Board of Directors & Staff

Thea Kano, Artistic Director (she/her/hers)

Dr. Thea Kano, a Northern California native, became active in the arts at an early age. She started playing piano at age four and began taking ballet soon after, a background that has a strong influence on her conducting. Dr. Kano’s graceful yet commanding presence on stage and the robust performances she obtains from her musicians have basis in her formal training as a dancer.

Dr. Kano has conducted an extensive range of repertoire with several ensembles, including the Angeles Chorale, The Washington Chorus and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, for which she also directs its acclaimed ensembles, Rock Creek Singers and Potomac Fever. A champion of music education, Dr. Kano has devoted countless hours to students of all ages and backgrounds. She believes in the power of music to nurture and believes that classical music should be accessible to all. Dr. Kano’s substantial experience in this arena includes: building partnerships with organizations serving disenfranchised adults, hosting workshops with at-risk youth, leading youth arts programs of all sizes, as well as directing award-winning high school and collegiate choruses.

In addition to her work with GMCW, Dr. Kano founded the New York City Master Chorale in 2005 and served as the artistic director until spring 2019. The 80-member group is recognized as one of the finest vocal ensembles in New York City and has performed to sold-out audiences on two continents. Dr. Kano is known for her expressiveness and dynamic conducting and the Chorale has been praised for its balance and richness in tone in performing a variety of musical styles. Under her direction, the Chorale made its debuts at Lincoln Center (2006) and Carnegie Hall (2009), as well as its international debut in Paris, France (2011).

Dr. Kano has prepared choruses for Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Solonen, Emil de Cou, David Hayes, Craig Fleischer, Victor Vener and Paul Salamunovich. Dr. Kano’s various ensembles have performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Disney Hall, Église Saint-Sulpice (Paris) and on the National Mall for the 2009 inaugural ceremonies.

Dr. Kano received her doctorate in choral conducting from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2004. At UCLA, Dr. Kano studied under Donald Neuen, her professional mentor. For her dissertation on Duruflé’s Requiem, Dr. Kano completed research with L’Association Duruflé in Paris and studied privately with Paul Salamunovich. Dr. Kano holds a Master of Music degree from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree in choral music education and piano performance from Arizona State University.

Dr. Kano speaks French and actively conducts ensembles in New York City, Paris, and Washington, DC.

Justin Fyala, Executive Director (he/him/his)

Justin began as Executive Director for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC in August 2016. Prior to this, Justin led the Windy City Gay Chorus and Treble Quire and the Youth Choral Theater of Chicago, focusing on development and organizational growth and served as President of the Chicago Fringe Festival Board of Directors. Justin holds a Masters in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University, studied Voice at the University of North Texas, and has a Bachelors in Choral Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University. He has previously worked for the artistic and operations departments of the Pittsburgh Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Bella Voce, Dallas Opera, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, American Institute of Musical Study, and the State College Centre for the Performing Arts as well as the vocal division of IMG Artists. Justin has worked as a professional stage manager, vocal coach, and caption engineer, has taught collegiate voice and choir and high school music and drama, and regularly serves as an adjudicator for domestic and international music competitions.

C. Paul Heins, Associate Conductor/GenOUT Director (he/him/his)

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.

Ronté Pierce, Assistant Conductor/Seasons of Love Director (he/him/his)

Ronté Pierce joined GMCW as a singing member in September of 2022. He brings over 33 years of singing, performing, and directing experience with faith-based, community, academic, and choral vocal ensembles; as well as experience with musical theater and opera to his position as the director of the Seasons of Love ensemble.

Ronté’s musical journey began in Durham, NC, where he participated in the children’s choir of his childhood church. It was there that his love of singing and directing gospel music was cultivated and he eventually started a successful singing group, served as a worship leader, and directed three choirs at his home church.

Ronté’s musical experiences with his childhood church inspired him to study voice at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC. He was a member of the NCCU Concert Choir, NCCU Touring Choir, NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and NCCU Opera Workshop. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music (2006), he eventually began a teaching career with the hopes of inspiring others to express themselves with the power of music.

Ronté currently serves as one of three music teachers at Jackson-Reed High School in Washington, DC where he directs a successful choir program. He believes that the best teachers are those who continue to engage in the learning process, which has led him to pursue and receive a Master of Music degree from Boston University (2012) and an Education Specialist degree from Grand Canyon University (2021).

