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Jeffrey Davidson

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Member Bio Choral director Jeff Davidson has a simple philosophy when it comes to teaching: the mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires. Students consider Davidson one of the greats. Davidson is retiring at the end of this school year after 37 years of teaching. The announcement came as a sad surprise to teachers and students alike. “You just know it’s time—time to move onto another phase of your life,” Davidson said. Davidson won the Maryland Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Teacher Award for Excellence and was a finalist for the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award. Last year, Bethesda Magazine recognized him as an “extraordinary educator.” Davidson started his choral teaching career at John F. Kennedy High School, but after a combined concert with Kennedy and Whitman in the early 1980s, the choral director then at Whitman recommended Davidson as his replacement. Here, he has overseen the growth of the music department and expanded the school’s three choral ensembles to five. His classes have won many awards throughout the years, including numerous first place awards at national music festivals and superior ratings at MCPS choir competitions. Davidson’s influence extends beyond the classroom walls. Hundreds of his former students have remained a part of the close-knit Whitman music community, many have continued their musical interests in college and have music careers. Students see Davidson as a sympathetic and compassionate teacher who has shaped their lives in other areas besides chorus. Junior Lucas Arulpragasam, who has taken chorus since freshman year, said that Davidson noticed when he was sad or stressed and helped him talk through his emotions. Davidson made him feel cared for and helped him find direction, he said. Junior Brynn O’Connor remembers the easygoing atmosphere in his classroom. “He made chorus a safe environment to learn and have fun, but still be able to be serious about chorus and love it,” she said. “It’s sad, but I think he’s ready to move on.” Some of Davidson’s favorite memories include conducting his choirs on the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and at Strathmore during their annual music trips. Ultimately, his students made his time at Whitman memorable, he said. “The day-to-day working with Whitman kids was the best part of it,” Davidson said. “It’s a pleasure to be associated with so many fine young people.” Michelle Silver (’18) recalls her experience in the music department fondly. Her favorite high school experiences include the annual end-of-the year farewell concerts, which feature traditional songs sung by past Whitman choruses. Silver attended this year’s farewell concert June 5 to pay tribute to Davidson. “Him retiring was the right decision for him because he put so much work into the program, and he deserves the rest,” Silver said.
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Sonia Marie De Leon De Vega

Santa Cecilia Orchestra
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Member Bio Noted symphony and opera conductor Sonia Marie De León de Vega has achieved distinction as a creative and consummate musician, as a woman in a groundbreaking career role, and as a leading influence in the growing Latino culture in the United States. Born in San Antonio Texas, De León de Vega is the daughter of actress/producer Sonia De León and singer/guitarist Reynaldo Sanchez. At the age of four De León de Vega moved to Los Angeles, California, where she was raised and began her musical training becoming an accomplished pianist and organist. While always distinguishing herself academically, her graduate studies led her to love and specialize in conducting studies with Dr. David Buck. She also trained at the Herbert Blomstedt International Institute for Instrumental Conductors and at various American Symphony Orchestra League workshops with Otto Werner Mueller, Maurice Abravanel, Pierre Boulez, Andre Previn, Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti. Her musical talents have inspired a large following in Southern California through live orchestral presentations, as well as an international audience through televised performances in the United States, Latin America and Europe. She was the first woman in history to receive a Vatican invitation to conduct a symphony orchestra at a Papal Mass. Hispanic Business Magazine voted her one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States in 2001, and Univision, Mervyns of California and Target named her Outstanding Latina of the Year in 2000. Hispanic Business Magazine voted her one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States in 2001 and 2005. In April 2005 Hispanic Business Magazine named her in their “80 Elite Women” list. In 2005 she was named “Business Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment” by Senator Jack Scott and Assemblywoman Carol Liu. In 2006, she was awarded the “Local Hero” award by KCET and had a mini-profile aired throughout the month of September on KCET and its affiliates.
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Johan de Meij

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Member Bio Dutch composer and conductor Johan de Meij (Voorburg, 1953) received his musical training at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, where he studied trombone and conducting. His award-winning oeuvre of original compositions, symphonic transcriptions and film score arrangements has garnered him international acclaim and have become permanent fixtures in the repertoire of renowned ensembles throughout the world. His Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings was awarded the prestigious Sudler Composition Prize and has been recorded by myriad ensembles including The London Symphony Orchestra, The North Netherlands Orchestra, The Nagoya Philharmonic and The Amsterdam Wind Orchestra. His Symphony No. 2 The Big Apple, Symphony No. 3 Planet Earth, Symphony No. 4 Sinfonie der Lieder as well as his solo concertos, T-Bone Concerto (trombone), UFO Concerto (euphonium) and Casanova (cello) have been enthusiastically received at many of the world’s finest venues. Before devoting his time exclusively to composing and conducting, Johan de Meij enjoyed a successful professional career as a trombone and euphonium player, performing with major orchestras and ensembles in The Netherlands. He is in high demand as a guest conductor and lecturer, frequently invited to speak about and perform his own works. In 2010, he was appointed regular guest conductor of the Simón Bolívar Youth Wind Orchestra in Caracas, Venezuela – part of the celebrated Venezuelan educational system El Sistema. He currently maintains posts with both the New York Wind Symphony and the Kyushu Wind Orchestra in Fukuoka, Japan as their principal guest conductor. Johan is founder and CEO of his own publishing company Amstel Music, established in 1989. When not traveling, Johan divides his time between his Hudson Valley home and his Manhattan apartment with his wife and muse Dyan, cats Lenny, Gustavo, Tosca & Lulu and doggy Lucy.
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Jolene de Verges Jolene de Verges Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University
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Emilie De Voght

