The Chorus

R. Martino Avery:   Director/Chair of Jazz-Arts Programs Youth Committee; Graduate of Howard University- Fine Arts Studies with concentration in Classical and Jazz Piano;  Music Director /Stage Manager for Plays & Musicals in the US & Europe; serves as Writer/Producer/Arranger/Music Director for "Live" performances in London, Scotland, Ireland, France, and the US. He enjoys working with youth, adult musicians and vocalists - and has performed in various theatre productions at the Lincoln Theatre and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts;  and is an affluent sign language interpreter

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Daron Burks: Officer/Secretary/Chair of Marketing and Vice-Chair Hospitality Committee; a Graduate Benedict College, with a B.A. in Mass Communications; provides news updates  for the Newsletter Editorial for Performing Arts; serves as Vice-Chair, of Traveling  Exhibit Display Committee; and a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (Ques) - the first Black Fraternity founded on Historically Black College Campuses.

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 Cynthia Bulger: Graduate Valdosta State, B.A. Business Administration, Graduate of Leadership Georgia. Chair of Phonographic Music Equipment Collectables; and Chair of Resources Committee.

 

Frenchie Burnett: Director/Chair of Research and History Committee; retiredMilitary; and a former Law Enforcement Officer; is the Deputy Director of the American Legion Boy State Program.

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Jean Burnett: Director/Co-Chair of Youth Music-Arts Program Committee; and a musician. Jean is retired military; an RN (Nurse); and serves as the Medical Director of the American Legion Boy State Program of Virginia. In her spare time, Jean performs with the Fredericksburg Big-Band Orchestra.

 

Gail Armstead: Officer: Interim Treasurer: Chair, Community Volunteer Committee; is a prolific Lead Vocalist performing both locally and regionally; organizes local volunteers for events and serves as Co-Chair, of Community Events & Marketing Committee.

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 Director Prospect, Benjamin Gilmore; Graduate of Bendict College (HBC);  Ben Chairs the Research & History Committee, and he is a member of the OMEGA PHI SI Fraternity

 Benjamin Gilmore also serves as our  Chaplain.  He is retired from the Military; and enhances our Exhibit Build Team. 

 

James H. Patterson: Director/Advisor: FONATIONS Chair. Professor Patterson provides historical musical instruments for Exhibitions and is a Professor of Jazz Music at Clark Atlanta University. Professor Patterson earned his Masters in Music; received an Honorary Doctorate-at Morris Brown College; is Music Director of the CAU Jazz Band; he also  Chairs JEN (Jazz Educators Network) for Charlie Parker. Has continues to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York (as often as possible).

 

Demetrius Smith: Director/Chair of JOCADA's National Youth Music-Arts Program Committee. A Graduate of  Valdosta State; with a B.A. in Political Science; a B.A. in History; and is a Graduate University of Georgia earning his M. Ed in Personal & Higher Education.

 

Diana Wimbish: Advisor: Graduate University of Southern California; Founder of the Leimert Jazz Festival in Compton; Producer of east coast Jazz events; Co-producer for Jazz Ensemble "NZinga"; Producer, Drew University Legacy Jazz Series -Los Angeles; and Board Member, Hartford Jazz Society.

 

Callye B. Holmes: President - Executive Director of JOCADA (Jewel of Celebrated Artistry DA, Inc) is celebrated as a Vocalist & Percussionist. She was Mentored by Ms. Sylvia Moy (Co-writer of "My Cherie Amour" with Stevie Wonder); toured the UK with Martha & the Vandellas; performed as Jazz Vocalist with the Atlanta African-American Philharmonic Symphony & Jazz Orchestra; with Fort McPherson's Jazz Guardians; Jazz vocalist with Fort McLellans Jazz Band; Percussionst/Vocalist with Nanci Davis at Detroits Hart Plaza's Summer Jazz Festival; and more. One of her most memorable performances was a Tribute to Ms. Carmen McRea, with Grammy Award Winners Cindy Blackmon; Karen Briggs; Nedra Wheeler & Andra Rosea' at Drew Universities Summer Jazz Fest in LA receiving a standing Ovation.  Between tours, Callye studied visual ARTS at the Savannah College of Art & Design as a Photography Major for Museum Studies. She was Mentored by Ambassador Boha 'Phi of Namibia; and Ma 'Lick Cisse, of Senegal, for West African Arts & Culture. Callye created JOCADA in 1999, and continues to celebrate the ART of Jazz as a Traveling Exhibition to date.  

  *JOCADA Directors bring a minimum of 45 years of Jazz Arts education & relative experience*