Javon Byam, Assistant Conductor (he/they)

Javon Byam joined GMCW looking for a new choral family in September 2018 and has found his tribe through the Chorus, our Rock Creek Singers ensemble, and the youth of GenOUT. Born in New York City and raised just outside of Baltimore, Maryland, Javon has been surrounded by music since his infancy spent in front of his grandmother’s stereo listening to The Bodyguard soundtrack.

From noodling on his sister’s synthesizer as a toddler to their first pivotal choral experiences as a fourth grader, Javon has had a yearning to make music. This led to their first voice lessons in middle school and first conducting lessons as a junior in high school. They continued study at New York University and then Loyola University Maryland receiving a Bachelor of Music in K-12 Music Education (2014), a Master of Music in Vocal Performance (2015), and a Master of Music in Kodaly Music Education (2021).

During the day, Javon is the Lower and Middle School music and drama teacher and K-12 music director at Jemicy School in Owings Mills, Maryland, a school that specializes in educating children with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. His students help remind him that true creativity comes when you work to clear a path that others already saw as cleared.

André Coleman, Director of Development (he/they)

André is an emerging arts leader and fundraising professional who is the inaugural director of development for GMCW. Prior to joining us, he was the Associate Director of Philanthropy at Chorus America where he led development efforts and partnered to conceive of and implement the organization’s first regranting program. In this role, André successfully managed a portfolio of diverse individual, corporate, and foundation funders raising over $3 million in FY21, as well as designing the organization’s first virtual fundraising gala and auction. Prior to working with Chorus America, André served as Institutional Giving Officer at Washington Performing Arts. A double alumnus of George Mason University, André holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management, and a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in vocal performance. In addition to his career as a fundraiser, André is an accomplished vocalist, an avid traveler, a burgeoning tennis player, and lifelong learner.

Craig Cipollini, Director of Marketing (he/him/his)

Craig’s first two interests growing up were art and theater. Now, he gets to combine both of those loves in his work for GMCW. By day, Craig is the director of marketing and communications for GMCW and graphic artist. In his spare time (what’s that?), he choreographs the Chorus productions as well as around the area, including GMCW’s dance ensemble 17th Street Dance.

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Craig began dancing at the age of 14. He has an extensive background in theater, primarily musical theater, having performed all over the East Coast. He toured with productions of A Chorus Line and 42nd Street, in addition to many regional, summer stock, and dinner theater credits. Craig has also worked extensively as a director and choreographer. Some shows he has directed and/or choreographed include Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Will Rogers Follies, Annie, Hair, The Rocky Horror Show, Carousel and West Side Story to name a few. Craig has choreographed all major concerts and productions for the Chorus since 2006 (save for one show.) In 2013, he directed and choreographed One Night in New York! at the Capital Fringe Festival where it went on to win Best Show, and his choreography was praised as one of the best in DC. He holds bachelor degrees in art (graphic design and illustration) and theater, and a masters degree in arts management. He is also a freelance graphic designer and illustrator and loves to do comic book illustrations.

Kirk Sobell, Director of Patron Services (he/him/his)

Kirk came to GMCW from renowned arts institutions of the DC Metro area, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Shakespeare Theatre Company and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts with experience in subscriptions, ticket sales and fundraising. He is a graduate of Lehigh University in his hometown of Bethlehem, PA. Kirk is also an avid member of the fundraising committee for Capital Pride.

Chipper Dean, Production Director (he/him/his)

A member of GMCW since September 2012, Chipper has led the Production Team since 2018 – as Production Manager from 2018 to 2022 and now as Director of Production. He coordinates a team of skilled staff and volunteers supporting the Chorus in rehearsals, productions, tours, and other events. He has also served GMCW as Bass Section Leader (2013-2015), Membership President (2015-2017), and Associate Production Manager (2017-2018). Currently, he serves as Membership Committee Chair on the Board of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses), an international organization of LGBT-identified choruses – of which GMCW is a founding member – and as Production Manager of the quadrennial GALA Festival. He is also an Associate Member of the US Stage Managers’ Association.

