AND SING!

Heralded as an artist "changing what it means to be a classical singer” (The New Yorker) and “[one] of the most powerful voices of our time” (Los Angeles Times), Davóne Tines is a pathbreaking artist whose work encompasses a diverse repertoire, ranging from early music to new commissions by leading composers, while exploring the social issues of today. A creator, curator, and performer at the intersection of many histories, cultures, and aesthetics, he is engaged in work that blends opera, art song, spirituals, contemporary classical, gospel, and protest songs as a means to tell a deeply personal story of perseverance connecting to all of humanity.

Brooklyn Youth Chorus’s Grammy Award-winning ensemble, led by Founder & Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker, is one of the most highly regarded ensembles in the country and continually pushes the artistic boundaries of what a youth chorus can achieve. The ensemble has collaborated with an impressive range of organizations and artists including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Kronos Quartet, International Contemporary Ensemble, David Byrne, The National, Arcade Fire, Sir Elton John, Barbra Streisand, and many others. Founded in 1992, Brooklyn Youth Chorus has served over 10,000 students through its core after-school and public-school outreach programs.

Menaker is the Founder & Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus. She is the creator of the Cross-Choral Training® program, an experiential approach to functional voice and musicianship pedagogy. She prepared the Chorus for its 2002 debut with the New York Philharmonic in John Adams's On the Transmigration of Souls, the recording for which the Chorus won a Grammy Award. With Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Ms. Berkun Menaker has developed an active commissioning program and has collaborated with some of the most important composers of our time. Ms. Berkun Menaker is a choral clinician and teaching artist for such organizations as the New York Philharmonic and The Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall and has presented workshops and master classes for New York University, New York State School Music Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the New York City Department of Education.

Harley-Emerson is a conductor, composer, nonprofit strategist, and equity coach. As the President and CEO of Equity Sings, he employs principles of equity and justice to assist organizations in remaining relevant in the 21st century. Harley-Emerson also serves as CEO and Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts, a Delaware-based organization that provides training, mentoring, and performance opportunities for individuals from historically marginalized communities. He is a University Fellow and doctoral candidate at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Towey is currently curating a live performance series for Hermès and has worked as a Creative Director for Grammy Award-winning musicians such as Arcade Fire, Ray LaMontagne, and Esperanza Spalding. She has also directed music videos for Sharon Van Etten, Tune-Yards and Caroline Shaw. A highlight of her live performance work was directing Black Mountain Songs, conceived by Bryce Dessner (of The National) and starring the Brooklyn Youth Chorus (BAM in NYC, Barbican in London). For The New York Times, Towey directed Sensations of Sound which premiered at The American Museum of Natural History and went on to win a Lumiere Award for Best VR Documentary of 2017. She also served as the lead director for The Daily 360, the only series in the world to create professional VR journalism on a daily basis. Towey has been recognized as a Fulbright scholar (South Africa), a Princess Grace fellow, a TCG Leadership U grantee (Berkeley Rep), and as a PBS/AOL MAKER.

Williams is a professional vocalist and conductor born and raised in Brooklyn. She currently serves as a Training Division Conductor at the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, adjunct Vocal Coach at The Calhoun School and freelance conductor/teaching artist. Kiena is an alumna of Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and Performing Arts and The Pennsylvania State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in music. She continues to perform professionally as a featured soloist, chorister, and background vocalist as well. Some recent features include: Il Tabarro (OnSite Opera), “Naturaleza” Choral Festival (Usuhaia, Argentina), “Daphne” (Bard Festival Chorale, Carnegie Hall), Daniel Fish’s “Bold New Work” Most Happy in Concert (Williamstown Theater Festival 2022), Elizabeth Greenfield Award Competition (James Toland Vocal Arts - Finalist), and the National Music Festival (Vocal Apprentice). Keep in touch at kienawilliams.com