2021-2023 Board of Directors
Rachel Carlson, Past President
Dr. Rachel Carlson is the President of the MD/DC State Chapter of ACDA. She is the Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Kean University in Union, NJ, where she conducts the Concert Choir, Chorale, and teaches aural skills, conducting, and voice. She founded Six Degree Singers, a community choir based in Silver Spring, MD, in 2009, and served as Assistant Conductor of the Washington Master Chorale. Dr. Carlson presents workshops and masterclasses in schools throughout the region and is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator, presenter, and guest conductor. In 2014, she was nominated for a Wammie (Washington Area Music Award) for best Classical Conductor/Director. Dr. Carlson has been published twice in the Choral Journal and has been invited to present her research at state, regional, and national ACDA and NCCO conferences.
Allan Laiño, President
American Prize winner Allan Laiño, D.M.A. is the Artistic Director of the Congressional Chorus, a multi-generational family of choruses that champion the diversity of American music. He also serves as an Associate Conductor with the National Children’s Chorus and Director of Music at Western Presbyterian Church. He has prepared choral ensembles for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, BSO Pops, National Symphony Orchestra Pops, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, and the Josh Groban Live National Tour. In 2018, he made his debut on the Kennedy Center stage as a choral conductor, collaborating with The Philip Glass Ensemble and The Washington Chorus in tribute to honoree Philip Glass at The Kennedy Center Honors. While on faculty at Catholic University, the University Singers and Symphony Orchestra performed for The Annual Christmas Concert for Charity at the National Shrine, a televised program broadcast to over 140 countries on EWTN. 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 2017-2018 winner of The American Prize—Community Chorus Division, and was a finalist in two categories for the 2020 American Prize in Composition.
Ocie S. Banks, President-Elect
Singer, Educator, Conductor...Ocie S. Banks, a proud alumnus of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), currently serves as the Director of Choirs at Thomas G. Pullen K-8 Creative & Performing Arts School. His previous roles include Choral Director at Samuel Ogle Middle School and Vocal & General Music teacher at Rosaryville Elementary School. His choirs received superior and excellent ratings at District Assessment and the Maryland State Choral Festival. Ocie is actively involved in PGCPS, currently leading the development of the middle school chorus and general music curriculum and previously as an Assistant Director for the Middle School Honors Chorus.
He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (BME) from George Mason University under the mentorship of Dr. Lisa A. Billingham. He recently completed his Master of Music and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Choral Conducting from Messiah University. Ocie is an engaged member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the National Association for Music Education, holding leadership roles as the President-Elect of the Maryland/DC Chapter of ACDA and Recording Secretary of the Maryland Choral Educators Association (MCEA). As CEO of OSB Music, LLC, he offers private voice lessons, music theory training, vocal health workshops, and more. Additionally, he serves as the Executive Pastor at Gifted Church, Inc., demonstrating his unwavering dedication to advocating for choral excellence at all levels.
To learn more about Ocie, visit www.ociesbanks.com.
Trevor Tran, Secretary
Trevor Tran is a current graduate student pursuing a DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Maryland. Previously, Trevor was Head of Performing Arts and Director of Vocal Arts at Fort Myers High School in Southwest Florida. Additionally, Trevor served as Lee County All-County Chorus Coordinator, Chair of Florida Vocal Association District 18, and still serves as composer for the FVA sight-reading book used in Choral Music Performance Assessments. Through his work in Florida, Trevor was recognized as a 2023 Yamaha “40 under 40” Educator. Besides being an educator, Trevor is an active composer and presenter. Organizations like Resounding Achord, CORO, Choral Arts Initiative, and San José State University have sung his compositions; and he has presented at state, regional, and national music educator conferences. Trevor holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from San José State University and concurrent Master's degrees in Choral Conducting and Music Composition from Temple University.
Sherry Mervine, Treasurer
A native of Western Pennsylvania, Sherry Mervine has been a music educator in Southern Maryland for over 27 years. As a public-school educator, she has taught in Prince George's, Calvert, and Charles County Public Schools; however, she also taught in a private school setting for 9 years and owned a private piano/voice studio for six years. She has been the choral director and general music teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Waldorf, MD for the past 7 years. As a sacred musician Mrs. Mervine is the music director for St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Lusby, MD where she directs all choral activities, plans liturgical music, frequently solos, and is the church pianist for weekly services. When she's not singing, she can be found both on stage and behind the scenes of productions at New Direction Community Theater in Calvert County. In addition to leading the children's drama productions she has been a founding member and board member of the group since 2010. Sherry is currently completing her Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision with Notre Dame of Maryland and plans to continue to purse music avenues in tandem with administrative responsibilities.
