Music Directors
Leroy Pressley, Artistic Director
Photo by Eva Lightfoot Photos
Leroy Pressley is a retired public school music teacher for the state of Maryland. As an educator, Mr. Pressley has received numerous awards including the Golden Apple teacher award for Excellence from St. Mary’s County Board of Education, Exemplary Teacher award from Charles County Public School system, as well as Outstanding Music Teacher of the Year award for the Southern Region of Maryland.
Mr. Pressley is no stranger to conducting. He has conducted St. Mary’s Musica, a community ensemble, as well as the Adult Wind Ensemble and the Recreation and Parks Community Chorus. He is also the founder of St. Peter Clavier’s Gospel choir in St. Mary’s County. As a guest conductor, Mr. Pressley has performed with the Cosmic Symphony and the Chesapeake Choral Arts Society in their joint presentation of Handel’s Messiah (Part One). He also conducted the Honors Choirs (Elementary through High School) for the Southern Maryland region as well as Baltimore County, the Eastern Shore and Washington DC. Mr. Pressley’s musical theater credits include high school and community theater productions in Connecticut and Maryland and he has recently been serving as the music director of the Prince Georges Children’s Theater and Teen Performance Ensemble for Prince Georges County, Maryland.
Under the direction of Mr. Pressley his various choirs have performed in Florida, Maryland, Virginia, New York and Connecticut. Their venues have included the 9/11 Memorial, the United Nations Embassy, the Maryland State House the Kennedy Center as well as the White House to name a few. Recently, he was a clinician for choral groups that recieved superior and excellent raitings at Charles County Choral Festival. And under his direction, the CCAS choir was invited to present a world premier composition and perform a solo concert at the Davies Memorial Concert Series.
Mr. Pressley holds a B.A. In voice and music education from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a M.M. in conducting from the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music, Connecticut.
Accompanist, Josh Cockerham
Josh Cockerham, Accompanist
As a lifelong resident of Charles County, Josh Cockerham is thrilled to be serving in his eighth season as the accompanist for the Chesapeake Choral Arts Society. He began taking piano lessons when he was eight years old, and he is delighted by the opportunity to perform with such a talented group of musicians and singers in the Society. In addition to his work with CCAS, Josh has provided accompaniment for eight musicals at Grace Christian Academy in Waldorf, and he has recently performed in several shows at Port Tobacco Players, including Beauty and the Beast and Ragtime. Josh is actively involved in the music program at his church, Marbury Baptist, where he serves as the Director of Music and leads the church’s praise team. In his day job, Josh works as a higher education technology consultant, allowing him to interact with colleges and universities all across the country. In his free time, Josh enjoys attending baseball games with his family and leading the youth group at his church. He earned his undergraduate degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and resides in La Plata with his wife, Jessica, and their sons, Caleb Joseph and Carson Robert.
As a lifelong resident of Charles County, Josh Cockerham is thrilled to be serving in his eighth season as the accompanist for the Chesapeake Choral Arts Society. He began taking piano lessons when he was eight years old, and he is delighted by the opportunity to perform with such a talented group of musicians and singers in the Society. In addition to his work with CCAS, Josh has provided accompaniment for eight musicals at Grace Christian Academy in Waldorf, and he has recently performed in several shows at Port Tobacco Players, including Beauty and the Beast and Ragtime. Josh is actively involved in the music program at his church, Marbury Baptist, where he serves as the Director of Music and leads the church’s praise team. In his day job, Josh works as a higher education technology consultant, allowing him to interact with colleges and universities all across the country. In his free time, Josh enjoys attending baseball games with his family and leading the youth group at his church. He earned his undergraduate degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and resides in La Plata with his wife, Jessica, and their sons, Caleb Joseph and Carson Robert.
Composer-in-Residence, W.G. Pete Stokes
W.G. Pete Stokes, Composer-in-Residence
To the bewilderment of the Army, Pete studied music theory/composition and English poetry on an ROTC scholarship at Temple University. However, following an active duty stint in the Signal Corps, the Army funded Pete through Temple's law school (no doubt for a more respectable education), and he completed his military career as a JAG officer. Pete then worked as an attorney in private practice for a few years, and for more than a decade in a nonprofit law firm serving low-income and elderly clients. He now has a mostly pro bono solo part- time law practice.
While lawyering full time in and out of the Army, Pete stayed active in music by singing in local choral and church groups and composing small works for them. After retiring from the Army, he composed a church musical, and soon got commissions from the vocal ensembles Con Viva Musica, Heritage Singers, Washington Vocal Artists, and St. Maries Musica. Pete also received commissions from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for a choral piece for Prince George's County's Tricentennial Celebration, and for 17 children's musicals for M-NCPPC's countywide annual summer camp programs. Seven years ago, Pete was commissioned to write music for the College of Southern Maryland's original Pinocchio production.
Before singing with the Chesapeake Choral Arts Society, Pete sang with the Maryland Choral Society and the University of Maryland Concert Choir. He also sang at the Kennedy Center with the Paul Hill Chorale and Master Chorale of Washington for seven years. Over the past 20 years, he and his wife, Pat, have both been members of CCAS. A few years after joining, Pete became composer-in-residence, and CCAS has sung 21 of his arrangements and nine original works. He has also arranged five pieces for CCAS's MadriGals women's ensemble, six songs for its Our Three Tenors group, and two for woman's solo voice.
To the bewilderment of the Army, Pete studied music theory/composition and English poetry on an ROTC scholarship at Temple University. However, following an active duty stint in the Signal Corps, the Army funded Pete through Temple's law school (no doubt for a more respectable education), and he completed his military career as a JAG officer. Pete then worked as an attorney in private practice for a few years, and for more than a decade in a nonprofit law firm serving low-income and elderly clients. He now has a mostly pro bono solo part- time law practice.
While lawyering full time in and out of the Army, Pete stayed active in music by singing in local choral and church groups and composing small works for them. After retiring from the Army, he composed a church musical, and soon got commissions from the vocal ensembles Con Viva Musica, Heritage Singers, Washington Vocal Artists, and St. Maries Musica. Pete also received commissions from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for a choral piece for Prince George's County's Tricentennial Celebration, and for 17 children's musicals for M-NCPPC's countywide annual summer camp programs. Seven years ago, Pete was commissioned to write music for the College of Southern Maryland's original Pinocchio production.
Before singing with the Chesapeake Choral Arts Society, Pete sang with the Maryland Choral Society and the University of Maryland Concert Choir. He also sang at the Kennedy Center with the Paul Hill Chorale and Master Chorale of Washington for seven years. Over the past 20 years, he and his wife, Pat, have both been members of CCAS. A few years after joining, Pete became composer-in-residence, and CCAS has sung 21 of his arrangements and nine original works. He has also arranged five pieces for CCAS's MadriGals women's ensemble, six songs for its Our Three Tenors group, and two for woman's solo voice.
Michael K. Santana, Director Emeritus
Director Emeritus, Michael K. Santana
A gifted and highly versatile teacher of vocal music, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Longwood University in music education with a concentration in voice and piano. He was formerly the Director of Vocal and Keyboard Activities at the Suitland Performing Arts Center and has served as organist and choir director with several churches in southern Maryland and Virginia. He has been the choral director for Pilgrim Church United Church of Christ in Silver Spring and an adjunct professor at the College of Southern Maryland.
