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.

Dr. Steven Seigart is a conductor, organist, and composer based in the D.C. area. Dr. Seigart holds degrees in choral conducting and organ from the University of Maryland, Boston University, and the Eastman School of Music. He specializes in improvisation, has been featured on NPR’s Pipedreams Live!, and was a semifinalist in the National Competition in Organ Improvisation. He has held positions at the Church of St. Joseph (Bronxville, NY), Christ Church (Rochester, NY), St. Paul’s Cathedral (Syracuse, NY), and many others across the Northeast. He currently serves as Director of Music at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, Virginia, and as Principal Pianist for the Congressional Chorus. He is also active as a collaborative pianist, continuo player, and composer, and resides in Burke, VA with his wife Suzanne and their dog, Schubert.

Rachel Ackerman Bowe is a soprano and music educator with over fifteen years of experience in private and classroom teaching. Based in Alexandria, VA, she teaches private voice and piano lessons both at home and online and early childhood music group classes in person.

Singing has been a part of Rachel’s life for as long as she can remember. She has taught general and choral music from grades PreK-12 and currently teaches music at St. Charles Early Childhood Center and runs Leading Tone Music Studio. As a soprano, she has sung at the Polish Embassy, the Kennedy Center, Charlottesville Opera, and numerous churches and choral ensembles throughout the DC area. She was the recipient of the American Council of Polish Culture’s Sembrich award and a finalist in the Annapolis Opera Competition. Her students have frequently placed first in NATS competitions and have gone on to major in music and performance.

Rachel's first musical experiences were in a community choir at age 6, and it was an integral part of her life. She's excited to get back to her choral roots and be a part of the Congressional Chorus!

Stephen Arnold is a bassist and composer known for his deep grooves, open ears, and (above all) his commitment to serving the music and the moment no matter the style or context. Based in Washington, D.C., he plays upright and electric bass with many of the top groups in the region.

A native of Washington, DC, Paul began playing the trumpet at age 9. While growing up in DC, Paul had played with the DC Youth Orchestra, Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, Jazz Academy of Music Orchestra, and DeMatha Catholic High School's Wind and Jazz Ensembles. Paul graduated from DeMatha in 2012. Paul’s desire to be a great jazz trumpeter led him to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Paul would eventually graduate from Oberlin in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in jazz trumpet performance and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in jazz studies at Howard University. 

Today, Paul is a Washington D.C.- based trumpet player with an array of playing experience. His trumpet teachers include David Kellert, Robert “Brother Ah” Northern, Kieron Irvine, Donvonte McCoy, Dennis Reynolds, Sean Jones, Eddie Henderson, Derrick Gardner, Jeremy Pelt, and Fred Irby, III. Paul has shared the stage with jazz artists Joe Lovano, Lewis Nash, Ben Williams, Tia Fuller, Terrell Stafford, Brian Lynch, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, and Marcus Miller. He has also played with R&B artists Larry Graham, Faith Evans, Raheem DeVaughn, Eric Benet, Keith Washington, Eric Roberson, and Monica. Paul has also done work in the gospel world by playing at Metropolitan Baptist Church as well as with renowned gospel artists Yolanda Adams, Kierra Sheard, and Richard Smallwood. 

Paul not only has a passion for playing, he is dedicated to the preservation of our great American art form.  He served as a jazz trumpet teaching assistant at Oberlin as well as the trumpet instructor at the Washington Jazz Arts Institute and is currently a graduate assistant in the jazz department at Howard University.  He has served as a clinician for the DeMatha Catholic High School Jazz Band, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Program, and currently teaches private students online and in-person at the International School of Music. Composing and arranging new music is another element of Paul’s musical contribution.  He documents his life experiences through musical composition. 

Hailed by the Washington City Paper as “D.C.’s Best Trombonist 2015” and the DistrictNow Blog as “Best Trombonist 2017,”  DC based Shannon Gunn is known for her exceptional tone and her grandiose project-du-jour. She released “Gunn’s Ablazin,” her freshman solo project, in August 2019 to critical acclaim. Her organ trio, Firebird, was named “DC’s Best Small Ensemble 2016” by the Washington City Paper. She also runs DC’s premiere all-women jazz orchestra, “Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes,” including successful performances at the Kennedy Center, Castleton Theatre House, DC Jazz Festival, Blues Alley, Washington Women in Jazz Festival, Takoma Park Jazz Festival, Jazz on Jackson Place, Westminster Jazz Night, Great Gatsby Inaugural Ball, Goethe Institute, National Jazz Workshop, Gallery O on H, Bohemian Caverns, and Dardanella. She has self produced six albums (five Bullettes, and one solo album) and mixes and masters all of her own music.

