Dr. Herbert Vincent-Ricardo Pea’dro Jones, Choral Conductor and Adjudicator, Choral Music Educator, and Ethnomusicologist. He degrees in the areas of Music Education, Voice, African-American Sacred Music, and Choral Music Education: •Doctor of Arts, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Music: Choral Conducting/Performance Pedagogy/Music Education. His doctoral dissertation is entitled: “THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPRITUAL AND GOSPEL SONG: THE MUSICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF MOSES GEORGE HOGAN, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER.” •Master of Music, University of Mississippi, Choral Conducting •Master of Divinity, (Samuel Boyce Music Award recipient) Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Theology & The Arts, 1984-(Music, Dance, Drama - He is the first to graduate from the Seminary with this concentration) •Master of Science,(with Honors) Jackson State University, Counseling/Psychology •Bachelor of Science, (Magna Cum Laude) Alcorn State University, Music/Voice. Dr. Jones has done additional studies in the area of Ethnomusicology (University of Pittsburgh) where he became the first (and only) African-American and graduate student to serve as Interim Director of Choral Activities of the Heinz Chapel Choir, Liturgical Dance & Mime Ministries. He has done further studies in conducting, choral music and vocal music education at San Diego State University and Sacramento State University (California), and the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR) where he conducted the Inspirational Singers, was a member of Schola Cantorum, the University Chorus and Opera Theater. His teachers included Dr. Jack Groh, choral conducting, Soprano, Janice Yoes, voice, and Richard Brothers, Opera Studies. In 1988, Dr. Jones appeared in several World Premier Operas: “Sakakawea” (based on the life of Sakakawea and the Lewis and Clarke journey, where he sang the role of YORK, “Tale of The Rings of Power” (based on ‘Lord of The Rings’), where he was Narrator/Bass soloist and Choir Master for the opera choruses. (The role of YORK was written for Dr. Jones by composer, Thomas Peterson, and the two Operas were debuted at the University of North Dakota and televised on ABC). Other World Premiere Operas include “Jubilee” and “A Bayou Legend” (William Grant Still). He has performed in “Porgy & Bess” (Jake), “Guys & Dolls” (Sky Masterson), “H.M.S. Pinafore,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Flying Dutchman” and “Elixir of Love.” Dr. Jones’ theatrical performances include: “A Hatful of Rain”, “Day of Absence”, A Raisin in the Sun”, to name a few. In addition, he appeared in the movie, “A Time To Kill.” He is a licensed minister (Presbyterian and Baptist denominations), and holds membership in numerous organizations: American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Mississippi Music Teachers Association (MMTA), National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS), Society of Ethnomusicologists, Chorus America, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Inc., Tau Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and the National Guild of Sacred Dancers. Dr. Jones is a member of the Boards of Directors of: (1) the Afro-American Music Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, (2) the Simmons Scholarship Foundation, Columbus, OH, and, (3) ‘All Nations Dance, Inc.’ He is Executive Administrative Assistant to the Academic Dean of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. (GMWA, Inc); a member of the of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, and is a member of the staff and assistant to the Founder/Director of the Annual Jackson State University Church Music Workshop of America (Jackson, MS), a Life Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Tau Beta Sigma Band Fraternity, Inc. He holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Chorus America, Society of Ethnomusicologists, American Federation of Church Musicians, Inc., and numerous others. Dr. Jones has received numerous awards, scholarships, and citations for outstanding academic and scholarly research in African-American Sacred Music, Church Music. He is published and has performed, conducted seminars and workshops, guest conducted across the United States and abroad. From Europe to Japan to Guam, Dr. Jones continues to maintain a busy schedule. Dr. Jones’ article entitled, “Making Music Makes You Smarter”, was featured in the Mississippi Music Teachers’ MENC/ACDA State Newsletter/Journal. Currently, Dr. Jones and Dr. Anthony Leach (Penn State University, School of Music) are collaborating on a national forum to be held on the Music of African-American Composers and the Music of Moses George Hogan & Glenn Edward Burleigh. Dr. Jones was featured clinician for the 2009 Black Heritage Festival, Savannah, Georgia, where he presented: “Selected Hymns & Hymn Stories of the African-American Worship Experience.” This was the 4th presentation of this seminar in America by Dr. Jones (which features his research and publication on this aspect of the African-American Worship Experience.) The seminar has been presented in a performance mode in Spain, Italy, Japan and Guam. In 2010, Dr. Jones, along with Kris Rust, Director of Choral Activities, Franklin Regional High School, Murrysville, PA., will present: “A Multicultural Choral Festival,” under the auspices of the Eastern Division of the American Choral Directors Association. This festival is scheduled to take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the new August Wilson Cultural Center, Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts and the Benedum Theatre, and will be comprised of elementary, junior high/middle school and high school choirs; college & university choirs, community and church choirs. Currently, he is Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir, Pittsburgh's Premiere Gospel Choir. Under the auspices of River City Brass Band, the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational choral ensemble that specializes in the performance of African-American Sacred Music, Spirituals, and Gospel Music, as well as standard choral literature; conductor of the Thurston Frazier Alumni Chorale (of the Academic Division of the Gospel Music Workshop of America), Co-Artistic Director of “Let Freedom Sing!” – the urban Pittsburgh and suburban Murrysville Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations, and is a very proud member of the Pentecostal Temple C.O.G.I.C., Pittsburgh, PA, where he conducts the Pentecostal Temple Men’s Chorus. Dr. Jones continues to maintain an active and busy national and international schedule of guest conducting, adjudicating choral festivals, choral & vocal music consultancy/workshops/seminars, choral retreats and camps, as well as teaching & performing African-American Sacred Music and Standard Choral Literature.