PROGRAM

COMBINED CHOIRS

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director
Sean Burns, Principal Pianist

Dwayne Holton, drums
Ahren Buchheister, bass

THIS IS HALLOWEEN

Music & Text by Danny Elfman
from The Nightmare Before Christmas

CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

IN THE SORCERER’S HALL

Arranged by Audrey Snyder
Text by John Jacobson

Music based on Classical Themes

I. Funeral March of a Marionette by Charles Gounod

II. In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg

III. Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky

IV. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas

LACRIMOSA

from Requiem in D minor, K. 626 by W. A. Mozart
Completion by Robert Levin
Traditional Latin Text

DOLLY WAITS

Music by Ryan Main
Text by Juleigh Howard-Hobson

Cecile Anderson, ballerina
Aaron Satyanarayana, bass

FIRE!

from Elements
by Katerina Gimon

(4 PM ONLY)

Jonathon Hampton, Artistic Director
Ginny Maddock, Pianist

DIES IRAE

Traditional Latin

Dies irae, dies illa,
Solvet saeclum in favilla:
Teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus!

The day of wrath,
that day will dissolve the world in ashes
David being witness along with the Sibyl.
How great will be the quaking
when the judge is about to come
strictly investigating all things.

TUBA MIRUM

Music by Sally K. Albrecht
Traditional Latin Text

Tuba mirum spargens sonum.
Per sepulchra regionum.
Coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupebit, et natura,
Cum resurget creatura,
Judicanti responsura

The wondrous sound of the trumpet
shall be heard over the tombs of the region,
beckoning all before the throne.
Death and nature will be stunned,
as creation rises again
to answer the judgment call.

WHEN HALLOWEEN RETURNS

from Two for Halloween
Music by Edvard Grieg
Arrangement & Text by Mark Weston

IT’S HALLOWEEN!

Music by Camille Saint-Saëns
Arrangement & Text by Mark Weston

RECUÉRDAME (REMEMBER ME)

Music & Text by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Arranged by Roger Emerson

SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS

Music & Text by Andrew Gold
Arranged by Roger Emerson

NORTHEAST SENIOR SINGERS

(7:30 PM ONLY)

George Stewart, Music Director
Deloris Agee, Program Director

Dwayne Holton, drums
Ahren Buchheister, bass

all arrangements by George Stewart & NorthEast Senior Singers

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Music & Text by Vic Mizzy

SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME

Music & Text by Kennedy “Rockwell” Gordy

THRILLER

Music & Text by Rod Temperton

GHOSTBUSTERS

Music & Text by Ray Parker Jr.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director

RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Music & Text by Kate Bush
Arranged by Emily Drum & Maryanne Muglia

Tessa Burzio, soloist
Max Toscano, soloist

CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director
Sean Burns, Principal Pianist

Dwayne Holton, drums
Ahren Buchheister, bass

A SILENCE HAUNTS ME

Music by Jake Runestad
Text by Todd Boss

This piece addresses themes of profound loss and suicidal ideation.
This work may resonate intensely with those who have experienced mental health challenges.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, compassionate support is available 24/7:

National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or Text 988

You may step out of the concert hall at any time.

VISIONARIES OF THE CREATIVE ARTS

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

Music & Text by Paul Simon
Arranged by Mac Huff

Warren Turner, bass
Marjorie Atya, alto
Brian Nido, tenor
Michelle Kannan, soprano

I PUT A SPELL ON YOU

Music & Text by Jay Hawkins
Arranged by Jacob Narverud

Kristina Kelly, soloist
Sarah McNeal, soloist
Leah Shedrow, soloist
Mike Krause, soloist

 About the Artists

American Prize winner Allan Laiño (“lah-EE-nyoh” or  / la ‘ʔi njo / ) is the fourth Artistic Director of the Congressional Chorus. As a second-generation Filipino-American with wide-ranging musical influences, he aims to reshape the landscape of American choral artistry by creating an environment in which all voices can flourish. 

Laiño has prepared choral ensembles for the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop, BSO Pops and Jack Everly, NSO Pops and Steven Reineke, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, and the Josh Groban Live National Tour. He has conducted onstage at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Kennedy Center Opera House, and Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center. His performances have been televised on programs such as the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors, CNN’s Live from the Capitol: January 6, One Year Later, and EWTN’s Annual Christmas Concert for Charity broadcast to over 140 countries worldwide.

