| Joslyn Thomas | President |
| Bill Culverhouse | Past-President |
| Liz Geisewite | President-Elect |
| Morgan Beaton | Secretary & Membership Chair |
| Megan Field | Treasurer |
| Antoine Dolberry | ADEI Chair |
| Emily Crowe Sobotko | Liaison to R&R Chairs |
| Alex Canovas | Website Manager |
| Kyla Surajbali | Social Media Manager |
Executive Board
Joslyn Thomas
President
Joslyn Thomas is an educator, conductor, and vocalist based in the LI/NYC area. She is an elementary music teacher in the Hicksville Public Schools, vocal coach at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, music director of the Forest Hills Choir, and interim director of the Queens College Treble Choir. An active professional vocalist, Joslyn performs with ensembles including Elevate Vocal Arts, The Lotus Project NJ, the Cathedral of the Incarnation Chamber Choir, and the eVoco Voice Collective. Recently, she performed with the Delaware Choral Scholars at the 2024 World Choir Games, where the choir earned championship awards and the #1 ranking on the Interkultur World Rankings. Passionate about advancing the choral art, Joslyn serves on the board of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, and is president of the New York chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (NY-ACDA). Previously, Thomas has held conducting positions with the Seattle Children’s Chorus and the University of Washington Treble Choir. Joslyn holds a B.M. in Music Education from Westminster Choir College and M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington.
Bill Culverhouse
Past-President
William Culverhouse is currently director of choral activities and associate professor of music at Binghamton University, where he directs the Harpur Chorale and Chamber Singers and teaches courses in choral music and vocal pedagogy. He received his undergraduate degree in music education from Oberlin Conservatory and graduate degrees in choral conducting from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he studied with Edward Maclary. Before coming to Binghamton, he served as director of choral activities at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, where he directed the concert choir and madrigal singers and taught courses in musicology, conducting, composition, music education and musicianship. Prior to teaching at Earlham, he taught music in the public schools in Ohio, Illinois and Virginia, and served for eight years as director of the Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.
Culverhouse also serves as artistic director for the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective, a professional-level chamber choir that he founded in 2018 and which draws from the most talented singers in central New York and northeast Pennsylvania, including many regional choral music educators. Their repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony through Bach, Brahms and Poulenc to living composers such as Adolphus Hailstork, Morten Lauridsen and Dale Trumbore, as well as contemporary a cappella repertoire. STSC sponsors a biennial composition competition for young New York state composers. They gave the world premiere of Zanaida Stewart Robles’ Mass in E Minor in April 2022, and Shireen Abu-Khader’s Rumor Mill in October 2024.
A lyric baritone with a specialization in early and contemporary music, Culverhouse has sung professionally throughout the Midwest and the East Coast. He has studied singing with David Clayton, Fay Putnam, Joan Heller, Paul Warner and Gerald Crawford. He is an active composer as well, particularly of choral and solo vocal music, with performances also throughout the Midwest and East Coast. His composition teachers have included Adolphus Hailstork, Robert Sirota and Kathryn Alexander. His Requiem for chorus and harp received its New York premiere in March 2016.
Culverhouse is in frequent demand as a choral clinician, having conducted, adjudicated and presented workshops in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York and Virginia. He also specializes in choral music of the Arab world and has given conference presentations on Arab choral music at numerous state, regional and national conferences. He traveled to Jordan on a Fulbright Specialist Scholar grant to collaborate with choirs in Amman in May 2016. In February 2017, he returned to Jordan to conduct an honor choir of students from Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Malaysia, as well as Jordan. In summer 2018, he co-directed a performing-arts research-abroad program in Spain and Morocco.
