Staff
Courtney Baker-OliverExecutive
Director Courtney Baker-Oliver is a South Florida native and a graduate of
Howard University where he earned his B.F.A. in Theater Education. As a theatre director, producer and
teacher, he has spent more than ten years training young people in theatre and musical arts. From his
role as a vested faculty member at Duke Ellington School of the Arts to his role as Education Director
of the Washington Theatre Awards Society (The Helen Hayes Awards) and beyond, he's been developing the
skills set required to direct and produce large scale productions on the world's stage. Always pushing
for positive images of Blacks in the arts, Courtney has developed tributes presented before legendary
leaders Maya Angelou, Cicely Tyson and Congressman John Lewis among others. Courtney wrote and directed
the debut tributes for the U.S. Postal Service's African-American stamps honoring Paul Robeson (2004)
and Marian Anderson (2005). He's also been a master teacher at Britney Spears' Summer Arts Camp on Cape Cod.
He is the Founding Artistic Director of Restoration Stage, Inc., a Washington-based theater company. Most
recently, he developed and directed an original production for Dekalb County Schools in Atlanta, GA called
"They Keep Coming-Voices of the Civil Rights Movement" which debuted at Dekalb School of the Arts last year.
Courtney is currently completing coursework at Nova Southeastern University in pursuit of his Master of Science
in Education Administration and Leadership. As the Executive Director at the Washington Youth Choir, Courtney
is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization which includes development, marketing, program
evaluation, and bookkeeping.
Joyce GarrettFounder/ Musical Director
Music educator Joyce Garrett is most recognized for her artistic
leadership of the Eastern High School Choir from 1972-2005. Under her direction,
the Eastern High School Choir won second place at the 1988 International Youth
and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria and performed for the Allied Musical Salute
to the Liberation of France, in Paris and Normandy in 1994. She received two
honorary doctorate degrees from West Virginia Wesleyan College and her alma
mater, Bennett College, as a result of her work with Eastern. Her exemplary
music legacy is being replicated with the creation of the Washington Youth Choir,
where she guest conducts classes and select performances as a volunteer. During
her 33 year teaching career in the DC Public School system, Garrett received
numerous honors including the President’s Medal of The George Washington
University, 1998; The Catholic University Alumni Achievement Award in Music,
1993; the Reader’s Digest American Heroes in Education Award, 1991; and
the Washingtonian Magazine’s Washingtonian of the Year Award, 1991. Garrett
has produced choirs for the annual nationally televised programs Kennedy Center
Honors and Christmas in Washington since 1989. She also directed the United
States Naval Academy Gospel Choir from 1990-2005 and currently serves as the
Minister of Music for Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. Joyce
still works with the Washington Youth Choir, leading occasional rehearsals and
inspiring Choir members with her wisdom and support.
Darius SmithAssistant Music Director
Darius is a composer/lyricist/musician hailing from Fuquay-Varina, NC.
After graduating from the acclaimed North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Darius
attended Howard University where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in music
history and a double minor in Trumpet and Piano Performance. During his time at Howard, Darius
began writing songs, accompanying mainstage and supplementary theatrical productions and building
an interest in Musical Theater Composition. On the suggestion of the chair of the Department of
Theatre Arts, he began looking into writing musicals as a profession. He then applied to and attended
New York University’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program, as a composer/lyricist, earning his
M.F.A. in 2005. Upon completing his master’s program, Darius returned to Howard University to begin
teaching in the Musical Theatre concentration of the Department of Theatre Arts. During his first year
of teaching, he composed and performed a reading of his new theatrical song cycle, Amorous Ruminations.
The following year, he formed an ensemble for musical theater students, Standing Room Only, who premiered
an initial reading of his new book musical, Ugly Geena. Darius has also performed around the Washington,
DC Metropolitan area in several productions including the world premiere of The Stephen Schwartz Project
(MetroStage), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Bethesda Theater), Queen of the Bohemian Dream
(Source Theater), Signature Theater Summer Cabaret Series (Signature Theater), Go, Dog, Go! (Adventure Theater),
Frosty the Snowman (Adventure Theater) as well as many others. Darius has also composed and performed music
for the 2007 Kennedy Center Commission for new choreographic works. He performed Dangerous Liaisons on their
Millennium Stage as well as in New York City at Aaron Davis Hall. Darius also performed excerpts from his new
works at the Triad Theater in New York City. Most recently, the Howard Players mounted an acclaimed workshop
production of his latest work, U.G.L.Y., a new musical.
