J Castro, a native New Yorker from Brooklyn, is an adept, recognized bassist possessing an impressive resume of session credits earned while simultaneously launching his own career as a solo bassist. Renowned for his creativity in Neo-Soul, Jazz, Fusion and Hip-Hop, J Castro’s music speaks of love and life’s struggles. Applying his improvisational chops to contemporary jazz, his sound elevates the mind of his listeners that pleases their ears and sets their toes tapping. 

He is married to National Neo-Soul Recording Artist Lahla-Hadiya, who together are the proud parents of six active, beautiful children. In addition to his being a devoted father with a full offstage life, he also is a Producer, Improviser, Arranger, Songwriter, Composer of Film Scores, and Multi-instrumentalist. He is an Endorsed Artist with Odieng Custom Basses, Boom Bass Cabinets, D&A Performance Gear, Nordstand Pick Ups And Pre Amps, and Pitbull Strings. 

He has had the privilege of playing for some of the best National Recording Artists, including Jonathan Butler, Apostle Rita Twiggs, Wes Morgan, Paul Morton, CeCe Winnans, Lahla-Hadiya, Glenn Jones,  and many more.

His musical stylings resonate with all who appreciate good music, with captivating performances that the artist hopes leave a warm and long-lasting impression well after the last note of his songs are played. Allow the melodic tones of J Castro’s music transport you away from the everyday, to a transformative plane.

Dwayne T. Holton, a native Washingtonian, has been playing the drums since the age of 3. Coming from a family of musicians, he's always had a love for music. He studied music at the University of the District of Columbia, under his mentor, the great Kenneth W. Louis. His love for all generes of music has afforded him the opportunity to play for and travel with a diverse group of artists. To name a few,  Ken Professor Filmore, Daryl Coley,  Phyllis Hyman, Tramaine Hawkins, Dianne Reeves and Yolanda Adams. He also ministers with several local church gospel choirs, most notably;  St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church Gospel Choir and the Bladensburg Seventh Day Adventist Church Choir. In 1999, he gathered a group of musician friends and formed his own group, Nod Factor. They performed original songs and covers in local venues across the DMV. Dwayne has traveled across the states and internationally with  some of the groups that he has performed with. Paris, France was his favorite experience. While maintaining a career outside of music, he uses his time to teach drumming, DIY projects and mentoring young men in the DMV, where he resides with his wife, of 20 years, Marcia.

Langston Hughes II, a 23-year-old saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator, stands out as an in-demand young talent in today's vibrant music scene. Currently pursuing a master's degree in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City, Langston's musical journey commenced in Washington, D.C., where he played with artists like The Temptations, Lauryn Hill, The O’Jays, D-Nice, Sugar Bear, and EU, all while pursuing a solo career and his undergraduate degree at Howard University.

In 2023, Langston was granted admission to The Juilliard School, one of the nation’s leading music conservatories. There, he left an indelible impression on luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Rufus Reid, and Ulysses Owens Jr. In his first semester, he embarked on a tour with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Soon after, he shared the stage with esteemed artists like Jazzmeia Horn, and Orrin Evans, and joined Ulysses Owens Jr. and his Generation Y band for a memorable run in Tokyo, Japan, at The Cotton Castle.

Beyond performing alongside established musicians, Langston has led his own quartet at prestigious venues and festivals including Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the DC Jazz Festival, captivating audiences and leaving them yearning for more.

With years of experience and an ever-growing arsenal of technical and creative skills, Langston has cultivated a distinctive sound that radiates beauty, passion, and positivity.

As a jazz guitarist and bandleader, a classical guitarist, an educator, and a composer, Tom Lagana has garnered respect for his creativity, musical integrity, and devotion to his craft. After graduating from the Berklee College of Music, he worked as the guitarist for the Walt Disney Jazz Band in Orlando, Florida, before returning to his home state of Maryland where the Tom Lagana Trio became the house band at The King Of France Tavern in Annapolis. Lagana went on to get a Masters in Music at Towson University where he was awarded second prize in the Sidney Lieberman Competition, the first guitarist ever to place in that competition. His analysis of the work of Pat Metheny was published by Just Jazz Guitar magazine and endorsed by Metheny himself. Lagana has participated in master classes with Ralph Towner, Dusan Bogdanovic, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Roland Dyens, and the Brazilian Guitar Quartet. He was a guest artist at the First World Guitar Congress and was invited to play for guitarist/composer Carlo Domeniconi at the Long Island Guitar Festival. Lagana was featured with the National Symphony Orchestra in David Del Tredici’s work Final Alice and appeared again with the NSO and Eric Idle of the Monty Python troupe. He has also performed with the York Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and recently with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the production of She’s Got Soul with singer Capathia Jenkins as well as John Waters’ Hairspray tribute and as accompanist to singer Jackie Evancho. Lagana has played many festivals, shared the bill with jazz icon Herbie Hancock, and worked with George Garzone, Walt Weiskopf, Joel Frahm, Red Rodney,Craig Handy, Bob Mintzer, and Marvin Stamm. He is also a veteran of many theatre productions including the world premiere of Giant at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre, as well as the 2022 smash hit Mean Girls written by SNL famed comedian Tina Fey. Kennedy Center productions of Moulin Rouge, Little Shop of Horrors and Footloose, as well as The Hippodrome's Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and National Theatre's production of Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill are among many other highlights. Lagana’s guitar work can also be heard on the Fox Network show America’s Most Wanted. He has taught at Towson University and is currently on the faculty at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Howard University in Washington D.C. His recordings as a leader include Patuxent, Schematic and the most recent Vol.1.

Tom will be back at the Hippodrome in the Fall for the national tour of MJ: The Micheal Jackson Musical.

Andrew Vu serves as Assistant Director of Music of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. A native of Vietnam, he came to the United States at the age of thirteen to study piano and musicianship with Molly and Charles Stier. He completed his Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from The Catholic University of America, where he studied under James Litzelman. His organ instructors include Jeffrey Pannebaker, Ed Moore, and Ronald Stolk, with whom he completed a Master of Music degree in 2017. Andrew also studied choral conducting with Leo Nestor and Timothy McDonnell and voice with Rick Christman.

An award-winning pianist, Andrew received the Honor Prize of the 2007 Maryland MCMTA Competition, the 2012 Benjamin T. Rome School of Music Performance Award from The Catholic University of America, and the Second Place in the 2012 Stravinsky Award Bach Competition. He has been a student assistant for the annual Washington International Piano Festival at The Catholic University of America. As an organist, Andrew served at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in Bethesda, Maryland and St. Peter’s Parish in Olney, Maryland for ten years. In addition, Andrew was the Music Director at the American University Catholic Chaplaincy.

Maya Williams is currently a professional dancer with the Washington Commanders Command Force, now in her second season. Before turning pro, she danced for the St. John’s University Dance Team from 2012 to 2016, where she was a member of the 2016 UDA (Universal Dance Association) Division 1 Hip Hop Championship team.

Recently, she has explored contemporary performances and showcased her talent at the 2024 Atlas Intersections Festival in the production titled “Let the Church Say Amen,” and this month as a part of the Manifest: Encore cast, where she continues to explore her artistry and strives to express her highest potential as both a human being and an artist.

Maya has now entered the choreography realm debuting her works as choreographer for the Jukebox cabaret.