As Co-Artistic Director of Bridge, Laiño produced, edited, directed, and sang in America, You’re Beautiful, a short film that merged spoken word and choral music to examine racism in America. The film won the Black Truth Film Festival, Queens Underground International Black and Brown Film Festival, and Shortie Film Festival. As Co-Conductor of the Sunday Night Singers in 2012, he earned First Prize at the World Choir Games in the Mixed Chamber Choir Champions Division. He is the 2018 winner of The American Prize—Community Chorus Division, and was a finalist in two categories for the 2020 The American Prize in Composition. In 2021, Laiño was the music awardee for The Outstanding Filipinos in America presented at Carnegie Hall.

Sean Burns is a Philadelphia-area native who relocated to Washington, DC in 2021. In addition to his work as Principal Pianist for Congressional Chorus, he currently serves as the organist at First Baptist Church of Washington, DC as well as Collaborative Pianist at Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Sean completed formal organ study at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ in 2016, where he studied with Alan Morrison and earned a Master of Music in Organ Performance. Before moving to DC, he served as the principal organist first at Corpus Christi Church and later at Abington Presbyterian Church, both in suburban Philadelphia.

Beyond the walls of the church, Sean has used his extensive love and knowledge of opera to serve as an accompanist for young singers who are either pursuing upper-level studies or who are at the forefront of a professional career. At the academic level, Sean has worked with voice students at Westminster as well as Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Professionally, he worked at Sarasota Opera House in Florida along with the summer programs CoOOPERative in Princeton, NJ and Canto in Louisville, Kentucky.

Sean also holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and pursues occasional pro bono opportunities.

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 Strathmore. He is currently a board member of Experiments in Opera and Managing Director of Washington Men’s Camerata.

As a professional vocalist, Hampton sings alto, tenor, and baritone. He’s heard on 18 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 performs regularly with the choir of Washington National Cathedral and has recently performed with the schola of St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington Douglass Chorale, Cathedral Choral Society, Washington Master Chorale, National Philharmonic Chorale, and Washington Men’s Camerata. JonHampton.com

Ginny Maddock (she/her) is a pianist, vocalist, and educator based in Northern Virginia. She hold a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Vocal Performance from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, where she lived and worked for over seven years. Ms. Maddock currently serves as Pianist of American Youth Chorus and is Music Director and Preschool Music Teacher at St. David’s Episcopal Church and Preschool in Ashburn, VA. She is the owner of Full Circle Music and Arts (formerly Ginny Maddock Music), where she teaches voice and piano lessons and group music classes. She is passionate about music education and is an active member of Music Teacher National Association, Jazz Educators Network, and the Somatic Voicework™ community. In her free time you can find her and her partner, Rachel, crafting, making music, or hanging out with their cats. She is thrilled to be working with AYC and supporting the musical growth of all the students! GinnyMaddockVoice.com

George Stewart is a widely sought after musician due in part to his versatility and love for music irrespective of genre. George joined the Congressional Chorus during the 2021-2022 season.  He has a been blessed to share his gift in Paris, France and in a number of venues in America ranging from churches, to recording studios, and concert halls on both coasts.  His former choir Perpetual Glory was the first African-American Gospel Choir to perform at the historic Ford’s theatre in Washington, DC.

Among George’s greatest honors was being invited to perform at the White House for it’s annual Black History Month Celebration in February 2021, and to grace the altar as one of the musicians for the Junipero Serra Canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.

George has served as choir director, accompanist, and minister of music for local churches, and has played on several recordings including the GIA-published “Catholic Classics, Volume VII,” and the Holy Comforter St Cyprian Church Choir’s “ We Offer Praise.”  He currently serves as director of music at Holy Comforter St Cyprian Church.

Deloris Agee has been a member of the NorthEast Senior Singers since 2003. Since assuming the role of teaching artist in Fall 2020, Deloris has helped prepare members to participate in an all virtual season. Under her direction the chorus produced its first virtual concert, This Little Light of Mine, and a full-length holiday concert, Proclaiming the Season: Peace, Love, and Joy. Deloris brings to this position over 30 years of experience as a choir director for all age groups. Her experience in the area of creative arts includes drama and play writing. For the past two years she has been the creator and program manager for the Puppets for Potential where she crafted over 25 hand puppets.

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.