Anika SampsonDeputy
Director Anika Sampson is a native of Columbia, Maryland.
Born to a musical family she sang often as a child, beginning her formal vocal
training with Dr. Lloyd B. Mallory Jr. at historic Pine Forge Academy in Pine
Forge, Pennsylvania. Anika continued her musical training at Oakwood College
in Huntsville, Alabama and performed as a soloist with the world traveled Aeolians.
Anika graduated with a BA in Music as well as a BS in Human Development and
Family Studies. For pre-graduate studies Anika attended Morgan State University
in Baltimore, Maryland where she studied with Mrs. Elizabeth “Betty”
Ridgeway. Under the leadership of the late Dr. Nathan Carter, Anika performed
as a favored soloist with the renowned Morgan State University Choir. She has performed for
and shared the stage with the likes of Janice Chandler-Eteme, and acapella famed sextet Take Six.
Currently, Anika performs with Voce, a soprano trio and the Lloyd Mallory Singers in addition
to being a soloist for many church services, concerts, recitals and weddings. Anika
is also the Music Coordinator at Emmanuel Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church in
Ashton, MD. Anika’s responsibilities as Deputy Director include providing managerial
and logistical support to all aspects of the organization, managing the choir’s
performance schedule, developing and implementing the college prep program, and providing
marketing and communication support.
Nicole LeonardProduction Manager
Nicole Leonard holds a BFA from Howard University and MFA from
Rutgers University (Mason Gross School of the Arts). She has worked on Broadway,
Off-Broadway and regional theater, as well as numerous touring/concert productions and
live events. A few of the artist she has worked with, include: Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis,
Denzel Washington, Andre De’Shields, Reuben Santiago-Hudson, Kevon Edmomds, Stephanie Mills,
Deborah Cox, Kim Coles, Lenny Williams, Martha Wash, T.I., T-Pain, Ciara, to name a few.
Throughout her career, Nicole has served in numerous capacities; Conference Production
Coordinator for T.D. Jakes Ministries and The Potter’s House of Dallas, Road Manager for
Fred Hammond; Stage Manager, Production Coordinator & Consultant for Duke Ellington School
of the Arts, Favor International, JBV Productions, Colored Girls Productions, Inc., The
Bickerstaff Group, Duke Ellington Jazz Festival ’08 Jazz n’ the Hoods, Congressional Black
Caucus Foundation- ALC and host of other festivals, conferences and live events nationally
and internationally. Highlights of the many events she helped produce include, MegaFest,
(Atlanta, GA) The Kenya Experience (Nairobi, Kenya), and Pastor’s & Leadership International
(London, England).
Her passion for today’s youth, our future generation, fuels her commitment to provide them
with the necessary tools to effectively prepare them for the world that lies ahead. Working
with the students from around the DC Metropolitan area, either at Duke Ellington School of
the Arts on various productions; recently as production stage manager for the extraordinary
production of The Wiz and as production manager for the critically acclaimed Aftermath.
As well as the Friends of Carter Barron Foundation’s summer production of Aretha-The Ride
and Christmas production God’s Gift to DC-No ’Mo Crime.
“Mediocrity is rampant and Excellence is rare.” Don Cheadle
John-Michael d'Halivand
InstructorJohn-Michael d’Haviland is an active choral and vocal
clinician and conductor. Until June 2008, he served as the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies
at Georgetown Day High School, where he created and administered the GDS Honors Chorale. Since
its inception in 1995, this award-winning ensemble had been featured at the Washington National
Cathedral, and The White House and had performed for audiences in New York, Toronto and Paris.
Mr. d’Haviland attended the University of Virginia, the Shenandoah Conservatory and George
Mason University where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Piano and a Master’s degree
in Conducting. He is a member of the National Music Teachers Association, the Music Educators National
Conference and the District of Columbia Music Educators Association. Additionally, Mr. d’Haviland
is a music theater performer/director in the Washington, DC area where he has received a WATCH award
nomination for his portrayal of “Dr. Frank-n-Furter” in the Elden Street Players’
production of “The Rocky Horror Show” as well as five other WATCH award nominations for outstanding
music direction of “A Chorus Line”, “Kiss Me, Kate”, “Guys and Dolls”,
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Sweet Smell of Success”. Mr. d’Haviland works
full-time as the Director of Development for American Cheer and Dance Academy in Elkridge, MD, and is the
Director of the Spirit Program at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.