Vlaamse Dirigentenvereniging
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Member Bio Emilie started as choir director in 2016. It was that year that she was hired as the new artistic director at Chorus Erasmus, a mixed choir in Anderlecht. ​ The following year, it was the turn of the Opwijks Mannenkoor, a men's choir from Opwijk, to engage him. In September 2019 she was presented as the new conductor of Canta Ludens, a mixed choir from Drongen (Gent). In 2021 she takes over the direction of Musica Nova (Boom) and in May 2023 it is the turn of Vivente Voce (Ghent) to appoint her as new artistic director. ​ As a chorister, Emilie has many years under her belt, having sung with Vlaams Radio Koor and Collegium Vocale Gent. She is now very keen to pass on her knowledge to the members of her choirs. ​ Currently, Emilie is following the Master's program in choral conducting with Luc Anthonis at the Antwerp Conservatory.
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Mr. Mark Deal

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Member Bio Mr. Deal is a native of Savannah, GA and received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from East Carolina University, a Master’s Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Conducting from Bowling Green State University, and did Doctoral work in Conducting at the University of South Carolina. He studied with multi-Grammy Award winning Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony, Robert Spano as well as Harold Farberman, Yoel Levi, and Dr. Donald Portnoy. Currently Mr. Deal is a Music Educator in the Fairfax County Public Schools. Mr. Deal has conducted a variety of ensembles including Kingsport Symphony (TN), Western Piedmont Symphony (NC), Union Symphony Orchestra, and Studio Lyrica Opera Company (Cortona, Italy). Locally Mr. Deal served as the Assistant Conductor of the McLean Orchestra and the Music Director for multiple productions for the Reston Community Players, The Arlington Players, The Little Theatre of Alexandria as well as Music Director for the National Concert Band of America. In addition to conducting, Mr. Deal is an active Horn performer, and has held positions with the Charleston Symphony (SC), Augusta Symphony (GA), McLean Orchestra (VA), Fairfax Wind Symphony (VA), Washington Savoyards (DC), Shakespeare Opera Company (VA), and the Friday Morning Music Club Chorale (DC). Mr. Deal has also been a guest performer with numerous theaters in the DC.
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Dr. Jay Dean

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Member Bio Opera has always been part of Jay Dean’s career. This special world of music has given him the opportunity to conduct performances with such eminent operatic artists as Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Denyce Graves, Roberta Peters, and many more. He has conducted productions for Opera Mississippi since 2004, and became its Artistic Director in 2010. In addition to his position with Opera Mississippi, he is the Director of the School of Music at the University of Southern Mississippi. Considered a musical ambassador for Mississippi, Dean received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin. He came to The University of Southern Mississippi in 1988, and was the Director of Orchestral Activities for the USM Symphony Orchestra for thirty years (1988-2018). During his tenure as director, the orchestra rose to enjoy an international reputation that enhanced not only the university, but also the state and region. His recruiting efforts turned this organization into a multinational conglomerate that included students from many different countries. The orchestra became known for “Bringing the World to Mississippi.” He has produced and conducted concerts with internationally known classical music icons such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-yo Ma, Sir James Galway, Joshua Bell, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Manuel Barrueco, John Browning, Christopher Parkening, Edgar Meyer, and many more. In addition to classical artists, he has also produced and conducted performances with major popular artists such as Doc Severinsen, The Pointer Sisters, Patti La Belle, Dionne Warwick, Patti Austin, Linda Eder, Sandy Patty, Mac McAnally, and Ricky Skaggs. His work as an orchestral conductor has reached many orchestras in Europe, the United States, and Latin America. Dean’s skills as a producer and artistic manager enable him to work music in a much broader context; he is the Founding Artistic Director of Festival South and the Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Concert Association. He was also the Artistic Director of the Natchez Festival of Music from 2011 until 2019. In 2009, he and the USM Symphony Orchestra received the Governor’s Award for Leadership in the Arts. During his time as Artistic Director, Opera Mississippi also received a Governor’s Award for Artistic Excellence in 2017. His other awards and recognitions include receiving the Hub Award, the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association’s Leadership in the Arts award, the Excellence for Global Arts and Culture Award from the Mississippi World Trade Center, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Southern Mississippi Research Council, two Joint Resolutions from the Mississippi State Legislature, and induction into the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame. Jay Dean affirms that his central mission “is to provide life-changing experiences for the artists that work with him and raise the quality of life in the state of which he is a part.
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Jonathan DeBruyn

Sunnyside Symphony, Salem Philharmonia
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Member Bio ​Jonathan DeBruyn grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon in a musical household, and was exposed to classical music from a young age. He received his BM in Violin Performance from Portland State University, studying with Carol Sindell, and completed his MM in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Oregon with Dr. David Jacobs. He was a Conducting Fellow with the Eugene Symphony for the 2018-2019 season, and in 2021 was named a Faber Conducting Fellow with the American Austrian Foundation. In 2022 he was named the conductor of the “Young Artists Debut!” concerto competition. In 2023, he was named the Music Director of the Sunnyside Symphony, as well as the Artistic Director of the Salem Philharmonia. He has performed as a violinist with many local orchestras, including the Portland Columbia Symphony, the Newport Symphony, and the Eugene Symphony. He has conducted as far as Canada, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, reading, and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is the son of composer Randall DeBruyn.
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Emma Dederick Emma Dederick Indiana University

Indiana University
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María del C. Maldonado María del C. Maldonado Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico

Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico
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