James Streem Scholarship, Rockwood Endowed Scholarship, and Tallahassee Music Guild Scholarship Janice Harsanyi Award, Iris completed her Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance and two Master of Music degrees, in Piano Performance and in Piano Pedagogy-Performance, from the Florida State University. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Wheaton College, Illinois, and has also participated in national and international music festivals including Domaine Forget International Music Festival, Camp Musical des Laurentides, and the MasterWorks Festival. Her piano mentors include Dr. Heidi Louise Williams, Dr. Daniel Paul Horn, Faye Bonner, Philip Chiu, Chiharu Iinuma, and Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla. 

An active pedagogue, Iris is artist-faculty for the Tutti Chamber Music Summer Festival Program in Wheaton, Illinois, faculty at the Opal Music Studio in Alexandria, Virginia, Associate Pianist for the National Children’s Chorus, and pianist for the American Youth Chorus. She also maintains a private studio. Prior to relocating to Washington D.C., Iris served as adjunct instructor at Wallace Community College in Dothan Alabama and on the board of the FSU Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Chapter.

LeighAnne Markaity holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Bowling Green State University. Originally from West Michigan, she has lived in DC and been part of Congressional Chorus for nearly ten years. She serves as the soprano section leader, a member of the Chamber Ensemble, and the Board of Directors. She’s a full-time nanny and teaches flute and voice students. When not singing or chasing toddlers around the Hill, LeighAnne can be found lost in a book, on a run, cooking something new, and exploring the city with friends.