Board President

Patrick Dailey has been described as possessing “a powerful and elegant countertenor voice” (Los Angeles Daily News) and a “VOCAL STANDOUT” (Boston Classical Review). He has appeared in leading roles with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Opera Memphis, Pacific Opera Project, Tete a Tete New Opera Festival(UK), Austin Baroque Orchestra, Shreveport Opera, Opera Louisiane, Woodhouse Opera Festival(UK),  Il Festival de Ópera Barroca de Belo Horizonte (Brazil) and many others. 

Board Member

Ms. Burt is currently Executive Director of the Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association. Their mission is to preserve the cultural history of the city’s most prominent African American where landmarks, homes and businesses reside. Those great landmarks and former residents include Attorney Scipio A. Jones (Home), Composer Florence B. Price (Home), Businessman John E. Bush (Founder, Mosaic Templar of America), and Attorney Milflin Gibbs (First Black judge in the country).  She also, oversees the administration, programming, and strategic plan of the DHNA including fundraising, marketing, and community outreach.

Board Member

Tenor, scholar, cultural activist, and pedagogue Dr. Elektra Voyante (they/them/their) [formerly known as Dr. Marquese Carter] has distinguished themself as a force for change in the world of classical music. Dr. Voyante’s research on the art songs of Florence Price has been featured in numerous forums including the Society for American Music conference and the New York Times. Archival research for their dissertation The Poet and Her Songs: Analyzing the Art Songs of Florence B. Price was generously funded by the American Musicological Society Thomas Hampson Fund grant for song research. Voyante served as president of the International Florence Price Festival, where they curated and administered the first Virtual Florence Price Festival in 2020.

Emeritus Board Member

Praised by the New Orleans Times-Picayune for his “strong and moving performance,” tenor Daniel E. Sampson brings inspiration and expression every time he sings. A passionate educator and director, Daniel has taught at all levels of music education, from working with young students, to the collegiate level. He currently serves as the Director of Liturgical Music at St. Agnes and St. William of York Catholic Church in Baltimore.

Emeritus Board Member

Jonathan has served as Music Director of the Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra, a student-run ensemble on the campus of The Ohio State University. In 2017, Jonathan was named conducting fellow for the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and the winner of the Respighi Prize in Conducting at age 22.

Artistic Advisor

As far back as 2002, John and the Fort Smith Symphony were recognized by the League of American Orchestras for their outstanding work with John being the recipient of the League’s Helen M. Thompson Award “in recognition of outstanding artistic leadership.”