MEET OUR STAFF
MEET CARLOS CASILLA
Artistic Director and SHC Conductor
Carlos Casilla, a native of the Dominican Republic, graduated with a master’s degree in choral conducting from Louisiana State University, where he studied with Dr. John Dickson. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Piano and Vocal Performance from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS. Most recently, Carlos received the 2022 Outstanding Young Conductor Award from the American Choral Directors Association Pennsylvania. In addition to being an accomplished conductor, Carlos has appeared as a baritone/bass soloist in both musical theater and classical performances and has been a versatile church musician as well as a studio piano and voice instructor. Carlos currently serves as Upper School Music Teacher and Choral Director at The Park School of Baltimore in Baltimore, MD.
MEET RACHEL MORGAN IM
JHC Conductor
Rachel was named Conductor of the York County Junior Honors Choir in 2022. Her full-time position is as Artistic Director of the Children’s Chorus of Maryland and School of Music. She also conducts two auditioned choirs for the Children’s Chorus of Carroll County in MD. A school music teacher from 2005-2020, Rachel earned elite recognition as Teacher of the Year 2015 Finalist for Carroll County Public Schools. Other organizations with which she has held conducting and teaching contracts include Lamplight Artists, the National Christian Choir, the Maryland Academy of Dance, and Carroll Community College. Also, she has taught private music lessons and has served for many years as a church musician. Rachel holds a Master of Music in music education from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory. She has completed 40 additional graduate credits centered on world and folk arts and diversity at McDaniel College, has studied West African hand drumming, and is currently pursuing specialized certification in the Kodály Method of music education at the American Kodály Institute. Rachel’s primary instrument is voice, but she also plays piano and djembe. Observers of Rachel’s musical leadership note that she inspires a high level of personal engagement and investment amongst participants with an emphasis on maintaining a growth mindset, striving for excellence, taking risks, thinking critically, connecting personally, and communicating expressively. Rachel resonates with the mission of YCHC to engage hearts and minds and enhance the quality and culture of our community through music. Rachel’s professional website is rachelmorganim.com.
MEET BILL LYTLE
Executive Director
Bill Lytle has served as Executive Director of the York County Honors Choirs since 2015. Born and raised in York, he graduated York Catholic and then went to the University of Notre Dame, getting a BA in accounting. He founded Midlantic Piling, a speciality construction firm, with his father. Their signature projects included the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, and assisting in the construction of Ravens stadium. Bill also served as Dallastown School Board for 12 years, coach, and Boy Scout mentor. He is married to his wife Sharon, and has three children and a grandchild on the way.
MEET RANDY YODER
Founding Senior Honors Choir Directors 1998-2020 (Retired) and Alumni Choir Director
Randy Yoder is a graduate of Susquehanna University with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education, where he studied piano with Galen Deibler. At Westminster Choir College, he earned a Master of Music Degree in choral conducting, studying with Joseph Flummerfelt, and sang under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, James Levine and Pierre Boulez. At Berklee College of Music in Boston he did additional studies in jazz. Following 35 years as the choral director at Northeastern and William Penn High Schools and teacher of piano and music theory, Randy is currently the Director of Music at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in York and adjunct professor of piano at York College of PA.
MEET KEN OSOWSKI
Senior Honors Choir Collaborative Pianist
Collaborative Pianist Ken Osowski maintains an active career as both performer and educator. He serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Piano and Music Theory Studies at York College of Pennsylvania. Osowski earned a doctoral degree from the Peabody Conservatory, a master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. He serves as Principal Pianist of the York Symphony Orchestra, Collaborative Pianist for the York County Senior Honors Choir, and Founder/Artistic Director for the York Chamber Players. Osowski’s festival appearances include Yellow Barn and the Tanglewood Music Center. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Hershey Symphony, and the University of Nevada Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, he has collaborated with the Jupiter, Lydian, and Parker String Quartets, Mobius Percussion, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and Apollo Chamber Players. Ken and his wife Nora live in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania with their dog (Benny) and four cats (Alma, Lucy, Otis, and Sidney).
MEET ROTH PREAP
Accompanist-Junior Honors Choir, Elementary Choir
Roth Preap, received a bachelor’s degree in Music Industry Recording Technology with a dual major in Music from York College of Pennsylvania. Roth began studying piano under Michal Buchanan while attending William Penn Senior High School and continued his studies at YCP under the direction of Kenneth Osowski and Gretchen Dekker.
Roth serves as the Executive Director of the York Art Association and has worked for several York County organizations including the York County Community Foundation, York Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the York Junior Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, Roth was inducted as an honoree for Central Penn Business Journal’s Forty under 40 and in 2023, received the Ignite Young Professional Award from York County Economic Alliance. Outside of his work with the York Art Association and the Honors Choirs, Roth is a senior consultant with Maneval Consulting.
MEET MICHAL BUCHANAN,
Elementary Choir Conductor
Michal Buchanan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education with an emphasis on piano from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY studying under the direction of Margaret Therkelsen. At Millersville University she earned a Master of Education degree. She has taught general music, public and private piano lessons and directed public school choirs for over 30 years.
DONNA KNOTT,
Founding Director 2002-2022 (Retired)
Secondary to family, Donna Knott’s passion for encouraging youth through the art of choral music has not waned during her many years of public school teaching, community choirs and church music. Mrs. Knott received the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania, Eileen M. Hower Memorial Award for her proven record of commitment to developing voices, particularly at the middle school level; her high artistic standards; active involvement in ACDA; and her passionate, positive, energetic, and joyful approach to her work. Mrs. Knott is an active middle school festival conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) having served a six-year term on the Board. A Graduate of West Chester University (B.S. Music Education) and Penn State University (Master of Education), Mrs. Knott’s thesis focused on an extensive study of the developing male voice.