News
Julius McCullough: “The Lord’s Prayer,” National Association of Negro Musicians
I was honored to be commissioned by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra to compose a string quartet arrangement of Julius Edward McCullough’s beautiful setting of “The Lord’s Prayer” for a performance at the National Association of Negro Musicians National Convention in Norfolk on July 20, 2026. It was such a pleasure to collaborate with him as well as soprano Amber Garrett, pianist Julie Heard, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra String Quartet.
Julius McCullough has directed choirs, bands, and orchestras throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. The founder of the Franklin Center Jazz Ensemble in Philadelphia, he famously toured with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra in his celebrated Sacred Concerts. McCullough currently serves as Artistic Director of the Boys Choir of Hampton Roads and is the Eastern Regional Director for the National Association of Negro Musicians.
Premiere of The Treasure at Virginia Music Educators Conference 2025
Paul’s first choral composition, The Treasure for SATB, received its premiere at the Virginia Music Educators Association’s 2025 Conference on November 20 at the Sheraton in Norfolk. The Old Dominion University F. Ludwig Diehn Chorale’s “The Living Voice” program also included works by Adolphus Hailstork, Stephen Coxe, and others. The Treasure is a setting of the beautifully nostalgic 1914 poem by English poet Rupert Brooke, best known for his poem “The Soldier” about the First World War. The composition is an expression of utmost fondness for the sweetest of memories.
Upcoming Events
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, July 26, 2026, 8:30pm, Town Point Park, Norfolk, VA
Symphony under the Stars: Symphonic Sing-Along (violin section)
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, July 30, 2026, 7:30pm, Neptune Park, Virginia Beach, VA
Symphony by the Sea: Symphonic Sing-Along (violin section)
