Meet Our Team
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Sam Barge
Executive & Artistic Director
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Sam has always found his home in the choral space. He grew up harmonizing with his family in Marietta, GA, and later earned his B.M. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his M.M. in Choral Conducting at Temple University. He has served as guest conductor and adjudicator for festivals and honor choruses throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and has studied conducting with Paul Rardin, Simon Carrington, Jerry Blackstone and Deanna Joseph. He has also performed in ensembles ranging from college a capella groups to symphonic choirs, and his compositions and arrangements have been performed by ensembles in Atlanta, NYC and even the UK.
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Sam believes choral music is an unrivaled medium to forge lifelong bonds, deepen our capacity for self-expression, and transform communities—and he feels honored to teach and learn from the talented, passionate singers of BYC.
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Sam is also an avid baker, runner and fan of all things UNC Basketball.
Michael Adams
Director of Choristers
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Michael is a lifelong choral singer who has conducted singers from all generations across the Berks and Lancaster County area. In addition to his role as Director of the Choristers, Michael currently serves as the Director of Fine and Performing Arts and Director of Choral Studies at Lancaster Catholic High School teaching vocal music and music theory. He also holds a private voice studio where his students have gone on to choral festivals at the district, regional, and state levels. Prior to Lancaster Catholic, Michael served as the Director of Music at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Sinking Spring and taught elementary and middle school music at schools in both Berks and Lancaster County.
Michael received a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education from Bloomsburg University and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Music Education at Kutztown University. He is a classically trained operatic baritone who has sung with such choral greats as Paul Salamunovich, Z. Randall Stroope, Elaine Hagenberg, and many others.
When not in a choral rehearsal or performance, Michael enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, Trish, and their three children.
Board of Directors
Mark Merolla, Board Chair
William Cotter, Vice Chair
Victoria L. Piscitelli, CPA, Treasurer
Heather Hafer, Secretary
Allison McMillan
Jenny Perry
Liz Toigo
Our Advisory Board
Bruce Bengtson
Andrew Constantine
Greg Funfgeld
Vicki Haller Graff
Christine Jordanoff
James Litton
Emma Jane Maurer
Joseph Smith
Gianfranco Toso, M.D.
Karen Tripolitis
Dr. Valerie Trollinger
Judith Willoughby