Ahren Field Buchheister (pronunciation: “R&B”) is a sought after multi-instrumentalist, singer, award winning songwriter, recording/mixing engineer, studio musician, teacher, producer, arranger, from Annapolis, MD.

He is the frontman/lead singer for the groups Black Rhinoceros and Pompeii Graffiti. His songs can be heard on radio stations such as 103.1 WRNR, 89.7 WTMD, 98 Rock, WLOY and more. He is also a member of bands: DoubleSpeak, Ambien Blackout, Doc Pine & The Respect He Deserves, Diving Horses, Cats Domino, The Shroom Pickers, Pigeon Kings, and Pony Bones

He can be found playing any night of the week playing any of his instruments (Guitar, Dobro, Pedal Steel, Mandolin, Classical Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keyboard, Violin, Viola, Cello) in any kind of situation from rock to country, square dance to wedding band, classical ensemble or swing.

Ahren performs with a breadth of musical groups as a sideman; Peterbuilt, Gary & Leah, Swampcandy, Mend The Hollow, Big Hoax, Bumper Jacksons, Cadillac Mule, Cole Cash,  Caleb Stine, Haint Blue, Letitia VanSant, etc. or as a pit musician in a musical theater production (RENT, Spring Awakening, Godspell, Patsy Cline, etc).

Besides music Ahren loves Podcasts, any Sci-Fi, good coffee, funky socks, and chocolate.

Cecile Anderson trains at The Washington School of Ballet and has completed summer intensives with The Washington Ballet and the School of American Ballet. She has danced in professional productions with The New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Ballet, Ballet West, The Washington Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet. She lives in Washington DC.

Barbara Hunt, ASL interpreter

Michelle Banks, a native of Washington, DC, is an award-winning actress, writer, director, and producer.  She is the Artistic Director of Visionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA).  She can be seen in TV series: SOUL FOOD and GIRLFRIENDS, and an independent film, COMPENSATION.  Her most recent directing credits: DINNER NOTE (Sound Theater), ISM II and A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Atlas Performing Arts Center), and TRASH (JACK Theatre). Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL) credits: Olney Theatre Center’s THE MUSIC MAN and Broadway’s FOR COLORED GIRLS.

CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

Soprano

†Ali Ruth

Allison Moody

Ariel White

Asha Iyer

Cassandra McCarty

Chris Zhu

*Elvira Martinez

Hannah Geller

Jean Godwin

Joanna Van Zeller

Karen Dowling

Katherine DeFonzo

Kathryn Constantinides

*Kristina Caggiano Kelly

*Leah Shedrow

*†LeighAnne Markaity

Liza Douglas

Maggie Carttar

Mechelle A. King

Sarah Havlicek

Sarah McNeal

*Serra Schlanger

Ariel White

BASS

*Aaron Satyanarayana

Bill Riggins

Brian Xi

Donroy Ferdinand

Greg Michaels

Jim Petrick

Jonathan Saxton

*Justin Murdock

McLane Heckman

*Michael Steelman

*†Mike Krause

Nick Menzies

Thomas Farley

*Turner Jones

Warren Turner

*Chamber Ensemble

†Section Leader

NORTHEAST SENIOR SINGERS

SOPRANO

Juliet Chriss
Queen Dickey
June Everhart
Jean Jamieson
Alice Yeager

ALTO

Deloris Agee
Melissa Dunlap
Arlene Levinson
Judy Lucas
Ramona Service
Brenda Wilder

TENOR

Greg Anderson
Phillis Anderson
Linda Payton

BASS

Bill Klay
Greg Michaels
Greg Miller

Board of Directors

Kristina Caggiano Kelly, President
LeighAnne Markaity, Vice President
Jahnissi Tirado, Treasurer
Jonathan Lain, Secretary

Ihamna Cubillos Valencia, member
Elizabeth Kaehler, member
Serra Schlanger, member

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director, ex officio
Arman Amini, Executive Director, ex officio

Production

Alexander Aloisio, Production Assistant
Media Cure Productions, Audio & Video Recording
Chila Design, Graphic Design
Allan Laiño, Digital Program Design
Craig Teer, Choral Risers

Credits and Acknowledgements

This concert is made possible in part by support from

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
Capitol Hill Community Foundation
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Eugene M. Lang Foundation
Menezes Jennings Family Charitable Fund
Nora Roberts Foundation
Share Fund
Texas Instruments Foundation
Congressional Chorus members
& loyal supporters