Founding Members & Leadership

Baritone and conductor Joshua Copeland has been Artistic Director of the Antioch Chamber Ensemble since its inception in 1997. He holds a Music Education degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was a member of the highly acclaimed Westminster Choir for four years.  Joshua has toured as a singer and director both in the United States and abroad throughout Asia, Europe, and South America. Under Mr.Copeland’s direction, Antioch took top honors at the 2008 Tolosa International Choir Competition and has dazzled audiences and critics alike with diverse programming that has included classic choral masterworks as well as championing today’s most exciting contemporary composers.  In addition to his duties with Antioch, Joshua has created a highly successful choral and handbell program at the Bedminster Township School where he has taught since 2004. An avid gardner, outdoor enthusiast, and historic preservation buff, Joshua splits his time between his residences in Mount Tabor, New Jersey and Northport, Maine.

Stephen Sands, executive director of Antioch since it’s inception, is a GRAMMY-nominated conductor and “crystalline tenor” (Backstage), praised by The New York Times for his “focused, powerful tone” and for “beautifully balancing the sound” in performance. With a career spanning leadership, education, and performance, Sands brings passion and precision to every ensemble he leads. He is the founding conductor of Downtown Voices, a dynamic semi-professional choir at Trinity Church NYC. Under his direction, the group has performed major works and world premieres at venues including Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and St. Paul’s Chapel. Sands also serves as Managing Director of Ensemble Veritas, the professional choral ensemble at Harvard University, where he collaborates with the Harvard Choruses and New Music Initiative to champion new works by emerging composers. As Artistic Director of Music in the Somerset Hills (MISH), he has revitalized musical life in northern New Jersey through high-caliber performances and education initiatives. His latest project, MISH in the Schools, offers free musical enrichment to public high school students, fostering collaboration between students and professional musicians. Sands is Executive Director of the acclaimed Antioch Chamber Ensemble, who has completed international tours and recordings on major labels for over 20 years. A passionate educator and adjudicator, he has influenced thousands of students as a teacher in NJ public schools and served as a choral music festival judge. As a soloist, he performs with leading ensembles including The Trinity Choir, Bethlehem Bach Choir, and TENET. StephenSands.net

Kristin Sands, founding soprano of Antioch, developed a passion for music at age 3, inspired by her father’s daily practice of Bach fugues on the organ. With strong support from her family and mentors, she pursued a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, graduating magna cum laude. Kristin’s early career included performances with The Westminster Symphonic Choir, where she collaborated with Thomas Hampson, Jerry Hadley, and Carol Vaness. Notable performances included Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem with the New York Philharmonic (Teldec), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She also performed with the Westminster Choir in J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion and Magnificat, Verdi’s Requiem, and operas by Alban Berg and Janacek at Spoleto Festival USA. After graduation, Kristin joined the Westminster Symphonic Choir and the Berliner Philharmoniker at Carnegie Hall under Claudio Abbado. In 2012, she returned to Carnegie Hall for the premiere of Vladimir Pleshakov’s choral work, and later sang for the Mark Morris Dance Company at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Kristin has performed for live broadcasts and exciting world premieres, and finds it most fulfilling to bring authenticity and spirituality to the intricate and emotive music of the Baroque era. Her extensive performance experience includes engagements with The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Antioch Chamber Ensemble, The Bach Choir of Holy Trinity for Bach Vespers, The New York Philharmonic Chorus, and Ensemble Veritas at Harvard University. In addition to her performing career, Kristin has taught voice and piano for over 20 years and joined Drew University as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice in January 2020. Her teaching creatively connects vocal technique with visual and kinesthetic aids, while creating a supportive studio environment. Kristin is a member of AGMA, NATS, and the AAUP and serves on the Board for Music in the Somerset Hills, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the highest-quality musical experiences and educational opportunities in the community.