Who are we. . .

The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music, Inc. is a non-profit, community based institution established to provide a safe, creative faiclity where at risk and special needs youth can experience

social, cognitive and cultural development through music and the performiing arts in the underserved community of North Philadelphia.

To provide a venue for adults to be trained in music and development of music careers. The G.E.G.I.S.O.M. offers a diverse genre of music styles with a focus on sacred music.

A wide variety of music forms from denominations covering the broad spectrum of the religious experience in America will be presented with a special emphasis placed on the African-American church experience. The initial offering will include Baptist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Evangelical Ministries, etc. Students will learn liturgical service, service music, hymns, spirituals, masses, gospel, and modern expressions of church music. Classroom and field visits to local churches will be used to help students understand and appreciate the important role of music in the worship experience.

In addition to our sacred music program, we offer all genres of music. Jazz, Classsical, etc. We want to meet the needs of our students and community.  

The Legacy of. . .

Georgia E. Gregory (1920 - 1995) Dedication and steadfastness characterize the life and legacy of Georgia Elise Gregory. Those attributes manifested themselves in her love and appreciation of sacred music. A self-taught musician. Mrs. Gregory shared her gift from God with members of her family, her church and community. Her commitment to the preservation of the music of the saints dates back to her early childhood in Jeffries, Virginia, when she learned to play the piano by listening to the hymns at church. After moving to Philadelphia she attended William Penn High School and went on to attend Virginia Union College.  For more than forty years, Mrs. Gregory directed the Sunday School choir of Nazarene Baptist Church and involved over 500 children in this ministry of music. She exposed her audiences to various forms of church music including anthems, spirituals, hymns and gospel. Some of her students were motivated to become choir members, accomplished church musicians, organists and choir directors. Among those inspired by her enthusiasm and passion was her daughter, Joyce G. Drayton who serves as MInister Of Music for Nazarene Baptist Church for over 54 years.  

In 1984, Mrs. Gregory worked shoulder to shoulder with her daughter to establish Church Musician Services Inc. (CMS). This organization recruited, screened and placed church musicians in full-time and temporary positions at churches in the greater Philadelphia area.

Georgia E. Gregory believed that sacred music should be practiced ardently and played fervently. In her words "Music heightens and deepens the religious experience. Music bonds the elements of the order of worship service; Music inspires devotion and action, and music glorifies God." The Interdenominational Music School is dedicated to her memory and to the contribution of all the unsung heroes and heroines that have their lives to making church music an integral part of the whole worship experience.

The G.E.G.I.S.O.M. recently celebrated ten (10) years of providing music training and education serving over 900 youth and 350 adults. Providing employment for over 85 instructors who were either College students. Several of our student graduates are now attending an institution of higher learning for music or serving as counselors for our summer music camp or serving as church  musicians. We are soproud of Glenn Simmons who now serves as musician for the same youth choir Mrs. Gregory served.

The G.E.G.I.S.O.M. is dedicated and committed to providing cultural arts to our communtiy for todays' youth for tomorrows' music.