David Mann, Membership
David Mann is a doctoral student and graduate assistant in choral conducting at the University of Maryland where he serves as assistant conductor of the University Chorale and UMD Treble Choir. Prior to attending UMD, David was a high school choral director for 7 years in Prince William County, Virginia where he served as District IX chair for the Virginia Choral Directors Association. As a clinician and presenter, he has led high school and middle school honor choirs and presents regularly at state and regional conferences on repertoire and pedagogy for developing singers.
David is also in his third year as artistic director of Voce Chamber Singers in Vienna, Virginia and performs professionally as cantor and chorister in and around Washington D.C.
David earned his Masters in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University and his Bachelors in Music Education from James Madison University. In 2018, he was recognized as the winner of the American Prize in Choral Conducting and a finalist for the American Prize in Choral Performance for his work with the Michigan State University Chamber Choir.
Margaret Nomura Clark, Diversity Co-Chair
A San Francisco native, Margaret Nomura Clark joined the Children’s Chorus of Washington as Artistic Director in August 2016. Under her leadership, CCW has partnered with many arts organizations in DC and beyond including: Dance Institute of Washington, Washington Performing Arts, Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, GenOUT, Washington Master Chorale, Strathmore Children’s Chorus, The Washington Chorus, US Army Band Pershing’s Own, Duke Ellington High School, Sticks+Bars, Roanoke Valley Children’s Chorus, Shenandoah Valley Children’s Chorus, Boston Children’s Chorus, and Princeton Girlchoir. She has been fortunate to work under the baton of NSO’s conductor Gianandrea Noseda, and additional conductors JoAnn Falleta, Christopher Bell, and Julian Wachner. Under her direction, CCW has performed at The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, The White House, the Supreme Court, the Washington Nationals, the opening of the District Wharf, and in South Africa in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s centenary.
From 1997-2015 Mrs. Clark was the Associate Artistic Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus from 1997-2015, directing the Intermediate chorus and supervising all tiers of the SFBC Training Chorus School. Together with Artistic Director Ian Robertson, Mrs. Clark worked closely with the Grammy Award winning San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Ballet, and conducted the chorus at the Grand Teton Music Festival. A highlight of her career was an invitation with the San Francisco Boys Chorus to sing at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009. In addition to her work at SFBC, Mrs. Clark was on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory Pre-college Program, and she established an award winning chorus during her tenure at the Hamlin School for Girls.
C. Paul Heins, Diversity Co-Chair
C. Paul Heins, associate conductor, joined the GMCW artistic team in the 2014-15 Season. One of his chief responsibilities is the direction of the GenOUT Chorus, established by GMCW in January 2015 for LGBTQ and allied youth, ages 13-18. Under Dr. Heins’ direction, the GenOUT Chorus has performed at Lincoln Theatre, Atlas Performing Arts Center, The Kennedy Center, and the White House, and in 2016 made its debut GALA Choruses performance in Denver.
Paul was previously the director of the Concert Choir at Georgetown University, where he also taught music theory, piano, and introduction to voice, and served as music director for the university’s opera and musical theater productions. He is also the past director of the Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington.
Dr. Heins was trained in piano and flute at Bowling Green State University (B.Mus.), flute at the University of Maryland (M.Mus.), and choral conducting at the University of Maryland (D.M.A.). His principal teachers have been Edward Maclary, Patrick Walders, and Mark S. Kelly (conducting); William Montgomery and Judith Bentley (flute); and Virginia Marks and Victoria Harris (piano). Paul is a frequent guest pianist, flutist and conductor in the DC area.
