Alexandra Kennedy serves as a Soprano Section Leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington. A DC native, she began her musical training as a chorister with the Children’s Chorus of Washington and currently sings in ensembles in the area, including the Cathedral Choral Society and DC Singer Collective. Alexandra recently graduated with a PhD in English from the University of Virginia. She is passionate about collaborating with other choir members to explore rich and varied musical traditions and to invite the congregation to find solace and inspiration through music.

Megan Ortman serves as a Soprano Section Leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington. Hailing from Dallas, TX, Megan graduated from The George Washington University with degrees in both Music and History and works in DC as a musician, arts administrator, and researcher. An active performer, Megan's repertoire spans from the 14th to 21st Centuries, with recent projects including Mozart’s operas, Medieval motets, and multi-media world premieres. As an award-winning historian, Megan has researched music of all kinds across the Atlantic World. During the day, she serves in the Development Department of Ford's Theatre Society. A long-time admirer of First Baptist's steadfast commitment to community and inclusion, Megan is thrilled to be on the Music Ministry team. When not working on her many projects, she can be found knitting! 

Matré Grant serves as the alto section leader of the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington. She is a PhD student in the University of Maryland's School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies where she researches the intersection of Blackness, media, and musical theatre. Outside her studies, she is a member of the UMD Chamber Singers, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand, director, and is an alumna of the choral programs at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University, where she earned her B.A. in Music and M.A. in Musicology, respectively. She has performed with Tidewater Opera Initiative (TOI), the Princeton Chapel Choir, and performed under the batons of Gustavo Dudamel, Jonathon Heyward, Gianandrea Noseda, Nigel Short, and Guthrie "Guy" Ramsey. Her passion is to use her voice and embodied expression to bring the emotional depth of liturgical music to life for the FBCDC community.

Madeline Manaker serves as the Alto Section Leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC. A classically trained singer with degrees from Vanderbilt University and George Mason University, Madeline performs frequently in the DC area as a soloist and cantor with several churches, in operatic roles with local companies, and as an active recitalist. In addition to solo work, she is on the chorus roster of Washington Concert Opera. Outside of music, Madeline works as a math teacher for a local private high school in Arlington, VA. Madeline enjoys bringing her love for music to the community of First Baptist Church and supporting the choir and congregation in worship.

Randy Frye has served as Tenor Section Leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist, DC, since September 2025. He is a classically trained vocalist with a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Kansas State University. He has served many churches throughout his career as a chorister, organist, and director. Outside of church, Randy teaches at the National Cathedral and St Albans Schools as the Associate Director of Choirs. He is passionate about singing with others who enjoy musically leading the congregation in meaningful, effective worship. Randy makes his home in the Cathedral Heights neighborhood with his two cats, Tiberius and Drusilla.

Moss serves as a Tenor Section Leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington. He is a singer with experience in a wide range of musical styles and compositions, and has toured internationally throughout Europe and South America. He is currently a senior at American University, majoring in International Studies and minoring in Linguistics. He also serves as the Tenor Section Leader for the American University Chamber Singers. Moss especially enjoys singing amongst such a welcoming community and congregation each Sunday.

Kevin C. Pinckney serves as the Tenor Section Leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of Washington, DC. He is a native Washingtonian who has been singing choral music ever since the fourth grade. Although he has occasionally studied voice under well-known voice teachers, such as Jane White, of Catholic University and George Washington University, most of his training has been done through established choral organizations and well-known directors, such as the late Norman Scribner, and Dr. J. Reilly Lewis in Washington, DC. Kevin is a charter and current member of Heritage Signature Chorale (HSC), Artistic and Music Director Stanley J. Thurston, which has just celebrated its 25th year in 2025. Kevin began working for First Baptist Church in August 2013. During the day, he celebrated his 46th year of continuous work at the Library of Congress. Highlights of his music career include singing before President and Mrs. Barack Obama, President and Mrs. George W. Bush, and singing twice at Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY.

Daniel Sherwood serves as a bass section leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington. He studied Vocal Performance at the Catholic University of America and has gone on to perform with several opera companies around the area, including Summer Opera, Riverbend Opera Company, Loudoun Lyric Opera, Maryland Lyric Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Washington National Opera. For over a decade, Daniel was involved with The American Center for Puccini Studies, which often presented operas along with source material and historical context of the work. He has had the pleasure of presenting world premieres of three operas: Agamemnon by Andrew Simpson, Norton: A Civil War Opera by David Chávez, and Brunch with the Boys by Sean Pfleuger. He believes in the sacred power of music to express that which cannot be expressed through words alone and is grateful to be a member of a choir ministering to this church, enriching our souls, and bringing a fuller spiritual experience to the services.

Antony Zwerdling serves as a bass section leader for the Chancel Choir at First Baptist Church of the City of Washington. He has sung opera, oratorio, and choral music with a variety of arts organizations, including Washington National Opera, Washington Bach Consort, Opera Lafayette, Thomas Circle Singers, Handel & Haydn Society, and Wolf Trap Opera. Antony received his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his Master’s from Boston University. In 2007, he earned his Doctorate from Shenandoah Conservatory, writing about songs of Samuel Barber.  Outside of the choir, he enjoys playing his original songs for anyone who will listen and competing for fantasy baseball championships. One of his passions is to help inspire meaningful worship through music and to support the choir’s ministry.