Kaitlin Simonson is the founder and Artistic Director of Lux Mea Women’s Chorus. She teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan. Kaitlin relocated to New York after teaching choir at Canarelli Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. Under her direction, the six choirs performed throughout the southwest, earning superior ratings at festivals and competitions. As a Senior Associate Conductor for the National Children’s Chorus in New York, Kaitlin works with Senior Division students in the Debut Ensemble and Premier Ensemble. She is trained in the Kodàly Method, an experience-based pedagogy method that efficiently instills excellent musicianship in singers of all ages. Kaitlin has been a guest conductor of honor choirs in Nevada and Arizona. Her rapport with students and focus on the human connection through music make her rehearsals unforgettable. As a classically trained soprano, Kaitlin has performed as a soloist with the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Pro Arte Voices. She is an experienced choral singer praised for her sight-reading abilities, preparation and collegiality. Kaitlin holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she studied with Dr. Linda Lister. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree in choral music education, cum laude from Northern Arizona University where she studied with Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder. Kaitlin has completed three years of coursework in the Kodàly Methodology with Susan Brumfield at Portland State University. She serves on the KONY board as a general member. She is a member of ACDA, OAKE, and NAfME.

Tiffany Anne Chiang, born and raised in New York City, is a conductor, pianist and soprano. Tiffany is the Choral Director at Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted and Talented in Brooklyn. Prior to joining the faculty at I.S. 239, she taught at W.C. Bryant High School, served on the music faculty at Camp Encore/Coda in Maine, and was the co-founder and artistic director of the NYU Alumni Choir. Tiffany is a graduate of James Madison University and New York University, where she received her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees, respectively. Tiffany is also a proud alumna of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, where she was a vocal music major. Over the years, Tiffany has received accolades and awards for her teaching and work. She was a recipient of the NYU Outstanding Promise in the Field of Music Education Award, Big Apple Award Finalist, and GRAMMY® Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist.

Luke McEndarfer is a GRAMMY® Award-winning American conductor and one of the most compelling visionaries in the classical music world today. His dynamic career spanning over two decades has been shaped by an unwavering commitment to ambitious innovation, artistic creativity, and musical excellence. Currently, he serves as Artistic Director, President and CEO of the National Children’s Chorus, one of the most successful youth arts organizations in the United States. His conducting collaborations include work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Opera Company, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Opera Parallèle, VOCES8, and Kronos String Quartet. Over the years, he has prepared choruses and soloists for Gustavo Dudamel, Grant Gershon, James Conlon, Stephen Layton, David Alan Miller, Ibrahim Maalouf, John Rutter, Helmuth Rilling, David Willcocks, Eric Whitacre and the late Paul Salamunovich. To date, his premiere conducting performances include music by Morten Lauridsen, Sharon Farber, James Wright, Sarah Quartel, Stephen Cohn, Thomas Hewitt Jones, Daniel Brewbaker, Sage Lewis, Shawn Kirchner, Paul Gibson, Rufus Wainwright, and Nico Muhly.

In 2004, McEndarfer was appointed director of the acclaimed Paulist Choristers, and in 2008 his dream to create the National Children’s Chorus took flight. Since then, the NCC has grown from only sixteen families in Los Angeles to over 1,400 across the country, offering its students cutting-edge training and life-changing musical experiences. Under McEndarfer’s leadership, the NCC has built an unparalleled educational platform, leading young singers from the age of five, and guiding them through to the college level. McEndarfer’s Senior Division vocalists are GRAMMY® Award-winning, claiming music’s highest honor for Best Choral Performance in 2022. Across the nation, they comprise one of the most accomplished youth choruses, with performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Royce Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. International debuts have taken place throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. In 2020, McEndarfer initiated the building of a new annual opera academy, starting in Vail, Colorado, that would grow to engage aspiring voices in the art of opera, curated with an extraordinary curriculum exclusively designed for youth. Though the NCC has been his primary focus the last several years, McEndarfer’s background and experience encompass numerous conducting appearances featuring adult choral and symphonic masterworks. Upcoming plans include an exciting new launch within this genre of choral music as a natural extension of his artistic vision, and deep passion for the full choral repertoire. Equally at home in the studio, he has worked on several motion picture soundtracks and appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC, and Fox, as well as NBC’s Today Show and the former Tonight Show with Jay Leno. McEndarfer has also conducted in performance with Josh Groban, opened for John Legend, and been featured on Entertainment Tonight for the Oscars in 2014. In 2019, McEndarfer was honored with an invitation to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on a day the organization was formally recognized for its excellence in nonprofit growth and arts management.

