Dr. Emory Andrews is known in gospel circles as the Director of the Stellar Award Winning Oxon Hill High School Choir. The singing aggregation rose to national acclaim in 2010 winning Children’s Project of the Year at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards for their 2009 album release entitled, Amazing. An educator for over 35 years, Andrews is an artist in his own right having performed with Richard Smallwood, Edwin and Walter Hawkins, Dr. Nathan Carter, Kirk Franklin, Rev. James Cleveland, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Caravans, Glenn Burleigh, Moses Hogan and many more.
Now he’s being recognized by the Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council of Prince George’s County Maryland. On Saturday, November 17, 2012, Andrews will be given the Steven C. Newsome Arts Scholar Award at the Inaugural Arts Gala Awards Program at the Fine and Performing Arts Center at Bowie State University at 6PM. Dr. Andrews is receiving the award for his “outstanding contributions to the arts and humanities benefitting Prince George’s County.”
Dr. Andrews is thrilled about the honor. “I feel so blessed to be honored and that God has shown favor to me to receive this most prestigious award from my Prince George’s family,” says Andrews. “This is an awesome blessing to receive on my way to heaven. Thank you for allowing me to serve Prince George’s County in the area of the Arts and Humanities.” Proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit arts education efforts and continue the vision of growing the arts and culture in the County.
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Emory Andrews took a while to get bitten by the music bug. When suggested by his mother to take piano lessons, he was hesitant initially. But she saw something in him that he hadn’t recognized. As he studied, slowly but surely, he developed a love for the instrument. With the guidance of a mentor at the local university, Florida A&M University (FAMU), he honed his musical talent. He ended up playing for the children’s choir at his church at the age of 7. Later, he went to a fine arts school for high school and studied music, ultimately graduating from FAMU. He continued his schooling at Florida State University and National -Louis University with a focus on Education. His teaching career commenced in Florida, where he taught for ten years, prior to relocating to the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Once coming to the Nation’s Capital, his career took him to the District of Columbia Public School System, where he taught at Spingarn High School for ten years becoming Director of Choirs and Department Chairman. Prior to his move to the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, Dr. Andrews was an adjunct professor and instructor at Florida A&M University, Bowie State University and University of the District of Columbia. Upon his arrival to Oxon Hill Science and Technology High School in Oxon Hill, MD, he formed the Vocal Music Department, which he now heads. He also became the school’s Director of Choirs and the Instructor for the Vocal Music Department. In 2009, he received the Dean’s Award from the Gospel Music Workshop of America for his dedicated service to the faculty and workshop.
Dr. Andrews served as minister of music at his home church in Tallahassee, Florida, Greater Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church where he was licensed and ordained. Presently he serves as minister of music at Southeast Christian Fellowship Church in Washington, DC and is a member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG) where John K. Jenkins is Pastor and Teacher. At FBCG, Andrews serves in the Music Ministry with the Fellowship Chorale. Dr. Emory Andrews is a writer, composer, educator, singer and a Gospel Vocalist.
