Lincoln Legacy Preview Cast

Wilson Gault Somers is a Delaware-based composer, pianist, arranger, and educator whose career spans classical, jazz, and popular music. A composition graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he has written major classical works including Mass for the Homeless, Requiem for 9/11, and The Lincoln Legacy, as well as numerous jazz and pop compositions. His honors include an Emmy Award for his original jazz score for Edward Loper: Prophet of Color, and he recently released his eighth jazz recording, Lights and Wonders. A versatile and engaging performer, Somers is widely praised for his interpretations of the Great American Songbook and inventive original arrangements in both intimate venues and large concert settings. Equally devoted to teaching, he spent 30 years as Choral Music Director at The Tatnall School and continues to mentor musicians of all ages. He currently serves as Music Director and organist at The Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and shares his work through the nonprofit Music With A Mission, Inc. He and his wife, Joan, are the proud parents of four accomplished artist-musicians.

Delaware’s Joseph A. Louden has a rich musical history of performing, conducting, arranging, and producing a broad array of choral and instrumental performances. Joe is the Director of Music for Wilmington, Delaware’s St. Helena Parish and the Choral and Instrumental Music Director at Ursuline Academy. He has produced and directed numerous concerts and shows, and he sang in the Papal Choir for the mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Philadelphia in 2015. Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish from the University of Delaware and master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Wilmington University.

Cellist Douglas McNames has become a favorite with audiences in concerts of music that spans three centuries. As a member of the award-winning Delos Quartet, Mr. McNames appeared regularly throughout the United States and abroad. As soloist in recital, he has performed the complete works for cello and piano by Beethoven with pianist Michael Steinberg. A regular substitute player with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. McNames is also Principal Cellist with the Carmel Bach Festival and enjoys a busy schedule of performing with such ensembles as Brandywine Baroque, Melanomie, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Mid Atlantic Chamber Music Society, Pro Musica Rara, and the Rider String Quartet. Mr. McNames has also been a member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and the Cassela Quartet, winners of the 1983 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Awarded the 1995 Delaware State Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, Mr. McNames can be heard on the Spectrum, Etcetera