James A. Gray Musical Extravaganza

Dr. Braxton Shelley is a groundbreaking theorist of African American sacred music. He serves as faculty director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Music and the Black Church at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. A scholar, ordained minister, and accomplished church musician, Dr. Shelley brings deep insight into the power of sacred song.

Learn more about Dr. Shelley

Dr. Angelica Brooks is the Director of Choral Activities at Johnson C. Smith University and has a reputation for building strong choral programs and advanced singing musicians. She has served the choral community as a guest conductor, festival adjudicator, clinician, mentor teacher, curriculum writer, and professional development presenter on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion in music education.

Dr. Brooks received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance at Bowie State University and Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy from The Catholic University of America. She also holds an Administrator I Certification from McDaniel College. Dr. Brooks obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern California. She is member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and a member of the Eta Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda International Honor Society for Music.

As a decorated music educator, Dr. Brooks was a 2015 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Quarterfinalist. In 2019, she was awarded a Leadership in Education award from Bowie State University and named Prince George’s County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year. She was named a Maryland Music Educators Associations’ Outstanding Music Educator in 2021.

In service to the field of music education, Dr. Brooks serves on the National Executive Board for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and is co-chair of the NAFME Equity Committee. She is also a member of the College Music Society’s (CMS) Music Education Committee and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 2022, founded her own nonprofit organization, The Table Music Education Conference, dedicated to the recruitment and retention of music educators of color as an act of social justice and educational equity.

Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke is the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies and founder of three of five choral ensembles currently existing within the department of music at Winston-Salem State University (Amazwi Treble; Complesso Voce' and the renowned Burke Singers). The other choral ensembles are the Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Choir (aka WSSU Singing Rams) and Schola Cantorum.  Her choirs have performed with local, regional and world symphony orchestras and are well sought-after for the performances of master choral works, social justice songs, spirituals, and world music.  Maestra Simmons-Burke's ensembles have also performed on national stages such as Carnegie Hall (NY), The Washington National Cathedral, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (NY).  These ensembles have performed internationally with her in Prague, Czech Republic; Nassau, Bahamas; Accra, Cape Coast & Kumasi, Ghana - West Africa; and Pilanesberg, Cape Town and Johannesburg – South Africa.  She was named one of the national conductors for the 105 Voices of History Concert Choir in Washington, DC and Nassau, Bahamas.  She also received the 105 Voices of History John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center Medallion for her work with this concert choir.  Simmons-Burke was appointed the national choral coordinator and one of three national conductors who lead the 105 Voices of History Concert Choir in their inaugural performance at the Grand Ole Opry…the first of its kind.

Because of Maestra Simmons-Burke’s work with mass concert choirs, she was selected as co-conductor for the 2020 Inaugural Mass HBCU Concert Choir of the ACDA Southern Region and guest conductor of the 2022 ACDA Southwestern Region Mass HBCU Honor Concert Choir. Her choral ensembles have performed for and/or with regional, national, and international dignitaries. Simmons-Burke is the recipient of several teaching, community service and performance awards for her national achievements in music and research. Recently, Winston-Salem State University recognized Maestra Simmons-Burke with the Champion of Education Award. The North Carolina American Choral Directors Association presented Maestra Simmons-Burke The Lara Hoggard Award for Distinguished Service in Choral Music in North Carolina.  She is listed in Outstanding Young Women of America and holds memberships in several professional organizations such as the Music Educators National Conference; American Choral Directors Association; Chorus America; National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music; National Association of Negro Musicians; Intercollegiate Music Association; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Moles, and The Links, Inc.

Maestra Simmons-Burke has made numerous guest appearances as a conductor and adjudicator for high and middle school All-State/All-County festivals and collegiate choral festivals/workshops. She is often sought-after as a choral music clinician/lecturer and singer. 

Concert Organist, Conductor, Pianist, Tenor

Travis W. Alexander received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with further study in organ performance and conducting at the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music and Harvard University. He is an award-winning professor at NC A&T State University, where he serves as Director of Choral Activities and University Organist, conducting the world-renowned University Choir and Chamber Singers. He is the recipient of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 2024 Faculty Leadership Award.

Maestro recently procured the largest music department donation ever received at A&T in the amount of $100,000. He is a 2018 GRAMMY Music Educator Award nominee and finalist, the only professor nationwide to come from a Historically Black College or University. He has conducted the University Choir twice in full concert performances at the WHITE HOUSE in Washington, DC, at the request of former President Barack Obama. Maestro was featured in a PBS documentary and Christmas Concert Broadcast by Black Issues Forum and UNC-TV titled “A Maestro and His Chorus.” Maestro has served as conductor and concert organist for performances at the Kennedy Center, Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry, Ghana’s National Theater and prominent cathedrals in London, Bath, Wales, Italy, and Canada.

Maestro currently serves on the Greensboro Opera Company Board of Trustees, INSPIRO Advisory Focus Group, Imagine Kannapolis Historic Preservation Strategic Planning Board, President of Omegas of Cabarrus County Foundation Board of Directors, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Denomination Music Committee, Western North Carolina Conference of AMEZ Music Committee, and the Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Maestro is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Basileus of the Phi Chi Chapter in Concord, NC, Immediate Past Sixth District Chaplain and District Executive Committee, Sixth District Accompanist, Talent Hunt Committee Member and International Talent Hunt Collaborative Artist, 83rd Grand Conclave Cluster Committee Member, Co-Chair of the 83rd Grand Conclave Worship Committee and officiant, and Presenter on the International Omega Prayer Call.

Maestro’s honors and awards include KAA-MACC Hall of Fame Inductee, Scholar All American Award Winner, United States Achievement Academy National Award Winner, Distinguished Partner’s Educator of the Year, Who’s Who Among Professionals and Executives, Partner’s Achieving Success Esteemed Educators Award, Akron, Ohio NAACP Image Award, Columbus, Ohio City Council Excellence in Music Award and past 105 Voices of History National and Regional Conductor and concert organist.