Avis Graves
(Alto)

Minister Avis D. Graves was born in Dayton, Ohio and reared in Cleveland, Ohio. Min. Graves currently serves as Minister of Worship at University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina under the leadership of Pastor Claude R. Alexander, Jr. She has held this position as Minister of Worship for three years. In this position, she oversees the entire Worship Ministry, which includes:

• The Music Ministry
• The Ushers and Greeters Ministry
• The Watchmen and Nurses Ministry. The Audio/Video Ministry
• The Prophetic Arts Ministry

Min. Graves also serves as the Director of the University Park Music & Arts Studio, which provides instruction in the fundamentals of music (theory, piano, voice, woodwinds, bass guitar, brass and drums). She is currently developing a team of musicians within the University Park membership to form the church's first Orchestra Ministry. She coordinated, compiled and prepared the instructional material for the church's Worship Conference, "In Spirit and in Truth".

Min. Graves is continually seeking knowledge to better serve God. In January 2000, she began her studies as a candidate for the Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master's degree in education with an emphasis in Critical and Creative Thinking from Notre Dame College of Ohio in South Euclid, Ohio.

Min. Graves is a called and anointed gospel musician. She uses her God-given gift to teach, empower and inspire. Min. Graves' anointed ability to minister to God's people through music has afforded her many prestigious appointments and guest appearances. On July 4, 2000, she was given the opportunity to participate in the International "OpSail 2000" Celebration, at which she sang for the First Family of the United States; President William J. Clinton, the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. She was also afforded the privilege of sharing in the leading of the Praise & Worship celebration during the Millennium Pastor's Conference in Nassau, Bahamas. Min. Graves has served in the capacity of worship clinician and psalmist for many churches and organizations in Ohio, Georgia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, as well as around the world, which includes:

• Guest Clinician for the Praise Weekend and Retreat for the Wheaton Gospel Choir, Wheaton, Illinois
• Workshop Clinician at the Stockholm Gospel Choir Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
• Workshop Clinician at the Norway Gospelfest, Oslo, Norway
• Vocal Representative of the Gospel Music Idiom at the International Globe Festival in Stockholm, Sweden
• Contributing Clinician in the German Gospelfestival
• Gospel Music Clinician at the Festival of African-American Literature and the Arts at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
• Director of the Children's Rally, of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education
• Staff Musician to the Southern Regional Youth Conference Auxiliary to the Women's Department of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.

The following is a list of Min. Graves' experience, accomplishments and appointments:

• Director of Music at St. Thomas Aquinas parish
• Director of Music at St. Agnes-Our Lady of Fatima parish
• Worship Service Psalmist and Minister of Music at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Musical Director for the Female Ensemble, The Company...In His Image. Musical Director for the Glories of Gospel
• C.E.O. of Amazing Grace Ministries, Christian Artistic Management and Consulting Firm
• Associate Director and Teacher Emeritus for the Christian Music Academy of Cleveland
• Guest Soloist for the Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS Gospel Concert in New York City, New York
• Teacher in Cleveland Public School System.
• Teacher in the Catholic Diocese
• State Certified Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention Specialist

Min. Graves was the founding partner and Director of Prevention Education for the Arts Educational Theatre Company of Cleveland. She coordinated The Chorale Satellite Program, which offers formal instruction in fundamentals of music, piano, voice, organ and drums at three Cleveland area churches.

Despite all these achievements, Min. Graves is quick to say, her proudest personal achievement is her teenage daughter, Aja DeYuan Graves.