Coahoma Community College Choir students will represent Mississippi at 8:00 PM EST on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Washington, D.C., during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, performing in the Annual Gospel Extravaganza.
The five-day Annual Legislative Conference will take place Sept. 16-20 under the theme “Rooted, Ready & Rising.” The conference also commemorates the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 50th anniversary and will bring together elected officials, policymakers, thought leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, community leaders and emerging changemakers from across the country.
The Annual Gospel Extravaganza is one of the conference’s signature events and provides a national platform for gospel music and participating ensembles. The invitation gives Coahoma Community College students an opportunity to showcase their musical talents while representing the College, the Mississippi Delta and the state of Mississippi before a national audience.
Dr. Kelvin Towers, director of the Coahoma Community College Choir, expressed appreciation to U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson for helping provide CCC students with the opportunity to participate.
“We are extremely appreciative to Congressman Thompson for extending us the opportunity to represent Mississippi at this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Annual Gospel Extravaganza,” Dr. Towers said. “Our students are very excited and looking forward to visiting our nation’s capital city.”
Coahoma Community College President Dr. Towner praised the choir’s sustained excellence and the opportunities it continues to earn.
“One can accurately gauge the respect and level of regard that the choir of Coahoma Community College has established over the years by the invitational capacity that they continue to garner each year. The choir is heading to the nation’s capital because of the leadership of Dr. Towers and the support of Congressman Bennie Thompson. We are proud of the hard work that our students continue to exert year after year with our choral music program. May they have a safe and enlightening trip as they represent the great state of Mississippi.”
The appearance marks a return to the Gospel Extravaganza for the Coahoma Community College Choir. Towers recalled the choir’s previous participation in the event, which also featured the Georgia Mass Choir representing Georgia.
This year’s Gospel Extravaganza also will feature the Fort Valley State University Gospel Choir, a recipient of the Stellar Award for HBCU Choir of the Year.
“Just like we were before, our CCC Tigers will be ready!” Dr. Towers said.
The Washington appearance follows a period of national and international recognition for the choir. Earlier this year, Thompson recognized the Coahoma Community College Choir and Towers in the Congressional Record for the ensemble’s 2025 cultural appearance in Karnataka, India.
During the international engagement, CCC students served as cultural ambassadors while participating in the 100 Days World Cultural Festival and World Religions Summit. The congressional recognition highlighted the choir’s musical excellence, discipline, cultural engagement and representation of Mississippi and the United States abroad.
The Washington performance will provide another opportunity for the choir to represent Coahoma Community College beyond Mississippi while exposing students to national leaders, policymakers and other influential voices attending the conference.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference includes more than 100 public policy forums and signature events that connect elected officials, community leaders and engaged citizens around issues affecting Black communities nationwide.
For more information about the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, visit the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation website.