HCPSS Gospel Music Festival 2025

February 7, 2025

On an electrifying day in 2025, the Howard County Public School Gospel Music Festival became a soul-stirring journey. Invited by Howard County Public Schools and the Howard County Center of African American Culture, I joined students ready to raise the roof. But this wasn’t just music; it was a story. Antone Caldwell, from St. John Baptist Church, painted the meaning of gospel, weaving cultural roots into every note.

We sang Let Everything That Has Breath, Magnify Him, and Joy, each song lifting us higher. Then came the grand finale: Revelation 19:1, with the staff, festival choir, and St. John choir combining in glorious harmony.

I met incredible people- shout out to event leaders Carrie Hall, Terry Eberhardt, and my fellow musician/colleague Asriel Davis. With 45 students, we packed the day with music, and even a mini recital, where students shone and I offered feedback.

The adventure climaxed in a whirlwind as I dashed from choir to a church banquet where

I was an honoree. The clock was ticking, snow was falling, and my phone buzzed endlessly with well-meaning calls- everyone checking in, asking where I was. The festival had filled me with adrenaline, but now I was racing down the road, trying to avoid both traffic and chaos. The entire evening was a mad dash of music and momentum- but somehow, I made it, with both a song in my heart and a well-deserved honor waiting at the finish line. It was a day of gospel glory and an evening of recognition- all wrapped in one unforgettable ride.

Check out the Program