Since the age of six, McEndarfer has studied piano extensively, winning competitions and musical honors with the Music Teachers’ Association of California. He is a two-time graduate of UCLA, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Music degree in conducting, the latter with full scholarship under the tutelage of Donald Neuen. Studying privately, McEndarfer has been the conducting pupil of Kenneth Kiesler, Marianne Ploger, Lucinda Carver, Simon Carrington, and the late Paul Salamunovich. Year-round, McEndarfer manages a demanding work and travel schedule that requires his presence around the country and internationally.

Kaitlin Simonson is the founder and Artistic Director of Lux Mea Women’s Chorus. She teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan. Kaitlin relocated to New York after teaching choir at Canarelli Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. Under her direction, the six choirs performed throughout the southwest, earning superior ratings at festivals and competitions. As a Senior Associate Conductor for the National Children’s Chorus in New York, Kaitlin works with Senior Division students in the Debut Ensemble and Premier Ensemble. She is trained in the Kodàly Method, an experience-based pedagogy method that efficiently instills excellent musicianship in singers of all ages. Kaitlin has been a guest conductor of honor choirs in Nevada and Arizona. Her rapport with students and focus on the human connection through music make her rehearsals unforgettable. As a classically trained soprano, Kaitlin has performed as a soloist with the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Pro Arte Voices. She is an experienced choral singer praised for her sight-reading abilities, preparation and collegiality. Kaitlin holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she studied with Dr. Linda Lister. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree in choral music education, cum laude from Northern Arizona University where she studied with Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder. Kaitlin has completed three years of coursework in the Kodàly Methodology with Susan Brumfield at Portland State University. She serves on the KONY board as a general member. She is a member of ACDA, OAKE, and NAfME.

Shavon Lloyd is an award-winning composer, baritone, conductor, and music educator. Since receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, Lloyd has been a frequent guest conductor throughout New York State, working with elementary, middle, and high school honors ensembles. As an educator, he has participated in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), contributing to both the Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Representation (BEDR) Committee and the Composition Committee. Lloyd recently received his Master of Music degree in vocal performance from The Juilliard School, where he performed in multiple productions, including Händel's Atalanta (Nicandro, cover), Purcell's King Arthur (Grimbald/Cold Genius), and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (Betto). Lloyd has also performed in several professional productions, most recently covering the role of Il Sagrestano in Puccini's Tosca and Simon in an all-Black production of Joplin's Treemonisha (Opera Theatre of St. Louis). In 2024, he made his Opera Saratoga debut as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. Regarding his compositions, Lloyd has won grand prizes in several competitions, including the Manhattan Choral Ensemble’s New Music for New York Competition (2015), the 18th Street Singers’ Composition Contest (Washington, D.C., 2018), and the Orpheus Chamber Singers Commissioning Competition (Dallas, TX, 2020). His works have been performed internationally across the United States, Canada, South America, and, most recently, Africa. Lloyd currently lives in New York City, where he is a Senior Associate Conductor for the National Children’s Chorus, a frequent guest teacher, and an international performer of both classical and musical theatre repertoire.