Culverhouse also serves as artistic director for the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective, a professional-level chamber choir that he founded in 2018 and which draws from the most talented singers in central New York and northeast Pennsylvania, including many regional choral music educators. Their repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony through Bach, Brahms and Poulenc to living composers such as Adolphus Hailstork, Morten Lauridsen and Dale Trumbore, as well as contemporary a cappella repertoire. STSC sponsors a biennial composition competition for young New York state composers. They gave the world premiere of Zanaida Stewart Robles’ Mass in E Minor in April 2022, and Shireen Abu-Khader’s Rumor Mill in October 2024.
A lyric baritone with a specialization in early and contemporary music, Culverhouse has sung professionally throughout the Midwest and the East Coast. He has studied singing with David Clayton, Fay Putnam, Joan Heller, Paul Warner and Gerald Crawford. He is an active composer as well, particularly of choral and solo vocal music, with performances also throughout the Midwest and East Coast. His composition teachers have included Adolphus Hailstork, Robert Sirota and Kathryn Alexander. His Requiem for chorus and harp received its New York premiere in March 2016.
Culverhouse is in frequent demand as a choral clinician, having conducted, adjudicated and presented workshops in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York and Virginia. He also specializes in choral music of the Arab world and has given conference presentations on Arab choral music at numerous state, regional and national conferences. He traveled to Jordan on a Fulbright Specialist Scholar grant to collaborate with choirs in Amman in May 2016. In February 2017, he returned to Jordan to conduct an honor choir of students from Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Malaysia, as well as Jordan. In summer 2018, he co-directed a performing-arts research-abroad program in Spain and Morocco.
Liz Geisewite
President-Elect
Liz Geisewite is the Director of Choral Education for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, teaches choral conducting at Manhattan School of Music, and taught music in NYC public high schools for a decade. She’s the director and co-founder of Accord Treble Choir, current NY-ACDA President-elect and Artistic Director of Brooklyn Treble Choir. Liz studied Kodály methodology at NYU, the British Kodály Academy, and the International Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary, and has taught Kodály musicianship classes for the National Children’s Chorus (NCC), and delivered presentations on Kodály methodology at Brooklyn College, Queens College, SUNY Potsdam, and the NYC Department of Education.
Morgan Beaton
Secretary & Membership Chair
Morgan Beaton is the Vocal Music Teacher at G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, NY. She graduated from the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University with a Master of Music in Conducting, and she holds a Bachelor of Music with a choral music education emphasis and a minor in music history from Nazareth College of Rochester.
She is currently the NY-ACDA Secretary and Membership Chair and 2025 NY-ACDA Collegiate Conference Committee Advisor. Her leadership positions have included 2023-2025 NY-ACDA Secretary, Student Liaison on the Eastern Region ACDA Executive Board, and she served on the NAfME National Strategic Planning Committee for Equity. Prior to these positions, she served three years on the Collegiate New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Executive Board as the Web Editor and Secretary-Treasurer.
Her most recent awards include the Earl George Choral Award from Syracuse University, a Spector/Warren Fellowship for Future Educators, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Professional Achievement Award, and Excellence in Choral Conducting and Choral Music Education from the Nazareth College School of Music. She is an honorary inductee of Phi Kappa Lambda as of 2020.
Morgan has an active presence at conferences both as a presenter and as a conference organizer. She chaired the 2024 NY-ACDA Collegiate Conference, presented at the 2024 NYSSMA Winter Conference J.W. Pepper Reading Session, assisted with the 2024 ACDA Eastern Regional Conference as Student Liaison, and co-chaired the 2022 NY-ACDA Collegiate Conference. Most notably, she has spoken on behalf of collegiate NAfME members at the NAfME National Leadership Assembly at the request of President Mackie Spradley in 2021.
She is currently the NY-ACDA Secretary and Membership Chair and 2025 NY-ACDA Collegiate Conference Committee Advisor. Her leadership positions have included 2023-2025 NY-ACDA Secretary, Student Liaison on the Eastern Region ACDA Executive Board, and she served on the NAfME National Strategic Planning Committee for Equity. Prior to these positions, she served three years on the Collegiate New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Executive Board as the Web Editor and Secretary-Treasurer.