He / him / his
Ann DuBose-Li, Children’s Choirs R&R Chair
Mrs. Ann DuBose-Li holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas, a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Towson University and is halfway through her Master’s degree, with a focus on the Kodály method, at West Chester University. She has completed her Level 1 Orff certification at George Mason University and has studied conducting at the graduate level with Doreen Rao and Rodney Eichenberger. Mrs. DuBose-Li has presented sessions at Maryland Music Educators Association and American Choral Directors Association conferences and is an active member of both organizations. She teaches general and choral music at Candlewood Elementary School, in Derwood, MD. For the last six years Mrs. DuBose-Li has directed the South-East section of MCPS All-County Fifth Grade Honor’s Chorus and this is her eleventh year teaching with MCPS. She has previously held everything from administrative to assistant director positions with the Frederick Children’s Chorus and was assistant director with All Children’s Choirs of Annapolis until her daughter was born 3 years ago. She lives in Derwood with her beloved and supportive husband, a sassy threenager, and a goofy dog named Roxie.
Lulu Mupfumbu, Honor Choir Scholarship Fund Chair
Lulu Mwangi Mupfumbu currently serves as the director of the music department at Takoma Academy, where she conducts the school's choirs, orchestra, and teaches music technology and film studies. She holds a master's from Ohio State University in Conducting and a bachelor's in Music Education from Atlantic Union College. She is also currently the director of the Sligo Young Adult Choir, Musical Director and conductor of the Living Legends Awards for Service to Humanity Choir and Orchestra.
Outside the classroom she remains active as a clinician, guest conductor, and performer across the United States, as well internationally. Her ensembles have performed internationally in S. Korea, Bermuda, Jamaica, Bahamas, The Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Czech Republic, Kenya, and South Africa. She has conducted in notable venues such as the White House, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Strathmore Music Center, The Lincoln Center, and others.
As a sought after musician, she regularly appears as a presenter for professional music education and choral conferences and festivals, and is also an active guest adjudicator for regional and state honors choruses. She has published written for publications such as the Choral Journal, and is one of the contributors to the newly released book on choral pedagogy, Teaching With Heart, Vol. 2.
In 2018 the Takoma Academy Chorale, under her leadership, was selected to be a part of the Music For All inaugural Premier National Choir Festival in Indianapolis, IN. Among other awards, the choir won 3 medals at the 2018 World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa, and won 2 gold diplomas at the 2019 Interkultur Sing 'N' Joy International Choir Festival. In May of 2021 they were awarded the Music Education Grant from The Recording Academy. The Takoma Academy Camerata performed as one of the concert choirs, at the Eastern Region ACDA Conference in 2022.
She has a strong passion for combining excellence in music education and performance, with ministry through service to humanity. Her desire is that all her students gain a deep love for the art and use it to serve mankind, because she believes that music ministers are first responders to the human soul.
She is married to Tanyaradzwa Mupfumbu and together they have 2 children, Nakai and Itai.
Rebecca Vanover, High School R&R Chair
Ms. Vanover is the Director of Choirs at Centennial High School. She is a soprano, pianist, and music educator, born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD. A proud Terp alumn, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a BM in Voice and a BME in Choral Music Education. During her time at UMD, she performed regularly with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and the Baltimore Symphony at the Meyerhoff and Strathmore as a member of the UMD Chamber Singers. In 2014, she traveled to Seoul to represent the United States at the 10th World Symposium of Choral Music, sharing repertoire with some of the world's best ensembles. In addition to her love of choral music, Rebecca thoroughly enjoys opera and musical theater, and has performed both genres locally in D.C./MD area. Most recently, she's performed in "Show Boat", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Joseph" at Toby's of Columbia. When she's not immersed in music, Rebecca can be found running, hiking, baking, and wearing the Maryland flag as many ways as possible.
Keith Schwartz, Show Choir/A cappella R&R Chair
Keith Schwartz is the Director of Choral Music at Thomas S. Wootton High School and at Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville, MD. He holds a bachelor's degrees in Voice Performance from the University of Delaware and a master’s in Voice Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Keith is native Washingtonian, born and raised in Rockville, MD. Keith has extensive study in opera, traditional choir music, pop a cappella music, and musical theatre making him a well-rounded music educator. He teaches two traditional choirs, show choir, and is the director of award-winning high school a cappella groups. He also music directs the musical productions at Wootton High School.