Chipper began directing church choirs as a teenager, while serving as drum major of his high school band, and continued to play French horn, sing bass, and conduct bands and choirs while pursuing a career as a developmental-health psychologist. He has a Bachelor of Science in psychology (minor in music) and Master of Science in mental health counseling from Stetson University in his native DeLand, Florida and a PhD in educational and developmental psychology from Columbia University in the City of New York. In his day job, he serves as Program Director at the National Institutes of Health, coordinating research efforts in behavioral health (mental health and substance use), health equity and social determinants of health, and cancer prevention and treatment.

Jarrod Bennett, Technical Director (he/him/his)

Jarrod Bennett joined GMCW as a singing member in 2009. He has served as Technical Director since 2021. Prior to his role as Technical Director, he served as the Scene Shop Manager (2017-2021) where he managed the Chorus’ warehouse and supervised a dedicated crew of volunteers who assisted in the fabrication of set pieces and props.

Solomon HaileSelassie, Stage Director (he/him/his)

Solomon HaileSelassie is a director, stage manager, designer, and film maker. Since 2015, he has served as GMCW’s stage manager for our main stage concerts. He attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where he trained in both vocal music and theatre, Winston Salem State University, and New York Film Academy. He received his substantive professional training at The Studio Theatre and 2nd Stage. His recent directing credits include The Passage; Phones; Lunch; Dream, Girls; Waiting for Godot; The Shape of Things; Three in a Hallway (Ebenezer’s Ghosts); [Almost] William Shakespeare’s, National Lampoon’s, Family Guy’s, MTV’s: The Real Thanksgiving Vacation at Macbeth’s (working title); Punching People You Never Met; Georgia Avenue Nocturne; Hello | Brother; Sonata; A New Brain; Carrie: The Musical (assistant director); The Rocky Horror Show (assistant director); Twisted (assistant director).

Solomon was born and raised in DC and is proud to be a very-native son. He is the Resident Production Designer/Manager for the Library of Congress, the Resident Stage Manager for Longacre Lea, where he is a company member, and is the Founding Director of Artistic Collaboration for Annexus Theatre Company.  He continues to be a non-equity professional stage manager because he is committed to maintaining access to high quality stage managers for small, underfunded, or under recognized professional theatres. 

Michael Hughes, Outreach Manager (he/him/his)

Michael has been a singing member of GMCW since 2002 and sings with the Chorus’ small ensemble Rock Creek Singers. He is a retired Federal employee and enjoys music, travel, cooking, and reading. Michael serves as the chorus’ Outreach Manager, coordinating over 100 non-subscription performances each year for our small ensembles. Prior to his retirement, Michael was the Deputy Director, Data Delivery Services for the Internal Revenue Service.

Theodore Guerrant, Principal Accompanist (he/him/his)

Now in his 41st season as GMCW’s principal accompanist, “Dr. Teddy” began his musical life in his native College Park, Georgia, with piano lessons from his mother at age three, an Atlanta television appearance at age four on Freddie Miller’s Stars of Tomorrow and formal piano lessons with Regina Pudney at age five. At age 11 he began organ lessons with his then next door neighbor, Frank Willingham. By the time he was a senior in high school at Woodward Academy and studying piano with his aunt, Eliza Holmes Feldmann, then artist-in-residence at Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia, Teddy was accompanying five choral groups and playing five church services every week. He went off to colleges with various scholarships and assistantships and eventually earned five degrees in keyboard performance (three in piano, one in harpsichord and one in organ) from the Universities of Georgia, Wisconsin and Maryland, as well as the Peabody Conservatory. He spent an idyllic summer in England studying piano with Denise Lassimonne in 1984. Aside from GMCW, Dr. Teddy is the organist-choirmaster at Christ Church Parish Kensington (Episcopal); accompanist for the National Philharmonic Chorale, where he was recently given an award for his 30 years of service to that organization, and associate director-accompanist for the Central Maryland Chorale. He teaches on the staff of the University of Maryland School of Music (where he also served for more than 30 years) as a coach-accompanist.