Luke McEndarfer is a GRAMMY® Award-winning American conductor and one of the most compelling visionaries in the classical music world today. His dynamic career spanning over two decades has been shaped by an unwavering commitment to ambitious innovation, artistic creativity, and musical excellence. Currently, he serves as Artistic Director, President and CEO of the National Children’s Chorus, one of the most successful youth arts organizations in the United States. His conducting collaborations include work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Opera Company, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Opera Parallèle, VOCES8, and Kronos String Quartet. Over the years, he has prepared choruses and soloists for Gustavo Dudamel, Grant Gershon, James Conlon, Stephen Layton, David Alan Miller, Ibrahim Maalouf, John Rutter, Helmuth Rilling, David Willcocks, Eric Whitacre and the late Paul Salamunovich. To date, his premiere conducting performances include music by Morten Lauridsen, Sharon Farber, James Wright, Sarah Quartel, Stephen Cohn, Thomas Hewitt Jones, Daniel Brewbaker, Sage Lewis, Shawn Kirchner, Paul Gibson, Rufus Wainwright, and Nico Muhly.

In 2004, McEndarfer was appointed director of the acclaimed Paulist Choristers, and in 2008 his dream to create the National Children’s Chorus took flight. Since then, the NCC has grown from only sixteen families in Los Angeles to over 1,400 across the country, offering its students cutting-edge training and life-changing musical experiences. Under McEndarfer’s leadership, the NCC has built an unparalleled educational platform, leading young singers from the age of five, and guiding them through to the college level. McEndarfer’s Senior Division vocalists are GRAMMY® Award-winning, claiming music’s highest honor for Best Choral Performance in 2022. Across the nation, they comprise one of the most accomplished youth choruses, with performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Royce Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. International debuts have taken place throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. In 2020, McEndarfer initiated the building of a new annual opera academy, starting in Vail, Colorado, that would grow to engage aspiring voices in the art of opera, curated with an extraordinary curriculum exclusively designed for youth. Though the NCC has been his primary focus the last several years, McEndarfer’s background and experience encompass numerous conducting appearances featuring adult choral and symphonic masterworks. Upcoming plans include an exciting new launch within this genre of choral music as a natural extension of his artistic vision, and deep passion for the full choral repertoire. Equally at home in the studio, he has worked on several motion picture soundtracks and appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC, and Fox, as well as NBC’s Today Show and the former Tonight Show with Jay Leno. McEndarfer has also conducted in performance with Josh Groban, opened for John Legend, and been featured on Entertainment Tonight for the Oscars in 2014. In 2019, McEndarfer was honored with an invitation to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on a day the organization was formally recognized for its excellence in nonprofit growth and arts management.

Since the age of six, McEndarfer has studied piano extensively, winning competitions and musical honors with the Music Teachers’ Association of California. He is a two-time graduate of UCLA, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Music degree in conducting, the latter with full scholarship under the tutelage of Donald Neuen. Studying privately, McEndarfer has been the conducting pupil of Kenneth Kiesler, Marianne Ploger, Lucinda Carver, Simon Carrington, and the late Paul Salamunovich. Year-round, McEndarfer manages a demanding work and travel schedule that requires his presence around the country and internationally.

Shavon Lloyd is an award-winning composer, baritone, conductor, and music educator. Since receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, Lloyd has been a frequent guest conductor throughout New York State, working with elementary, middle, and high school honors ensembles. As an educator, he has participated in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), contributing to both the Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Representation (BEDR) Committee and the Composition Committee. Lloyd recently received his Master of Music degree in vocal performance from The Juilliard School, where he performed in multiple productions, including Händel's Atalanta (Nicandro, cover), Purcell's King Arthur (Grimbald/Cold Genius), and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (Betto). Lloyd has also performed in several professional productions, most recently covering the role of Il Sagrestano in Puccini's Tosca and Simon in an all-Black production of Joplin's Treemonisha (Opera Theatre of St. Louis). In 2024, he made his Opera Saratoga debut as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. Regarding his compositions, Lloyd has won grand prizes in several competitions, including the Manhattan Choral Ensemble’s New Music for New York Competition (2015), the 18th Street Singers’ Composition Contest (Washington, D.C., 2018), and the Orpheus Chamber Singers Commissioning Competition (Dallas, TX, 2020). His works have been performed internationally across the United States, Canada, South America, and, most recently, Africa. Lloyd currently lives in New York City, where he is a Senior Associate Conductor for the National Children’s Chorus, a frequent guest teacher, and an international performer of both classical and musical theatre repertoire.