Rooted In Harmony
Growing Voices. Nurturing Souls. Composing Legacy
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother taught me to play the piano when I was just four years old, and by age ten, I was serving as a musician for a neighboring church. By thirteen, I was playing for multiple congregations, and at fifteen, I became the Minister of Music at a church in East Oakland.
I received a full scholarship in vocal performance for undergrad and used that opportunity to double-major in Educational Sociology, merging my passion for music with my deep commitment to education and community.
As both a pianist and vocalist, I found my calling working with choirs in schools, churches, and community centers. Much like the work I do through Harvest Consulting, I believe in cultivating individual voices to contribute to a collective sound, united in purpose, harmony, and growth.
In 1998, I founded The East Bay Anointed Voices, a group that has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally, recording three projects along the way. Never one to stay still creatively, I, along with LaNell Martin, launched the Bay Area Mass Choir in 2024, an intergenerational, multiracial group of Bay Area singers.
I’ve composed more than 50 songs over the years, and I’m now working on recording many of them to preserve the sound and spirit for generations to come.
Psalm 8 by Richard Smallwood| BAYMC II | Soloist- Ashling Cole | Live Performance
Bay Area Mass Choir Concert II (BAYMC II) | March 22nd, 2025 |Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church | Oakland, CA
Bay Area Mass Choir Concert II (BAYMC II) | March 22nd, 2025 Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church | Oakland, CA
Bay Area Mass Choir Concert II (BAYMC II) | March 22nd, 2025 Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church | Oakland, CA Musical
Directors: Dr. Rachelle Rogers-Ard & LaNell Martin M. Ed
Soloist: Joshua Carter
Drums: Benjamin Ard
Percussion: Rick Ard
Bass: Matthew Bland
Guitar: Cheno Nguyen
Organ/Keyboard: Leonard Jones/ Philip Ellingberg /Dr. Rachelle Rogers-Ard
Logo Design: Marc Allen The Artist
Digital Content & Editing: Dream Talk Management
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I Do Worship was originally performed by John. P. Kee. All rights belong to the respective owners.