Alex Tang, Accompanist (he/him/his)

Michael Lodico, Accompanist (he/him/his)

Michael Lodico is a native of western North Carolina. He received a Bachelors of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Masters of Music degree from the Amsterdam Conservatory as a Fulbright Scholar to the Netherlands. Michael was subsequently appointed to positions at Old Wye Parish, St. Anselm’s Abbey School, St. Albans and National Cathedral schools, St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, and St. Thomas’ Parish. He has been a featured performer on the radio show Pipedreams and at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Alex Chan, Rock Creek Singers Accompanist (he/him)

Alex Chan is a versatile musician with extensive experience as a voice accompanist, church pianist, orchestral keyboardist, and collaborative pianist for a variety of vocal ensembles in Maryland and Asia. He has also sung tenor in ensembles in Asia, and performed with the University of Maryland Chamber Singers, collaborating with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in world-class performance venues. A skilled performer, Alex won the gold prize in the piano duet category at the 3rd Piano Festival held in Singapore. Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he brings a unique perspective shaped by his multicultural background. Alex holds a Master’s degree and a Doctoral degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Maryland, College Park. His doctoral dissertation explored American art songs set to non-poetic texts, showcasing his scholarly interest in innovative repertoire and interdisciplinary approaches to music.

Dr. James Ellzy, Chair (he/him/his)

Dr. Ellzy has been affiliated with GMCW since 2010. He has served as singing member, dance captain, audition coordinator, choreographer, and stage director. He was inducted into the Circle of Excellence in 2016. Other past board positions include the Northwestern Alumni Association from 2008 to 2010 and the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians from 2013 to 2018 (including President 2017-2018). He currently serves on the board of directors for the American Academy of Family Physicians representing over 131,000 members. James earned his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Studies and Masters in Medical Informatics from Northwestern University. He was awarded his Medical Doctorate from East Tennessee State University’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine. Dr. Ellzy is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has also earned his certification in Medical Quality from the American Board of Medical Quality. He is currently a family physician with Oracle Health  and a proud navy veteran. He met his husband Franc O’Malley here in DC, and they were married in 2013.

Tomeika Bowden, Vice Chair (she/her/hers)

Tomeika Bowden manages the External Affairs Department at the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB), making sure community outreach and communication efforts fulfill the agency’s mission. Ms. Bowden has worked on public policy issues both at the national and local levels. She served in the United States Senate as Deputy Press Secretary for then-Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and later for the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. At the national YMCA, she created the first-ever digital grassroots advocacy program for the organization’s 2,700 chapters across the country.

In North Carolina, Ms. Bowden headed communications for a nonprofit focused on bridging the digital divide. Ms. Bowden joined DC PCSB to expand the board’s media and digital outreach. Later she was promoted to Communications Director and currently manages DC PCSB’s communications, digital, government relations, intergovernmental relations, and community engagement operation. Ms. Bowden has a Bachelor of Arts in English from North Carolina Central University and a Master’s in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.

John-Paul Hayworth, Treasurer (he/him/his)

John-Paul C. Hayworth is the LGBTQ+ Audience Strategy Director in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at AARP.  In this role, he is responsible for expanding the understanding of the LGBTQ+ community’s needs within AARP and broadening the knowledge of AARP resources within the LGBTQ+ community. He joined AARP in June 2022 after more than fifteen years working for the Government of the District of Columbia, including seven years as the Executive Director of the DC State Board of Education.

John-Paul has been a singing member of GMCW since 2005. He has served as volunteer chair for Spring Affair, Vice President for Events and two terms as President of GMCW.  He is a member of the GMCW’s Circle of Excellence, Federal City Stars, and Ovation Society.

Dr. Raymond Hoffman, Secretary (he/him/his)

Raymond Hoffman, M.D., is Clinical Director of Discovery Health Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program and Center for Discovery in Crownsville, MD, and is a Training and Supervising Analyst at the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the Contemporary Freudian Society in Washington, DC. He has served as the Medical Director of the Division of Mental Health and Substance Use at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD from 2013-2021.  He connected with the gay and lesbian choral movement initially as a founding member of the River City Mixed Chorus in Omaha, NE, while a medical student, and is a current singing member of GMCW. 

Brent Almond (he/him/his)

A singing member of GMCW since 2008, Brent also performs with and manages Seasons of Love. He has served as a T2 buddy, chair of the Walk to End HIV committee, and has enjoyed playing dress-up for several solos — among them a Greek goddess, an Elizabethan dandy, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. In 2022, Brent was inducted into the Circle of Excellence.

