Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Pettus.
Hi Jonathan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The story of the Jonathan Pettus Chorale actually started thousands of miles away from Baltimore. In 2016, I was in California walking along the beach with a few friends, and we were having a conversation about music. I remember asking them, “If I started a group, do you think it would be a good idea? Would you sing? Would you play?” At the time, it was simply a conversation among friends, but that conversation planted a seed that would eventually become the Jonathan Pettus Chorale.
A major inspiration for me came from my time at Baltimore City College. I sang in the choir under the direction of both Linda R. Hall and Marcus D. Smith, and those experiences had a tremendous impact on me as a young musician. During my senior year of high school, I also began singing with the Baltimore City College Alumni Choir and continued singing with the ensemble after graduation. Being surrounded by singers from different generations and seeing the community, excellence, and lasting relationships that could be built through choral music really stayed with me. Those experiences helped shape my vision for what I would eventually create with the Jonathan Pettus Chorale.
When I returned home from California, the idea continued to grow, and later that year, the Jonathan Pettus Chorale was born. We started with a group of singers and musicians who believed in the vision, and over the years, that vision has grown into something much bigger than I could have imagined during that walk on the beach. We have been blessed with opportunities to perform at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, alongside the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for GospelFest, and most recently at Baltimore’s AFRAM Festival. We have also released music, including our holiday project “Portraits of Christmas” and our single “Call His Name.”
My personal journey has grown alongside the Chorale. I earned my degree in Vocal Performance from Morgan State University and later earned my Master of Arts in Teaching. Today, I am a music educator and teacher leader in Baltimore City Public Schools. Whether I am standing in front of my students, leading worship, or directing the Chorale, so much of what I do centers around developing people, creating opportunities, and using music to bring people together.
Now, in 2026, the Jonathan Pettus Chorale is celebrating 10 years. When I think back to that conversation on a beach in California, it is amazing to see what one simple question turned into. There have been changes, challenges, lessons, and incredible opportunities along the way, but our mission has remained the same: “Ministering to God’s People Through Song.” Ten years later, I am incredibly grateful for every singer and musician who has been part of this journey, every person who has supported us, and every door that has opened. I truly believe there is still so much more ahead of us, and in many ways, we are just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. Building and sustaining a choir for 10 years comes with challenges that people do not always see from the outside. One of the biggest has been navigating change. Over the years, singers and musicians have come and gone, people’s lives and priorities have changed, and there have been seasons when I have had to rebuild while still keeping the vision moving forward.
Another challenge has been learning the business side of music. Being a musician and choir director is one thing, but managing an organization requires an entirely different set of skills. There are finances, rehearsals, performances, marketing, scheduling, personalities, and countless decisions happening behind the scenes. I have had to learn a lot through experience and, sometimes, through making mistakes.
My faith in God has been one of the most important things that has carried me through those seasons. There have been moments when I did not know what the next step would be or questioned whether I should continue, but I have always tried to listen to God’s voice and trust His direction. Sometimes the answer has been to keep pushing, and other times it has been to be still, make a change, or let something go. I have learned that every closed door is not a failure, and every opportunity is not necessarily an opportunity that God intends for me.
Through it all, I believe God has continued to remind me why I started. Ten years is a long time to keep people connected to a vision, and I do not take that lightly. Every season has taught me something about leadership, patience, relationships, perseverance, and faith. The road has not always been smooth, but when I look back, I can see how even some of the most difficult seasons helped shape both me and the Jonathan Pettus Chorale into who we are today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My professional life really lives at the intersection of music, education, and leadership. I am a music educator and teacher leader with Baltimore City Public Schools, where I have had the opportunity to teach students from Pre K through middle school while also taking on leadership roles that allow me to support other educators. In addition to teaching vocal music, I serve as a Lead Resource Teacher and member of my school’s leadership team. These roles have allowed me to grow beyond my own classroom and contribute to the development of teachers, programs, and the overall school community.
My educational background has played a major role in shaping the professional I am today. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Morgan State University and later returned to Morgan to earn my Master of Arts in Teaching. Having a background in both performance and education allows me to approach teaching from a unique perspective. I want my students to understand the fundamentals of music, but I also want them to experience what it feels like to perform, create, collaborate, and develop confidence in themselves.
Outside of the classroom, I am the founder and director of the Jonathan Pettus Chorale, a vocalist, and a worship leader. One of the things I am most proud of is that I have never felt the need to choose between being an educator and being an artist. The two constantly influence each other. The leadership skills I use directing musicians help me in education, and the patience, organization, and ability to develop people that I have gained as an educator have made me a stronger musical director.
What sets me apart is my ability to operate in several different spaces while remaining committed to the same purpose. Whether I am teaching a child their first musical concept, supporting another educator, leading a rehearsal, or preparing singers for a major performance, I enjoy helping people recognize what they are capable of and pushing them beyond what they initially thought they could do.
The next chapter of my professional journey is focused even more on leadership. I am beginning school leadership training as I work toward becoming an assistant principal and eventually continuing to grow as a school leader. For me, that is a natural progression. I have always enjoyed working directly with students, but I have also developed a passion for supporting teachers, building strong school communities, and helping create systems where both students and educators can be successful.
At this stage of my career, I am proud of what I have accomplished, but I am even more excited about where I am going. I want to continue growing as an educator, artist, and leader while creating opportunities and making an impact in the communities I serve.
How do you define success?
I define success by faith, purpose, impact, and growth. At the center of everything I do is my faith in God. For me, success is not simply about accomplishments, titles, performances, or recognition. It is about being obedient to what God has called me to do, listening to His voice, and trusting His direction even when I may not fully understand where He is leading me.
I have learned that every opportunity is not necessarily an opportunity meant for me. Sometimes success means moving forward, and sometimes it means having the faith and discernment to say no, wait, or change direction. I try to allow God to guide my decisions in my career, my ministry, my music, and my leadership.
I also measure success by the impact I have on others. As an educator, success is seeing a student gain confidence or discover something within themselves. As a leader, it is helping others grow and creating opportunities for them to succeed. As a musician and director, it is creating experiences that touch people and knowing that what we shared through music meant something beyond the performance.
Ultimately, success for me is knowing that I am walking in my purpose, continuing to grow, bringing others along with me, and remaining sensitive to God’s voice throughout the journey. If I can look back and know that I followed where God was leading me and used what He gave me to positively impact others, then I consider that a successful life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jp_chorale/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathanpettuschorale/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jonathanpettuschorale
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-jonathan-pettus-chorale/1718265992