Her most recent awards include the Earl George Choral Award from Syracuse University, a Spector/Warren Fellowship for Future Educators, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Professional Achievement Award, and Excellence in Choral Conducting and Choral Music Education from the Nazareth College School of Music. She is an honorary inductee of Phi Kappa Lambda as of 2020.
Morgan has an active presence at conferences both as a presenter and as a conference organizer. She chaired the 2024 NY-ACDA Collegiate Conference, presented at the 2024 NYSSMA Winter Conference J.W. Pepper Reading Session, assisted with the 2024 ACDA Eastern Regional Conference as Student Liaison, and co-chaired the 2022 NY-ACDA Collegiate Conference. Most notably, she has spoken on behalf of collegiate NAfME members at the NAfME National Leadership Assembly at the request of President Mackie Spradley in 2021.
Megan Field
Treasurer
Megan Field is a music educator and choral conductor from Central New York. She is currently the vocal and general music teacher at R.C. Buckley Elementary School in Lansing, New York. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, and is currently serving as the Honor Choirs Chair for the ACDA East Regional Conference in 2026. She continues to serve on the executive board of NY-ACDA as treasurer.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Field maintains an active performing life, cantoring both English and Latin Masses in the Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese. She has also performed with the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective and the Cornell Chamber Singers.
Megan holds a B.M. in Music Education from Syracuse University. While at SU, she sang with the Concert Choir, Women’s Choir, Hendricks Chapel Choir, and University Singers. With University Singers, she traveled and competed in both the Florilege Vocal de Tours (France, 2015- Grand Prix de la Ville de Tours winners) and the European Grand Prix (Bulgaria, 2016).
Ms. Field received her M.M. in Choral Conducting from Georgia State University, where she studied with Dr. Deanna Joseph. While in Atlanta, she was also the Director of Children’s Choirs at a local church, and taught preK music in East Lake, GA.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Field maintains an active performing life, cantoring both English and Latin Masses in the Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese. She has also performed with the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective and the Cornell Chamber Singers.
Megan holds a B.M. in Music Education from Syracuse University. While at SU, she sang with the Concert Choir, Women’s Choir, Hendricks Chapel Choir, and University Singers. With University Singers, she traveled and competed in both the Florilege Vocal de Tours (France, 2015- Grand Prix de la Ville de Tours winners) and the European Grand Prix (Bulgaria, 2016).
Ms. Field received her M.M. in Choral Conducting from Georgia State University, where she studied with Dr. Deanna Joseph. While in Atlanta, she was also the Director of Children’s Choirs at a local church, and taught preK music in East Lake, GA.
Antoine Dolberry
ADEI Chair
Antoine Dolberry is a dynamic performer, celebrated vocalist, and passionate music educator whose musical journey began with early training in the world-renowned Boys Choir of Harlem. As a member, he toured internationally, performing in numerous countries and across the United States, singing for global dignitaries and U.S. Presidents including George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
His talent and versatility as a vocalist have led him to perform behind legendary artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, and Stevie Wonder. Antoine continued to cultivate his artistry at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance.
Antoine holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from Lehman College and an Advanced Certificate in Music Education from Brooklyn College, equipping him with both the practical and academic tools to lead and inspire future generations of musicians.
Since beginning his teaching career in 2011, Antoine has dedicated himself to enriching the lives of young people throughout New York City. His innovative teaching and unwavering commitment to his students have earned him four Grammy nominations for Music Educator of the Year, along with multiple awards, citations, and recognitions from the City of New York.
He is the Founder and Director of the P.S. 103 Ensemble Stars, whose remarkable performances have been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC’s Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, The Today Show, the wedding of NBA star Kevin Love, and most recently, the National Anthem at a New York Yankees game.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Antoine serves as Assistant Music Director of the Alumni Ensemble of Harlem, continuing the powerful legacy of the Boys Choir of Harlem. He is also a respected educator at both the Harlem School of the Arts and the SCAN-Harbor Performing Arts Academy, where he helps cultivate the next generation of performing artists from underserved communities.