As an award-winning graphic designer, illustrator, and writer, Brent brings over 25 years of marketing experience to the board. He has managed, art directed, and designed projects for numerous LGBTQ, arts, and other nonprofit organizations including The Kennedy Center, NPR, The Nature Conservancy, and PFLAG. Brent has also contributed design and marketing services to GMCW, including the star logo that served as the Chorus’ brand for over a decade.

Brent lives in Kensington, MD with his two biggest fans — his husband Nick and their son Jon.

Frank Anania (he/him/his)

Frank has been a singing member of GMCW since 2018 and joined the organization after moving to DC about five and a half years ago. Frank was born, raised, and educated in Pittsburgh where he became a physician. His professional life has taken him to a variety of cities on the East Coast to work and live including Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Atlanta, where he had lived prior to coming to DC. Frank’s interest in music began as a child when his grandfather introduced him to the mandolin. Shortly thereafter Frank took piano lessons, and eventually wound up being a decent clarinetist. In high school he played in the marching band, the concert band, and the school’s performing arts orchestra.

Frank learned to sing in Baltimore, however, music became a distant memory when he moved to Atlanta where his professional life flourished. In 2017 he was recruited by the US Food and Drug Administration to help build a new liver division.

Frank has a number of hobbies and loves to cook, read, and travel. As the son of an immigrant father born in Italy, he has reclaimed some of his heritage by learning Italian in adulthood. An Italophile through and through, he is not an opera fan though loves listening to Rossini and Vivaldi. To say that Frank is passionate about social justice is an understatement, and given the opportunity, will engage in a lively debate.

Sarah Arnold (she/her/hers)

Sarah has been a loyal audience member, enjoying GMCW performances since 2011. Although not a performer, she enjoys participating in the performing arts through her dance classes at Knock on Wood Tap Studio in Tacoma Park and aerial arts classes at In the Dark Circus Arts in Baltimore. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Gwynedd-Mercy College, and her Medical Doctorate at Hahnemann University School of Medicine (now Drexel College of Medicine) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She completed a transitional internship at Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, family medicine residency at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, and preventive medicine residency at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). She served our country on active duty for 27 years—14 in the Navy and 13 in the US Public Health Service. She now works part time for Inspire Integrative Medicine in Arnold, Maryland.

Dr. Arnold is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians and served on the Board of Directors for the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians from 2016-2019. She currently lives in Annapolis with her 2 dogs.  In her spare time, she enjoys watching performances by Cirque du Soleil, theater, and dance shows at the Kennedy Center, and of course, GMCW.

Rick Bennett (he/him/his)

With a passion for singing and performing, Rick Bennett joined GMCW for the 2009 holiday show, and also jumped feet first into the deep end by joining Rock Creek Singers at the same time. Thirteen years later he continues singing and volunteering in support of the mission of the Chorus, and is proud to be voted onto the board. Rick has been involved in many ways from helping with the Spring Affair auction team, to working on many GMCW Pride floats, to being a lead in several GMCW productions such as Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Doody in Grease, and Joey for the premiere of the commissioned work Alexander’s House. Rick has also been decorated with a few Crystal Awards over the years… most notably: “Newbie of the Year,” Jeff Burman’s “Gives Good Face,” and for holding his composure when an RCS brother’s phone rang while he was singing “Nearer My God To Thee” solo at the Kennedy Center. Rick loves his GMCW chosen family and looks forward to contributing even more as a board member.

Michael Bigley (he/him/his)

Michael Bigley is the Director of the Venable Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Venable LLP – awarding grants to nonprofit organizations in Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Washington, DC area. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Program Officer for arts and humanities, capacity building and HIV/AIDS with the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; and Director of Education at Washington Performing Arts. He is the former Vice Chair and current steering committee member of the Washington AIDS Partnership, and serves on the board of Maryland Philanthropy Network. 

Romm Gatongay (he/him/his)

Romm has been a singing member of GMCW since 2015. He has served in various leadership positions in GMCW, most notably as co-chair of GMCW’s largest annual fundraiser Spring Affair for four years in a row from 2015 to 2019, helping the organization raise approximately $1 million during that period. Romm is a retired Marine Corps officer and works as a Department of Defense program analyst & consultant monitoring program budget executions and assisting with future years’ programming and budgeting. He has a masters degree in business administration with a focus on strategy and management. Romm is an immigrant born and raised in Manila, Philippines, and lives in Cheltenham, MD, with his husband Jay.

