ABOUT US

Dedication and steadfastness characterize the life and legacy of Georgia Elsie Gregory. Those attributes manifested themselves in her love and appreciation of sacred music. A self-taught musician, Mrs. Gregory shared her talents with members of her family, her church and community.

Georgia E. Gregory’s Commitment

Her dedication 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 40 years, Mrs. Gregory directed the Sunday School choir of Nazarene Baptist Church and involved over 800 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 has served as choir director and organist for the Nazarene Baptist Church for over 64 years and continued the work of Georgia Gregory as Founder of GEGISOM. 

The Start of GEGISOM

In 1984, Mrs. Gregory worked shoulder to shoulder with her daughter to establish Church Musician Services Inc. (CMS, Inc.). This organization recruited, screened and placed church musicians in full-time and temporary positions in religious institutions in the Greater Philadelphia area. Today, CMS, Inc. continues to provide this free informational service both to employers and musicians seeking work.

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 Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational Music School is dedicated to her memory and to the contribution of all the unsung heroes and heroines who gave their lives to making music an integral part of artistic expression.  Today, GEGISOM has a diversified curriculum that represents all genres of music styles to serve students who enroll for music and performing arts education. GEGISOM is committed to investing in the academic and artistic development of at-risk inner-city youth, that every child who desires to study the arts in their community has the resources to do so. GEGISOM inspires youth to tell their story through music, dance, spoken word, or drama to discover their strengths, face the many social, emotional, racial, and economic challenges they face every day.  GEGISOM challenges youth to aspire to be leaders and entrepreneurs motivated to give back to marginalized communities mentoring and educating underserved youth.