As Artistic Director of JWCPA and a native of Beaumont, I bring the experience of over 35 years in music education in the public and private sectors. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice from Howard University, Washington, DC. As a bass-baritone singer, I’ve performed solos in ensembles and choirs around the United States, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, England, France, Russia & Poland. I returned to Texas, earning a “All-Levels” music certification and became a member of the Texas Music Educators Association. As a music educator and choral director at the elementary level, programs were developed that created successful touring performances throughout America including The White House in Washington D.C., Disney World in Orlando, Florida, The State Capitol Rotunda in Austin Texas, The River Walk in San Antonio Texas and the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Atlanta Georgia.
Additionally, I’ve prepared middle and high school students for choral competitions and received top honors in UIL Solo & Ensemble. Not only did my students receive superior (top) ratings from college adjudicators, two students received “Outstanding Performer” honors which means they were chosen to be in the top 1% of 25,000 high school singers at The University of Texas UIL Solo & Ensemble competition! To expand work in the community, I retired from the public-school system to increase the scope of education and community building through the performing arts.
After retiring from 35 years in the public and private school systems in May 2016, I started this 501(c)(3) non-profit that is sponsored in part by The Texas Commission on the Arts, The Southeast Texas Arts Council and Regina Rogers to name a few. The Jonathan Williams Center for the Performing Arts (JWCPA) produced two major productions last year. The first, we hosted The Ensemble Theatre of Houston in a production of “Mahalia” The Musical, an amazing presentation about the life and career of renowned international vocalist Mahalia Jackson. The audience of 600 gave performers a standing ovation before intermission. The second was a production of over 137 local and Houston youth and adult artists on and backstage in The Gospel According to Scrooge. Local talent was received so well, the 1,000-member audience from the Golden Triangle, Greater Houston area and around the country respectively including California, Florida, Ohio and New York stated that this production was professionally presented and is just what is needed in the community. The production will be presented annually!