Adrian Gillem (he/him/his)

Hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands and based in the DMV, Adrian is a Cyber Engineering Program Manager at Microsoft with a focus on ensuring its 180,000 employees, and 1.3 million vendors and partners, easily and securely execute their mission within the Microsoft product ecosystem. Prior to Microsoft, Adrian spent 6 years at Booz Allen Hamilton, serving as a Senior Technical Program Manager on several multi-million-dollar engagements with DoD clients in Washington D.C., Tokyo, Seoul, and Honolulu.

Adrian is a strong advocate for creating resilient and mission-driven DE&I programs in and out of the workplace, with experience driving partnerships with DC LGBTQIA+ organizations like DC Black Pride, DC Capital Pride, the Human Rights Campaign, and SMYAL Inc. He now serves on the Board of GLEAM, Microsoft’s LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, having previously served on the Boards of Booz Allen’s African American and LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Groups from 2016 to 2022.

Finally, Adrian is a longtime and proud member of GMCW, having performed with the Main Chorus and Seasons of Love. Now a member of the board, Adrian is committed to driving strong partnerships to grow GMCWs presence and “voice” across the nation.

Robert Ginzel (he/him/his)

A native of the DC metro area, Rob spent the majority of his childhood in Northern Virginia in Fairfax County and has been an active GMCW singing member since September 2017. Rob is a management consultant who works with multinational clients in the areas of: organization design, human resources, talent development, change management and business transformation, culture assessment, communication, training and financial statement auditing. 

Dr. A. Howland Hartley (he/him/his)

A devoted fan of the Chorus since the 1980’s, Howland Hartley is beginning his 23rd season as a GMCW singer and proud member of the baritone section. He returns to the board after four previous terms, most recently as Vice Chair 2018-2019 and head of the Governance Committee. He received GMCW’s Circle of Excellence Award in 2018. In his spare time, Dr. Hartley is a physician in private practice and Associate Clinical Professor at GWU School of Medicine. He serves as a volunteer consultant and as a member of the board of trustees for Swinfen Telemedicine, a UK-based international telemedicine charity serving the poor and disadvantaged in 96 countries since 1996. Dr. Hartley and his husband of 34 years, William Lee, live in Chesapeake Beach and Washington, DC.

Shawn Morris (ex officio) (he/him/his)

Shawn joined the Chorus in 2015 and his first show with GMCW was The Holiday Show. Since then, he has been a soloist, a board member, a member of the leadership team, and a section leader. He is a current member of our Potomac Fever ensemble, and is the current Membership President. Professionally, Shawn works as a Corporate Director for Urban Adventures Company, which is the local Wellness Company that owns VIDA Fitness. He is also a personal trainer and group exercise coach. Shawn is thrilled to be back on the Board as an ex officio member, and loves being the Membership President.

Steve Oatmeyer (he/him/his)

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Steve relocated to DC in 2002 to escape the poor economy and horrible winters. With a BA in Commercial Art and Communications he has been working in that field when a Macintosh was considered just a type of apple. Since the 2012 political cycle, he has been designing primarily for political candidates on local, state and presidential campaigns levels. There came a time his life that he wanted his work to have a purpose and hopefully change lives. At first it was with nonprofit organizations, health care advocacy groups and progressed into politics. Steve has lived in the Logan Circle neighborhood for over 15 years and watched it grow into a thriving community which he’s thrilled to be a part of. He has served on the Shaw Dog Park Association board of directors for over 10 years as President and Vice President and is active in the Logan Circle community.  

Jack Reiffer (he/him/his)

Jack Reiffer is a retired pastor and longtime singing member of GMCW, including our Rock Creek Singers ensemble. He served in earlier years as Chorus membership president, chair of Spring Affair, and chair of the board of directors. Currently, Jack serves as coordinator of the Chorus Care Corps and is pleased to be serving once again on the board as part of the committees for Diversity & Inclusion and Finance.   

Jessica Sutter (she/her/hers)