Our Director

SAMUEL CROMWELL

Samuel (Eddie) Cromwell is a gifted, inspirational, self-trained classical pianist, composer and organizer in the gospel music ministry for more than twenty years. He serves as Musical Director for the St. Augustine Catholic Church Chorale and Gospel Choir. He is the author of the recording Live: Victory and Praise.

Inspired by all styles of religious music and listening to great musicians, such as Billy Hunt, Edward Jackson and Kenneth Campbell, Eddie was introduced to gospel music and from there was encouraged to discover its unique style of religious music. His love for gospel music lead him to embark on directing his first high school mass choir, named EC (Eddie Cromwell) Mass Choir, of fifty (50) young ladies from Pine Forge Academy. In addition, Eddie has musically directed many gospel choirs in the Washington Metropolitan area for over 26 years. He has directed the awarding-winning St. Elizabeth Seton High School Gospel Choir at the New York City Apollo Theater, Grand Central Station, and Ground Zero, St. Gabriel Catholic Church Gospel Choir, Shiloh Baptist Church Gospel Choir, Israel Baptist Church Gospel Choir, University of Maryland Gospel Choir, Trinity Washington University Gospel Choir and St. Augustine Gospel Choir at the New York City Apollo Theater.

Inspired by God’s calling to serve all people, Eddie has been afforded the opportunity to travel across the United States and internationally to spirit-filled concerts in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, Toulouse, France; San Jose, Costa Rica; Saarbrucken, Germany; Rome and several cities in Italy – Tuscany, Cagli, Gardone Val Trompia, Brescia, and Urbania. Eddie continued his passion in the last eight years, with the distinguished honor of directing the St. Augustine Gospel Choir in performances with Pope Benedict, Pope Francis, and the White House for President George W. Bush. He also had a historic performance for Pope Francis on the lawn of the White House with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and at the residence of Vice President Joe Biden.

He worked as a conductor and artist on a benefit concert, Awesome Praise at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As the music director for voices and liturgical dancers from various denominations, Eddie celebrated the majestic biblical story of Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. Eddie has performed with the likes of many nationally known gospel artists, such as the Winans, Darryl Coley, Tramaine Hawkins, Andre Crouch, Richard Smallwood, John P. Kee, Dianne Reeves, Karen Clark-Sheard and Anthony Brown.

Continuing to serve the Lord through gospel music, Eddie developed a talented group of voices called GRACE. Eddie’s award-winning group GRACE has produced three CD recordings, GRACE, Window Pane and LIVE In Costa Rica during their ten-year tenure. Responding to God’s message in 2013, Eddie organized and composed a unique and crisp sound of ecumenical groups of vocalists and musicians from a variety of Christian denominations and traditions, as the Composition of Praise, who will soon release their two singles.

With his vision of creating good music for the Lord, Eddie’s humor and aspirations in gospel music will enthusiastically seek new challenges as God continues to inspire him in creating and producing great music for everyone.