OUR STAFF

ALLAN LAIÑO
Artistic Director, Congressional Chorus

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 Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, 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-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.

As the Principal Conductor & Advanced Studies Director for the National Children’s Chorus, Laiño conducts the Premier Ensemble and Scholars and directs the advanced musicianship program nationwide. As Co-Artistic Director of DC-based professional ensemble, Bridge, Laiño produced, edited, directed, and sang in America, You’re Beautiful, an award-winning short film that merged spoken word and choral music to examine racism in America. The film won the 2021 Black Truth Film Festival and 2021 Queens Underground International Black and Brown Film Festival, and was an official selection for numerous film festivals.

Laiño served on the choral conducting faculty for the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art at The Catholic University of America from 2016–2021. He directed the University Singers, who performed annually with the CU Symphony Orchestra under his baton for The Annual Christmas Concert for Charity at the National Shrine. He is a former member of the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the resident professional chamber choir for which he has also guest-conducted in Masses. He has sung with groups such as Bridge, the Yale/Norfolk Music Festival Chamber Choir, Chantry, The Trinity Chamber Orchestra, the Sunday Night Singers, the Horizon Chamber Choir, and the Pacific Chorale. 

Dr. Laiño was a Diversity Fellowship recipient at the University of California, Irvine, earning his M.F.A in Choral Conducting (2009) and B.A. in Voice/Music (2006). He moved to the DMV in 2012 to pursue his D.M.A. in Choral Conducting (2015) at the University of Maryland, College Park. He lives in Bowie with his wife, Crossley Hawn, an accomplished vocalist in DC, their son, Ziven, and their cat, Kawai. They love the outdoors, gastronomy, and curling up on the couch to watch movies.

SEAN BURNS
Principal Pianist, Congressional Chorus

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
Artistic Director, 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

GINNY MADDOCK
Pianist, American Youth Chorus

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

“My commitment is to support these young musicians in their musical growth and to help them experience the joy of making music together. I'm also looking forward to helping the choristers foster a strong mind-body connection, allowing them to fully embody their musicianship and carry these skills into their other endeavors. I know we’re going to have a blast and I can’t wait to get started!”

GEORGE STEWART
Music Director, NorthEast Senior Singers

George Stewart is a widely sought-after musician due, in part to his versatility and love for music regardless of denomination or genre. George joined the Congressional Chorus during the 2021-2022 season. He has been blessed to share his gift in various venues ranging from small Pentecostal storefront churches to television studios, in concert halls on both coasts, with his past choir, Pentecostal Glory, being the first African-American Catholic 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 its 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 served more than 35 years as choir director, accompanist and minister of music for several area churches and played on several recordings including the GIA-published “Catholic Classics, Volume VII,” and the Holy Comforter St Cyprian’s Church Choir’s “We Offer Praise.” He currently serves as the director of music for the Holy Comforter St Cyprian’s Church.

DELORIS AGEE
Program Director, NorthEast Senior Singers

Deloris is delighted to co-direct the NorthEast Senior Singers with fellow teaching artist Pedro Hart. She has been a member of this group of 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. A third concert is planned for Spring 2021.

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. 

Most important to Deloris is being able to provide compassion and effective leadership to help develop an improved level of music appreciation for our seniors.  She believes motivating them to participate will aid in a healthier level of mental health and wellness in addition to a sense of belonging.

Married for 50 years to Onizene, she has three sons and seven grandchildren.

LEIGHANNE MARKAITY
Artistic Administrator

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 ten years. Ms. Markaity played a major role in the relaunch of American Youth Chorus and is their Rehearsal Assistant and Administrator for the entire Congressional Chorus organization. She is also the Congressional Chorus soprano section leader, is in their Chamber Ensemble, and a member of Board of Directors. She was previously a nanny and a flute and voice teacher. When not singing, she can be found lost in a book, on a run, cooking something new, and exploring the city with friends.