Conductors
Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones
Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones, Founder/Director, is one of the nation's foremost figures in choral conducting and pedagogy and an expert in the intersection between theology and musical expression. A Southern transplant to Pennsylvania, Dr. Jones has cultivated a broad-based, multifaceted career as a choral conductor, educator, operatic and oratorio bass, liturgical dancer, orator and minister, teaching and performing across the United States and Europe.
Dr. Jones holds numerous degrees:
• B.S., Music (Summa cum Laude)
• M.S., Counseling Psychology (With Distinction)
• M.Mus., Choral Conducting/Music Education (With Highest Honors; Choral Scholar)
• M. Divinity (M.Div.), Sacred Music, Dance & Drama (With Honors; Samuel Boyce Music Award)
• D.M.A., Music, Choral Conducting, Performance Pedagogy & Choral Music Education (With Distinction)
• Ph.D. Studies, Ethnomusicology
Dr. Jones has taught in the Public Schools of Mississippi (grades 6-12), the Private High School sector (The Piney Woods School, Mississippi, The Neighborhood Academy-Pittsburgh) and colleges and universities in North Dakota, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi, respectively.
Dr. Jones is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Inc., Tau Beta Sigma, Inc., and the National Sacred Dance Guild. He has published articles in the Mississippi ACDA/Mississippi Music Teachers Journal, the Academic Division of GMWA, the Milestone Christian Bookstore Newsletter, and Black Research Journal, to name a few.
Dr. Jones is listed in: “Who's Who Among American Teachers” (dual listing); “Who’s Who Global” (2014); “Distinguished Church Musicians In America”, “Outstanding Personalities of America”, “Marquise International Who's Who”, Residential Scholars [the first and only African American] Choral Scholar, (University of Mississippi); “Outstanding African-American Choral Directors in America”; “50 Men of Excellence” (2011, selected by the New Pittsburgh Courier), one of 5 men selected as “Men of Distinction” (2013) recognized by the Rachel Randall Education Ministry of the Pentecostal Temple Church PGH, Pittsburgh, PA., and several others.
Dr. Jones is considered a leading authority on the music of Moses George Hogan. His Doctoral Dissertation, “THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUAL AND GOSPEL SONG: THE MUSICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF MOSES GEORGE HOGAN, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER”, is the only definitive work on the life, music, compositional style of the composer.
Dr. Jones has performed in Operas, Musicals, Theater, and on the Dance stages of America and abroad. In the dance world, he has studied and performed Classical Ballet, Modern Dance, Liturgical (Sacred Dance) and Mime. He is a former student of the “Graham Technique” (dance technique of the Late Martha Graham), and while in high school, a member of the Dunbar Drama & Dance Guild and the “Alvin Ailey Dance Theater of Harlem” Apprenticeship Program. He has choreographed for Ballet Companies and Dance Programs across the United States; the most recent being The North Dakota Ballet Company. Dr. Jones choreographed a Tribute to Alvin Ailey via the signature dance work, ‘Revelations.” He is the Founder of the former PWS Dance Alloy of The Piney Woods School, Mississippi.
An Ordained Minister of Music, Dr. Jones is Executive Assistant, Academic Division, of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. (GMWA), and sits on the Boards of Hymns For Him, Inc, (Chairman, Winston-Salem, NC), Professionals for Christ, Inc. (Birmingham, AL), RAISE Academy (Columbus, OH), the Center For Urban Biblical Ministry (Vice President), Madame Mary Cardwell Branch,(Vice President), National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc, (NANM), and is a retired Music Department faculty member of Community College of Allegheny County Department of Music, Allegheny Campus.
Dr. Jones currently serves as Minister of Music, Bethany Baptist Church, and Humanities/Music/Fine ARTS Area Head, Center For Urban Biblical Ministry (CUBM - Geneva College). He continues to maintain an active schedule conducting seminars and workshops, guest conducting, and adjudicating choral festivals and competitions.
Dr. Keith Hampton
Dr Keith Hampton, affectionately known as “Doc,” is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago Community Chorus (CCC). In addition, Dr. Hampton is an organ performer, conductor, composer, educator, church musician, adjudicator and workshop clinician. He is the president of Dr. KT Productions, the Cantor to the Seminary Community at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the Director of Music/Organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
A specialist in the field of gospel music, Dr. Hampton was selected by the North Central American Choral Directors Association in 2010 as one of the Top 25 Contemporary Composers whose composition, “‘Praise His Holy Name,’ should be standard repertoire for choirs today and for the next 25 years.”