Grant Langford is a jazz saxophonist who currently lives in the Washington, DC area. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, he spent 8 years immersed in the New York City jazz scene. In 2005 Mr. Langford joined the Count Basie Orchestra, touring extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. During his 3 year tenure he was featured on 3 recordings with Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, and Jamie Cullum. In 2008, Mr. Langford joined the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force, where he has remained for 14 years. Alongside his active-duty military service, Sgt. Langford performs and teaches in the Washington, DC region.

Ahmad Maaty is an Egyptian American Actor, Dancer, Singer, and Choreographer.  He has taught and performed throughout the United States and internationally.  Ahmad has had the opportunity to work with many companies along the East coast, primarily in the DMV and NYC.  In addition to this he has had the privilege of being a finalist at the Actors Studio (NYC) from 2012-2013, and trained in several styles and techniques down the east coast.  Ahmad is a member of George Mason University’s School of Theater Performance Faculty as an Adjunct Professor and occasional choreographer.  He was named 2018's Best Choreographer in a Small Professional Theater in DC and 2019’s Best Actor in a Community Theater Production by BroadwayWorld.  He was also a Helen Hayes Nominee for best choreography in a small professional theater for his work in Pippin with Monumental Theatre Company. He holds a BA in Theater from George Mason University and an M.F.A. from the Actors Studio Drama School in NYC.

Originally from Raleigh, Mississippi, DC-based drummer and music educator Kelton Norris is known across the DC jazz scene for his “fiery and collaborative playing”. Kelton is currently on staff at several institutions across the DMV, such as Sidwell Friends School, Chevy Chase Arts Academy, International School of Music, St. John’s Episcopal School, Moon School of Music, as well as Shepherd University and Howard University. He maintains a full-time performance schedule and has performed with such artists as Sharon Clark, Jessica Boykin-Settles, Hamiet Bluiett, Allyn Johnson, Wycliffe Gordon, Tarus Mateen, Levon Mikaelian, Thad Wilson, Sarah Marie Hughes, Cyrus Chestnut, Victor Provost, Brian Settles, Paul Bollenback, Herman Burney Jr., Shannon Gunn, Fareed Haque, Elijah Jamal Balbed, and many more. As a member of the EJB Quartet, Kelton is a winner of the 2020 D.C. Prix, an international jazz competition presented by the D.C. Jazz Festival. Kelton received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Music Education and Masters in Jazz Performance from Northern Illinois University.

Originally from Texas, Darryl Pilate is a dance educator and new arts administrator in the Office of Performing Arts for Baltimore County Public Schools. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance with a minor in Health Administration from Texas State University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman's University. He studied various dance artists in genres such as ballet, jazz, Hawkins technique, hip-hop, and contemporary. Darryl Pilate has taught in several middle and high schools choreographing many styles of dance.  As a District of Columbia resident, Darryl has danced with the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC and choreographed for the DC Congressional Chorus since 2019. Currently, he is the Artistic Director for Light Switch Dance Theatre.

DC-based guitarist, composer and producer Francisco Quintero has been an in-demand guitarist in the music scene of major cities such as Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Originally from Venezuela, Francisco graduated Summa Cum Laude from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in Performance, as well as with a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Northern Illinois University, being mentored by influential contemporary artists such as Peter Bernstein, Richie Hart, Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern, Adam Nussbaum, Fareed Haque, Carl Allen, Reggie Thomas, and many more.

Francisco has released original music as a leader as well as participated as a sideman in many recordings. He's shared the stage  with numerous high profile musicians both in the US and internationally such as Carl Allen, Peter Bernstein, Ameen Saleem, Victor Provost, Pablo Gil, Andres Briceno, Tedd Baker, Sharon Clark, Paul Carr, Herman Burney among many others. Besides performing, Francisco currently dedicates most of his time to producing and teaching at some of the most prestigious schools in the DMV area.