A fierce advocate for music education equity, Antoine works closely with organizations such as Education Through Music, NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) to ensure all students have access to high-quality music instruction.
At the heart of Antoine’s work is his unwavering love for celebrating and representing Black culture through music. Whether through gospel, spirituals, R&B, or classical works by Black composers, he is intentional about preserving and elevating the sounds, stories, and contributions of the African American musical tradition. His performances and teaching center Black excellence, cultural pride, and artistic authenticity; empowering students to see themselves as part of a rich and resilient musical legacy.
Antoine Dolberry’s mission is rooted in passion, excellence, and empowerment; using music as a vehicle to uplift, transform, and unite communities across generations.
His talent and versatility as a vocalist have led him to perform behind legendary artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, and Stevie Wonder. Antoine continued to cultivate his artistry at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance.
Antoine holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from Lehman College and an Advanced Certificate in Music Education from Brooklyn College, equipping him with both the practical and academic tools to lead and inspire future generations of musicians.
Since beginning his teaching career in 2011, Antoine has dedicated himself to enriching the lives of young people throughout New York City. His innovative teaching and unwavering commitment to his students have earned him four Grammy nominations for Music Educator of the Year, along with multiple awards, citations, and recognitions from the City of New York.
He is the Founder and Director of the P.S. 103 Ensemble Stars, whose remarkable performances have been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC’s Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, The Today Show, the wedding of NBA star Kevin Love, and most recently, the National Anthem at a New York Yankees game.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Antoine serves as Assistant Music Director of the Alumni Ensemble of Harlem, continuing the powerful legacy of the Boys Choir of Harlem. He is also a respected educator at both the Harlem School of the Arts and the SCAN-Harbor Performing Arts Academy, where he helps cultivate the next generation of performing artists from underserved communities.
A fierce advocate for music education equity, Antoine works closely with organizations such as Education Through Music, NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) to ensure all students have access to high-quality music instruction.
At the heart of Antoine’s work is his unwavering love for celebrating and representing Black culture through music. Whether through gospel, spirituals, R&B, or classical works by Black composers, he is intentional about preserving and elevating the sounds, stories, and contributions of the African American musical tradition. His performances and teaching center Black excellence, cultural pride, and artistic authenticity; empowering students to see themselves as part of a rich and resilient musical legacy.
Antoine Dolberry’s mission is rooted in passion, excellence, and empowerment; using music as a vehicle to uplift, transform, and unite communities across generations.
Additional Leadership
Emily Crowe Sobotko
Liaison to R&R Chairs
Emily Crowe Sobotko is a NYC-based choral conductor, educator, and arts leader. As Director of Music Programs for Uncommon Schools, she oversees 14 K–12 programs across Brooklyn, coaching teachers, developing curriculum, and guiding the growth of music education. She previously led choral programs at the Brooklyn New School. Emily sings with and serves as associate conductor of the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus Treble Ensemble. She holds degrees from Lawrence University and Relay Graduate School of Education, with certifications in Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk.
Alex Canovas
Website Manager
Alex Canovas the General & Artistic Director of the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus (YNYC), leading both their Mixed and Treble Ensembles. An ardent supporter of new music, YNYC has given the world, regional, or NYC premiere of over 30 works over seven seasons under Alex’s direction. Alex also oversees YNYC’s celebrated Daniel Thompson Memorial Competition for Young Composers, which has led to the commissioning of over 55 new works by young composers, many of whom have gone on to become some of the most influential voices in choral music. Under Alex’s leadership, YNYC has appeared at multiple ACDA conferences, won The 2023 American Prize in Choral Performance — Community Division, and in 2024 Alex was named the winner of The American Prize in Choral Conducting — The Dale Warland Award — Community Division.