Josh Fishbein, Composer Liaison
Dr. Joshua Fishbein composes and conducts choral music. He has won the Chorus America/American Composers Forum Dale Warland Singers Commission Award, the ACDA Brock Memorial Student Composition Competition, and The American Prize in Composition, as well as numerous other honors from organizations such as BMI, the Guild of Temple Musicians, the National Lutheran Choir, the Cantate Chamber Singers, The Esoterics, and the Delaware Valley Chorale. Professional vocal ensembles, such as Cantus, Chicago a cappella, The Thirteen, Volti, and Washington Master Chorale, have premiered his music. Steeped in Jewish music, Dr. Fishbein has composed numerous Jewish and interfaith pieces for chorus and solo voice. His music is published by E.C. Schirmer Music Company, Hal Leonard Corporation, Transcontinental Music Publications, and Yelton Rhodes Music. Fishbein has taught at The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, The College of New Jersey, and University of Nevada Las Vegas. He currently directs choirs at Saint George’s Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland, and Chizuk Amuno Congregation of Baltimore. He holds doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees in music from the University of California Los Angeles, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Carnegie Mellon University, respectively.
Diana Sáez, College & University
Dr. Diana V. Sáez is the Director of Choral Activities at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, directing the University Chorale, Women’s Choir, and Choral Society. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Sáez served as Visiting Choir Director at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and Visiting Choir Conductor at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Dr. Sáez also directed the Catholic University Women’s Choir for six years and served as artistic director of the World Bank-IMF Chorus for sixteen years.
As a leading specialist in the field of Latin American music, Dr. Sáez is a frequent guest conductor, adjudicator, and lecturer in both the United States and abroad. In the past five years, she has presented at American universities, national and regional ACDA conventions, and various engagements in North and South America. She has also guest conducted at the Festival Distrital de Coros en Bogotá, Colombia and directed regional honor choruses in Virginia, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Dr. Sáez is perhaps best known for serving as artistic director of Cantigas, an award-winning chamber choir that she founded with the mission to increase awareness and appreciation of Latin America and Spanish choral music. For 25 years, Cantigas was a principal performer of Latin American music in North America, with appearances at the ACDA Eastern Division Convention, Kennedy Center, and Strathmore Center, as well as international tours in Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. In 2014, the choir was awarded the Choral Excellence Award for Most Creative Programming by the Choralis Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Mark Helms, Music in Worship R&R Chair
MARK HELMS is an active conductor who is currently in his final year of the Doctor of Musical Arts program in Choral Conducting at the University of Maryland, College Park. At the University of Maryland, Mark has served as primary conductor of the University Chorale, assistant conductor of the UMD Chamber Singers, chorus master for the Maryland Opera Studio, and has prepared choruses for performances with the Baltimore and National Symphony Orchestras. Mark also teaches the basic conducting course at Maryland, serves as Assistant Director of Music at First Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, MD, and was recently appointed as associate conductor of Bach in Baltimore for the 2023–24 season.
Prior to his move to Maryland, Mark was based in the Philadelphia area. In Pennsylvania, he served as Director of Music and the Arts at Doylestown Presbyterian Church, Doylestown, PA, where he oversaw a comprehensive music ministry involving nearly 200 participants of all ages, and also served as the Director of Choral Activities and Liturgical Music at DeSales University, Center Valley, PA, where he conducted three choral ensembles, oversaw music for on-campus liturgies and ceremonial events, and taught additional courses in music.
Mark is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Mark is also a graduate of Furman University, Greenville, SC, where he completed a Bachelor of Music summa cum laude in Church Music, was named the Theodore Presser Scholar, and was inducted into both Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Kappa Lambda. Mark has studied conducting with Jason Max Ferdinand, Edward Maclary, David Neely, William Weinert, Brad Lubman, and Hugh Ferguson Floyd.
Angela Pope, Middle School/Junior High R&R Chair
Angela Pope has worked for Howard County Public Schools for the past 12 years. She currently teaches at Thomas Viaduct Middle School. Along with teaching music, Ms. Angela works as the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coach at TVMS. Ms. Angela currently serves as a middle school vocal/general representative for the Howard County Music Leadership Team and the Maryland chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Most recently, she was awarded runner up for the 2022 Howard County Parents for School Music “Music Teacher of the Year” award. Along with teaching at CCM and TVMS, she also co-directs the Howard County Children’s Chorus for students in grades 2-5.
Ms. Angela has previously served as a member at large and middle school representative on the Maryland Choral Educators Association Board and has presented professional development to music educators in person across the state and virtually across the nation. She has worked with varying choirs in Maryland and Pennsylvania as a guest conductor, honors chorus director, all state auditions judge, and festival adjudicator.