ADAM WARD, alto, originally from Tecumseh, Oklahoma, began singing as a countertenor in 2004 while studying French horn performance with William Purvis at Yale University. Adam has since performed as soloist with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and was a member of the Choir of St. Mary the Virgin at the famed "Smoky Mary's" in midtown Manhattan. He is also a founding member of the Yale Schola Cantorum, conducted by Simon Carrington. As a horn player, Adam was a member of the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra, winner of Yale's Woolsey Hall Concerto Competition and a top prize-winner at the Coleman, Fischoff and Yellow Springs national chamber music competitions. He has also played under the batons of Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Bernard Haitink, Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph von Dohnanyi, James Levine, Krzystof Penderecki, Sir Charles Mackerras and Gustavo Dudamel. Adam is also an avid composer and photographer. Mr. Ward holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and Yale School of Music with additional study at the Royal College of Music in London and in the D.M.A. program at Stony Brook University.