Program

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director
Arman Amini, Executive Director
Sean Burns, Principal Pianist
LeighAnne Markaity, Artistic Administrator

Dwayne Holton, drums
Steve Sachse, bass

I. dreamscapes

ANOTHER DAY OF SUN

from La La Land
Music by Justin Hurwitz
Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Arranged by Jacob Narverud

Abigail McDonough, soloist | Asha Iyer, cover
Christopher Valentine, soloist | Ely Merenstein, cover

PURE IMAGINATION

from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley
Arranged by Matthew Nielson

ALOHA!

from The White Lotus
Music by Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Arranged by Garrett Breeze

II. legacy

GAME OF THRONES

from Game of Thrones
Music by Ramin Djawadi
Arranged by Paul Langford

SOGNO DI VOLARE

from Civilization VI
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Tin
Lyrics from Leonardo da Vinci’s writings on flight adapted by Chiara Cortez

Una volta ke avrai
Spiccato il volo, deciderai
Sguardo verso il ciel saprai
Lì a casa il cuore sentirai

Prenderà il primo volo
verso il sole il grande uccello
Sorvolando il grande Monte Ceceri
Riempendo l'universo di stupore e gloria

L'uomo verrà portato
dalla sua creazione
Come gli uccelli, verso il cielo

Gloria

III. Fate

IN NOCTEM

from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Music by Nicholas Hooper
Lyrics by Steve Kloves

DUEL OF THE FATES

from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Music by John Williams
Lyrics (Sanskrit) by John Williams
Arranged by Keith Christopher

(4:00 PM only)

Jonathon Hampton, Artistic Director
Ginny Maddock, Pianist
LeighAnne Markaity, Administrator & Rehearsal Assistant

IV.

OOMPA LOOMPA

from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley
Arranged by Ginny Maddock

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood

Music & Lyrics by Fred M. Rogers

STREAMING SITCOMS

featuring themes from The Big Bang Theory, Full House, Friends

Arranged by Jack Zaino

V.

MOVIE MEDLEY

Arranged by George Stewart

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD
from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Music by Burt Bacharach
Lyrics by Hal David

June Everhart, soloist

TO SIR, WITH LOVE
from To Sir, with Love
Music by Mark London
Lyrics by Don Black

STAND BY ME
from Stand by Me
Music & Lyrics by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

TV THEME MEDLEY

Arranged by George Stewart

THE BALLAD OF JED CLAMPETT
from The Beverly Hillbillies
Music & Lyrics by Paul Henning

MOVIN’ ON UP
from The Jeffersons
Music & Lyrics by Ja'net Dubois & Jeff Barry

HAPPY

from Despicable Me 2

Music & Lyrics by Pharrell Williams

VI. REFLECTIONS

WHAT WAS I MADE FOR?

from Barbie
Music & Lyrics by Billie Eilish & Finneas O’Connell
Arranged by MaryAnne Muglia & Emily Drum

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES

from Cinderella
Music by Mack David, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston
Arranged by Audrey Snyder

LeighAnne Markaity, soloist | Emily Dalton, cover

VII. NOSTALGIA

STAY TUNED!

featuring themes from The Flintstones, Entertainment Tonight,
Happy Days, I Love Lucy, The Jetsons, Laverne & Shirley, Mr. Ed,
The Addams Family, The Brady Bunch, Bewitched, Star Trek, Cheers

Arranged by Mark Brymer

Michael Krause as John Tesh
Mechelle King as Mary Smart

VIII. RESILIENCE

DELIVER US

from The Prince of Egypt
Music by Stephen Schwartz
Arranged by Caroline Hinrichs

Megan Stoddard as Yocheved | Rachel Schotz, cover
Tessa Burzio as Young Miriam | Ariel White, cover

STAND UP

featuring NorthEast Senior Singers

from Harriet
Music & Lyrics by Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo
Arranged by Rollo Dilworth
Annette Singletary, soloist | Keonte Lee, cover

WHEN YOU BELIEVE

from The Prince of Egypt
Music by Stephen Schwartz
Arranged by Mac Huff

Michelle Kannan, soloist | Joanna Van Zeller, cover
Elvira Martinez, soloist | Elyse Bressler, cover

THIS IS ME

featuring American Youth Chorus

from The Greatest Showman
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Arranged by Mac Huff

7:30pm: Leah Shedrow, soloist | Ely Merenstein, cover

 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.

Guest Artists

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.

Steve Sachse (pronounced ‘sax’) has played bass for more that 35 years, playing both electric and double bass. A full-time professional musician since 1990, he has experience in nearly every style of music.

He performed with “The 4 Kings of Rhythm & Blues,” which featured legendary vocalists Ben E. King, Jerry Butler, Lloyd Price and Gene Chandler. He has also worked with Ruth Brown, Mary Wilson (of the Supremes), Jane L. Powell, and Julia Nixon.

Steve has played salsa and latin music with the band Sin Miedo and appeared on their albums “La Clave” and “Estoy Enamorado”. This band performed with the Washington Ballet in Septime Webre’s “Juanita y Alicia”, which combines ballet with Cuban music. He has also worked with the Cuban latin jazz pianist Chuchito Valdez.

During the early 2000s, Steve performed regularly at Eighteenth Street Lounge, home base to DC’s Thievery Corporation. He played reggae with See-I, a group formed by Thievery Corporation front-men Rootz and Zeebo, and has recorded with their associates DJ Farid and Thomas Blondet (Rhythm and Culture Recordings).

He has played contemporary jazz with pianists Dan Reynolds and David Bach. He also performs with jazz saxophonist Al Williams (formerly with Mongo Santamaria and Stanley Clarke), with whom he recorded a series of CDs of ambient music for Manion Music.

Steve plays roots rock and New Orleans music with DC’s The Grandsons, and has appeared on several of their albums. He has also played and recorded with Baltimore’s Junkyard Saints. Other projects include the Billy Coulter Band and the Texas Chainsaw Horns.

He has been the bassist for the Holy Comforter/St. Cyprian Choir since 2001, performing with them at Pope Francis’ 2015 DC papal mass, and the 2017 Inaugural Prayer Service.

Steve has also performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, Monterrey Bay Blues Festival, Cape May Jazz Festival, Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, Harlem’s Apollo Theater, as well as DC’s Blues Alley and the Kennedy Center.

He studied with Peter Princiotto, George Vance, Paul Langosch (bassist with Tony Bennett) and Bill Vaughan (of the National Symphony).

CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

*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
Elizabeth Kaehler, Secretary

Ihamna Cubillos Valencia, member
Serra Schlanger, member
Amit Singh, member

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

Production

LeighAnne Markaity, Artistic Administrator
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

Special thanks to Dave Ryder, Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell, Frank Van Atta, and the entire staff at First Baptist Church DC for their support and hospitality.