Keith Hampton earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Arts degree from Marywood University, and a Doctor of Music degree in Church Music from Northwestern University. Dr. Hampton has been awarded the Service Playing, Choir Master and Associate certificates from the American Guild of Organists. Dr. Keith Hampton has been selected to serve as a Conducting Fellow in the International Conducting Training Program at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, July 6-13, 2024.
Dr. Hampton is a published composer whose arrangements of spirituals and gospel songs are available through Augsburg Fortress Press, Choristers Guild, Earthsongs Publications, Hal Leonard Corporation, Hinshaw Music and Dr. KT Productions, Inc. In February, 2024, Dr. Hampton presented an Open Rehearsal which is now available on his YouTube channel. This YouTube event with the Keith Hampton Revisited Ensemble features four of his most recent compositions.. For more information go to drkeithhampton.com and visit YouTube.com/keithhampton5770.
Rev Ava S Toney
Rev Ava Toney is currently a minister, singer, and the Assistant Director for the Sanctuary Choir and Director for the Community Choir Network at the Designated Chicago Landmark First Baptist Congregational Church in Chicago. She has also served as Minister of Music at the Mt. Sinai MB Church, Great Commission Baptist Church, the Illinois Missionary Baptist State Convention & the North Woodriver Baptist District Association. Ava began singing in earnest when accepted as a freshman, which was very rare, into the Chicago All-City High School Chorus under the Direction of Irving Bunton, Sr. Her first foray into conducting was at the age of 15, under the mentorship of Pastor T.L. Barett, while at John Marshall High School. A singer for 28 years with Chicago gospel group George Mays & the Voices of Praise, she is a featured soloist on their album entitled “Joy” and CD “There Is No Failure”.
As a singer, Ava is well-traveled both in the U.S. & abroad and has participated in Chicago’s Gospelfest and Taste of Chicago and while doing so has shared the stage with such talent as BeBe & CeCe Winans, Albertina Walker, The Barrett Sisters, and many other renowned artists. She has also appeared as Director of the Mac2 Choir, a gospel choir she and a former co-worker initiated at McDonald’s Corporation, on Willie Wilson’s “Singsation” Gospel Hour and the Black McDonald’s Owners Convention. Ava is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago with an undergraduate degree in vocal performance and a MS in Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning & Leadership. A talented instructor of music, she is currently serving as a section leaders for Tenor vocalists for the summer presentation of H. Michael Dryver’s Requiem: The Life & Death of Emmitt Louis Till.
Dr. Camilla J. Horne
Dr. Camilla J. Horne received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education (majoring in voice, piano, and flute) from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD; a Masters of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and a Ph.D. in Music/Music Education from the University of Minnesota. She has been a professional music educator/conductor/performer for 30+ years, developing, organizing, and directing an eclectic array of instrumental and choral ensembles, teaching International Baccalaureate music courses as well as countless other music courses at all educational levels in nine states around the country.
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At the University of Minnesota, she was a teaching assistant for several music faculty members. Under the supervision of Dr. Claire McCoy, she was responsible for student teacher observations and evaluations. Dr. Horne worked in the jazz department with Dr. Ron McCurdy and coordinated the Dakota Jazz Educational experience. This was a collaborative effort with area junior and senior high jazz ensembles and the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, MN. Area students were given the opportunity to attend a special lecture/workshop given by the talented, visiting, nationally-renown jazz artists performing at the Dakota Jazz Club. The students were allowed to “jam” with the artist(s) and his/her band. Twice a month, an area junior or senior high school jazz ensemble/band would be allowed to perform at the Dakota Jazz Club. This program is currently known as the A-Train Educational Series. Under the supervision of Dr. Hilary Hamilton and Dr. Akosua Addo, Dr. Horne coordinated the University of Minnesota Elementary Music Education students in developing several Pennock Music Listening projects, introducing K-6 elementary students to the beauty of orchestral music and culminating in their attending a concert of the highly acclaimed Minnesota Orchestra.
