Learn about the men behind the artistic direction of the Albany Gay Men's Chorus.
Benjamin April is the Artistic Director of the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus. He is also a vocal music teacher at Middleburgh Jr-Sr High School where he teaches grades 5-12 vocal and general music. In addition to his class load, he also leads the Drama Club and directs the select chorus, Music of the Knight. Prior to teaching at Middleburgh School, Mr. April taught vocal and general music at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Middle School. Mr. April holds a Bachelor’s degree in music education from Hartwick College, and a Master’s degree in music education from The College of Saint Rose. He has been a guest conductor or accompanist at County Music Festivals in Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schoharie Counties. He currently serves as Organist and Director of Music at Grace United Methodist Church in Ravena, NY and is also the Artistic Director of the Schoharie Valley Singers. Mr. April maintains a private piano and voice studio with students in Albany and Schoharie Counties. Outside of music, he enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, and traveling. Though he has been a New Yorker for 13 years, he is still an unapologetic New England Patriots fan. He currently lives in Coeymans Hollow, NY with his two cats, Merlin and Gandalf.
Nathaniel Wardlaw is a music educator, conductor, accompanist and tenor residing in Albany, NY. Nate earned his Master’s of Music in Choral Conducting in the Fall of 2017 from Messiah College, having previously completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education from the College of Saint Rose in 2015. Nate has studied conducting with Dr. Rachel Cornacchio and Dr. Michael Lister, piano with Dr. Young Kim and voice with Woodrow Bynum. He has accompanied numerous festival choirs and soloists during his time in the Capital Region of NY, and serves as the rehearsal and concert accompanist for the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus. He is the tenor soloist for the First Presbyterian Church of Albany. As an educator, he is in his first year teaching 6th Grade Choir and General Music at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Middle School, having previously taught elementary general music and choir in the Albany City School District. He is honored by the opportunity to conduct the Greene County Music Educators Association All County Elementary Choir, and is thankful to his colleagues in Ravena and his wife Janet for all their support.