These five words have echoed in Douglas Carnes’s mind for as long as he can remember. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Douglas went on to complete a master’s in Choral Conducting at Five Towns College. Upon graduation, he accepted a position at Democracy Prep Harlem Middle School (DPHMS) in Harlem, New York, where he developed a choral curriculum centered on healthy vocal technique and building meaningful relationships through barbershop-style singing. As the program flourished, so did DPHMS’s youth barbershop quartet—an ensemble that went on to be featured in Harmony Foundation International’s annual fundraising campaign, helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for young singers around the globe.

From the podium to the bandstand, Douglas has enjoyed the privilege of performing around the world. His credits include percussion on Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, as well as performances at Carnegie Hall, The Ordway, MGM Grand, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and many other renowned venues.

In 2015, Carnes relocated to Minnesota to serve as Artistic and Musical Director of The Great Northern Union Chorus (GNU), while also directing choirs at St. Louis Park Middle School, where he grew the program to more than 300 students. In 2019, he transitioned from “The GNU” to return to working with young adults as Artistic and Musical Director of Sing Out Loud Young Women’s Choirs in Rochester, Minnesota. Most recently, his work has taken him to South Korea, Canada, Ireland, and across the United States as both a coach and performer.

An active member of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Douglas has presented at both national conferences and multiple ACDA state conferences. In 2017, he had the honor of presenting at NAfME’s Hill Day in Washington, D.C., followed by a presentation at NAfME’s national conference in 2018.

Now living in County Donegal, Ireland with his wife, Taryn, Dr Carnes is the founding director of Danu Young Women’s Choir. In 2026, he earned his Doctorate in Music Performance from Royal Irish Academy of Music. In his teaching, he is committed to staying real and relevant—building and sustaining meaningful relationships with his students and singers. Carnes firmly believes that to change the world, today’s minds must fully invest in the minds of tomorrow.