Student Organizations

Ambassador Chorale

The Ambassador Chorale was founded by the late Professor Roosevelt Williams during the 1975-76 academic year with four eager members to officially represent the University as its public relations entity.

Today, under the direction of Dr. Argarita Johnson-Palavicini, “Dr. J”, the Chorale has upwards of fifty members that not only perform as an independent academic ensemble, but enjoy exposure to sight-reading, vocal technique, and performance pedagogy.

Members of the Chorale also hold leadership responsibility for the organization through appointed administrative positions.

The Chorale performs a wide range of music, and experiments with various musical genres as well as student compositions. Most recently, the Chorale performed with the New World Symphony and world-renowned soprano, Michelle Bradley. The Chorale has also performed in the United States, The Bahamas, and Europe to great acclaim!

Argarita N. Johnson-Palavicini
Argarita N. Johnson-Palavicini, D.M.A.

Chair, Department of Arts and Humanities
Director of the Ambassador Chorale
Assistant Professor of Music, School of Arts and Sciences
Music Annex Building, Room 51
Phone: (305) 626-0092
Argarita.Johnson@fmuniv.edu

The Roar Marching Band

Richard Beckford is a highly sought-after band director, clinician, prolific music arranger, and creative drill writer. His music and shows have been performed by a number of high school and college marching bands as well as jazz ensembles both nationally and internationally. Dr. Beckford is best known as a visionary and builder of bands with more than 30 years of building epic band programs. He has established and sustained thriving band programs in schools where support and resources were often limited at best. He is frequently referred to as “The Pied Piper of Bands” for his ability to attract a multitude of students to his band programs and for his capacity to motivate and inspire them to excellence. His students have become leaders, educators, mentors, musicians, Grammy and Emmy award winners, and productive citizens of their communities. He is amongst the most celebrated and revered band directors of our time. In the two years since Dr. Beckford has been at FMU, our newly formed band program has already achieved national acclaim, being recognized by ESPN as the number one band among HBCU Division II bands.

Richard Beckford
Dr. Richard Beckford

Director of the ROAR Marching Band
Music Annex Building
Phone: (305) 626-3699
Mobile: (786) 848-0863
richard.beckford@fmuniv.edu