Alex has collaborated and worked with with creatives working in a wide variety of mediums, including John Luther Adams, Sxip Shirey, Paul Pinto, David Bloom, Martin Steidler and the Audi Jugendchorakademie, Caroline Polachek, Brad Wells, Kent Nagano, Tina Roth Eisenberg & Creative Mornings, Philip Glass, R.B. Schlather, Matt Oltman, Dale Trumbore, Mark Shapiro, David Conte, and Vance George. He has led and prepared ensembles for appearances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, The Town Hall, Rockefeller Center, and other venues across New York City. He has extensive experience in church music, most recently serving on the music staff of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn for almost ten years, where he was named Director of Music & Choirmaster in 2018. Other previous positions include Associate Conductor of Choral Chameleon, Operations Manager and Assistant Conductor of the Empire City Men’s Chorus, and Assistant Conductor of the Ridgewood, NJ-based Ars Musica Chorale.
He is an active member of Chorus America and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), currently serving as the Webmaster for the New York chapter of ACDA, and on the ACDA National Composition Initiatives Committee. Alex is a graduate of Ithaca College, where his teachers included Dr. Brad Hougham, Lawrence Doebler, Dr. Janet Galván, and Brian DeMaris.
Alex has collaborated and worked with with creatives working in a wide variety of mediums, including John Luther Adams, Sxip Shirey, Paul Pinto, David Bloom, Martin Steidler and the Audi Jugendchorakademie, Caroline Polachek, Brad Wells, Kent Nagano, Tina Roth Eisenberg & Creative Mornings, Philip Glass, R.B. Schlather, Matt Oltman, Dale Trumbore, Mark Shapiro, David Conte, and Vance George. He has led and prepared ensembles for appearances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, The Town Hall, Rockefeller Center, and other venues across New York City. He has extensive experience in church music, most recently serving on the music staff of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn for almost ten years, where he was named Director of Music & Choirmaster in 2018. Other previous positions include Associate Conductor of Choral Chameleon, Operations Manager and Assistant Conductor of the Empire City Men’s Chorus, and Assistant Conductor of the Ridgewood, NJ-based Ars Musica Chorale.
He is an active member of Chorus America and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), currently serving as the Webmaster for the New York chapter of ACDA, and on the ACDA National Composition Initiatives Committee. Alex is a graduate of Ithaca College, where his teachers included Dr. Brad Hougham, Lawrence Doebler, Dr. Janet Galván, and Brian DeMaris.
Kyla Surajbali
Social Media Manager
Kyla Surajbali (she/her/hers) is an early career educator from Long Island, New York, and works full time with Young People’s Chorus of NYC as a conducting fellow. She previously taught middle school chorus and general music, including directing the Junior Voices ensemble at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School, working with the Westchester Children’s Chorus as conducting associate and social media manager, and teaching vocal and piano lessons with the Long Island Studio of Music.
Kyla graduated summa cum laude from Hofstra University with a B.S. in Music Education, where she sang with the Chorale and Chamber Choir and served as the ensemble manager. A past president of the Hofstra chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, Kyla is continuing service with NY-ACDA as social media manager. She pursues her love for choral singing with the eVoco Voice Collective under the direction of Dr. David Fryling, and also serves as the publications director. Kyla is Filipino and Guyanese, and her professional teaching goals include affirming her students’ identities through music. When not working on choral projects, Kyla loves to go rock climbing or spend time outdoors!
Kyla graduated summa cum laude from Hofstra University with a B.S. in Music Education, where she sang with the Chorale and Chamber Choir and served as the ensemble manager. A past president of the Hofstra chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, Kyla is continuing service with NY-ACDA as social media manager. She pursues her love for choral singing with the eVoco Voice Collective under the direction of Dr. David Fryling, and also serves as the publications director. Kyla is Filipino and Guyanese, and her professional teaching goals include affirming her students’ identities through music. When not working on choral projects, Kyla loves to go rock climbing or spend time outdoors!