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Dr. Horne has conducted numerous collegiate, community, and semi-professional instrumental and vocal ensembles around the country. She served as the assistant conductor of the University Singers at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the assistant conductor of the University of Minnesota's Gospel Choir under the direction of the late Mr. Sam Davis, the Interim Artistic Director of the One Voice Mixed Chorus in the Twin Cities, the Artistic Director of the Plymouth Rockers in Plymouth, MN, the Minnesota Chapter Representative for the Gospel Music Workshop of America - Twin Cities Chapter, the founding Artistic Director of the Selma Children’s Choir in Selma, AL, Chair of the Music Department at Judson College in Marion, AL, Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Lincoln University, the first degree-granting Historical Black College/University in the country and is a tenured member of the distinguished faculty of the James Cleveland National Gospel Music Workshop of America, teaching courses in vocal health for the gospel singer, vocal techniques for the aging gospel singer, and facilitates the vocal lab. At the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Camilla hosted “Arts Alive,” a cable television show on RFC-Channel 16 in River Falls, WI, dedicated to advocating the arts and promoting local artists in and around the River Falls community. Dr. Horne has also served as a director of music, organist, and choir director in fifteen churches throughout the country.
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Dr. Horne performs regularly as a conductor, vocal, instrumental, and keyboard soloist and is frequently asked to present workshops on a myriad of music-related subjects at local, state, regional, national conventions, and workshops. She is thrilled to be back in Minnesota, close to family, relatives, and friends.
Ms Virginia Roberts
Ms Virginia is a graduate of San Jose State University, receiving a BS degree in Business Administration and a Teaching Credential majoring in African American Studies. In preparation for God’s call to ministry, in 1996 she earned the Master of Arts degree in Church Music (MACM) from The Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion of Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia was licensed to preach the Gospel in August of 2015. She is the former Minister of Music of the Emmanuel Baptist church and St. James AME.
Professionally, Virginia is a retired educator of the Alum Rock School District of San Jose, California where she taught elementary school. She also served as an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer at San Jose State University, in the School of Music and African American Studies for thirteen years teaching African American Sacred Music and conducting the University Gospel Choir.
Virginia has traveled the country and the world teaching Sacred Music through her work with San Jose State University, Foothill Community College, Rejoice Gospel Ensemble, and the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Mr Grandison M. Phelps, III
Mr Grandison M. Phelps, III (NARRATOR): is an award-winning Southern Californian actor. Stage credits include: The Ballad Of Emmitt Till; Fences; Piano Lesson; Joe Turner’s Come And Gone; 7 Guitars; King Hedley Ii; Gem Of The Ocean; To Kill A Mockingbird;
The Lamb’s Players An American Christmas; Bulrusher;
The Gospel At Colonus; God’s Trombones; Sweet Bird Of Youth; Camelot in Concert; Carousel in Concert; I’m Not Rappaport;
Joseph & The Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat; As You Like It;
and the title role in Othello to name a few. Grandison is honored to be a part of the premiere of this outstanding production and looks forward to continued relationship with the Requiem family. He thanks his family and friends for their continued love and support. Especially that of his wife, Rosetta, without whom doing what he loves would not be possible.
Dr. Arlandra Harvey DMA
Dr. Harvey is a bass-baritone and Mississippi native. He holds the Bachelor of Arts (Music) degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master's of Education in the Art of Teaching (Secondary Music) from William Carey University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts (Vocal Performance and Opera) degree from Texas Tech University.
Dr. Harvey has enjoyed many opportunities to perform various major choral works as well as operatic roles throughout the U.S. and Europe. Most recently, as a Bass soloist for both the Rossini Mass and Handel’s Messiah (Lubbock TX). Other opportunities include but are not limited to, being a bass soloist: Schubert's Mass in G, Balthazar: Amahl and the Night Visitors (Menotti), Sarastro: Die Zauberflote (Mozart) in Opera Festival di Roma, Dr. Bartolo: Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) and Count Ceprano: Rigoletto (Verdi) both with Mississippi Opera. Among his accomplishments, Dr. Harvey was also a featured soloist for two tours of Spain with the Triumph Chorale under the direction of Maestro Jeffrey Murdock. Dr. Harvey has performed live in more than seven different countries including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, England, and throughout the Continental U.S.
Dr. Harvey is an Assistant Professor of Music and has been apart of the faculty of Rust College since the fall 2019.