Arreon A. Harley-Emerson is the President & CEO of Equity Sings, a social impact agency dedicated to helping performing arts organizations achieve artistic excellence, financial sustainability, and community relevance through ADEI-centered, evidence-based strategies. Equity Sings specializes in strategy and coaching, equipping organizations to attract and engage top talent, mobilize boards and staff, and optimize operations. Through strategic planning, board development, and nonprofit leadership, Harley-Emerson empowers institutions to remain impactful and relevant. A sought-after speaker, researcher, and conductor, he has contributed to scholarly research on culturally responsive choral pedagogy and presented a TEDx Talk on the transformative power of choirs. He also serves as the National Chair of the American Choral Directors Association’s Diversity Initiatives Committee.
In addition to leading Equity Sings, Harley-Emerson is the CEO & Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts (EVA), which fosters professional and creative opportunities for vocal artists, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. A graduate of Goucher College and the University of Delaware, he is a doctoral candidate at Temple University. As a conductor and composer, he has performed at renowned venues such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Kimmel Center. His commitment to equity in the performing arts extends beyond performance, ensuring music remains a vehicle for social change.
Alexander Nguyễn is a choral conductor based in Philadelphia, PA. He currently serves as the Associate Conductor of the Singing City Choir of Philadelphia and performs as a vocalist with various professional ensembles such as EVA Elevation and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir. From the podium, Nguyễn is committed to ensuring equal representation in the choir room. He has dedicated much of his time researching music from non-western traditions and the influence of displacement on diasporic communities. This has included research on Vietnamese folk traditions such as ca dao, nhạc tết, and quan họ as well as the music of Trịnh Công Sơn, Vietnam’s most prominent songwriter.
Nguyễn received his master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Rardin, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, and Dr. Mitos Andaya Hart. There he also worked as an Assistant Conductor/Chorus Master in the TU Opera Department. As a Southern California native, Nguyễn was raised in El Monte, CA and studied his bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education at the California State University of Los Angeles with Robert MacNeil, Donald Brinegar, and Dr. Christopher Gravis.
