Petersburg Native Patrick D. McCoy to Contribute as a Freelancer to The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - April 18, 2019 - PRLog -- In addition to his career as a singer and church musician, Petersburg native Patrick D. McCoy has been cultivating a career as an arts journalist and classical music critic.  As a freelancer for The Washington Post, McCoy published his first classical music concert review, covering the début of renowned concert violinist Daniel Hope at The Phillips Collection. During his time as performing arts columnist for Washington Life Magazine, his column "Perfect Pitch" featured some of the world's greatest figures in classical music, including Joshua Bell, Renée Fleming, Denyce Graves, Lawrence Brownlee, Kristin Chenoweth, among numerous others. McCoy also host a podcast on Blogtalkradio.com, chatting live with classical music artists about their extraordinary careers.

McCoy reflected on this recent opportunity. " What an honor it is to contribute to one of the nation's greatest newspapers my thoughts about classical music and the performing arts.  I am grateful to WP Chief Classical Music Critic Anne Midgette for welcoming me under her wing as a freelance writer and serving as my mentor."

A 1995 graduate of Petersburg High School and a 2000 graduate of Virginia State University, Patrick served as Director of Music at Covenant Presbyterian Church, pianist at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Early Service Musician at the former First Christian Church and sang for many years at Christ and Grace Episcopal Church. He also taught choral music at Peabody Middle School and JEB Stuart Elementary School.  Most recently, he had the honor of returning to Virginia State University as adjunct professor of voice and concert choir during the absence of his beloved professor and current Director of Choral Activities Johnnella L. Edmonds.

"Returning home to teach at the very university that molded me was one of the greatest achievements of my life, especially being respected by the very professors who taught me."  McCoy said.

Relocating to the Washington, DC area in 2006, shortly after finishing his Master of Music in Church Music at Shenandoah University, Patrick served as Minister of Music at Takoma Park Baptist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church and was a music teacher in the Prince George's County Public School System.

"I am indeed thankful to my family and friends, especially my late mother for always supporting and believing in me."  he expressed.

In 2013, he was named among Prince George's County Social Innovation Fund's Forty Under 40 for his contributions to the arts and humanities.  Currently, he is the organist/choirmaster at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Beltsville, MD.

Patrick is a member of the Shenandoah University Alumni Board of Directors, Music Critics Association of North America and the Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

For more information, visit http://www.patrickdmccoy.com