United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson has recognized the Coahoma Community College Choir and its director, Dr. Kelvin Towers, for the ensemble’s 2025 cultural appearance in Karnataka, India, honoring the students and their leadership for representing Mississippi and the United States on an international stage.
The recognition was entered into the Congressional Record on June 9, 2026, during the Second Session of the 119th Congress. Appearing in the Extensions of Remarks on page E552 under the heading Honoring the Coahoma Community College Choir and Dr. Kelvin Towers, the recognition celebrated the choir’s musical excellence, discipline, cultural engagement and international representation.
Congressman Thompson, who represents Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District, recognized the choir’s continued commitment to musical excellence and its role as a cultural ambassador for Coahoma Community College and the Mississippi Delta.
The congressional recognition follows the choir’s 2025 journey from Clarksdale to Karnataka, India, where students participated in the 100 Days World Cultural Festival and World Religions Summit. The international engagement placed the Coahoma Community College Choir on a global platform centered on culture, faith, unity and international exchange.
During USA Day on November 14, 2025, the choir presented its original production, The African American Story: Sung in a Foreign Land, at Premamrutham Hall on the campus of Sathya Sai Grama in Muddenahalli. The performance was scheduled before an anticipated audience of more than 5,000 attendees and provided students from the Mississippi Delta an opportunity to share African American history, faith, music and culture with an international audience.
From Clarksdale to India, these students represented Mississippi and the United States through their original production, The African American Story: Sung in a Foreign Land, sharing a message of unity, culture and faith with audiences from around the world.
The international appearance continued a tradition that has made the Coahoma Community College Choir a source of pride for the college, Clarksdale and communities throughout the Mississippi Delta. Through its performances and participation, the choir carried the region’s musical legacy beyond the United States while representing Mississippi before an international audience.
Under the direction of Dr. Kelvin Towers, the ensemble has continued to build on a legacy centered on musical discipline, student development and cultural engagement. The choir’s journey to India marked a significant chapter in that history, giving students an opportunity to experience another culture while sharing the artistic traditions of Coahoma Community College and the Mississippi Delta.
“Our choir has been blessed over the years with extraordinary opportunities to travel abroad and share our musical gifts and talents with audiences around the world,” Dr. Towers said. “There are moments when our students simply pause, take it all in and ask, ‘Did we really just do that?’ Those moments remind us just how special these experiences are and how far their gifts, hard work and dedication can take them.”
Participation in the 100 Days World Cultural Festival and World Religions Summit demonstrated the reach of arts education at Coahoma Community College and highlighted the ability of student performers from the Mississippi Delta to represent their institution, state and nation before audiences from around the world.
The choir also participated in the World Religions Summit, the culminating program of the festival, joining choirs representing 35 countries in an international performance. As part of the acknowledgment of the United States, the Coahoma Community College Choir was scheduled to perform “Amazing Grace” accompanied by a 300-piece international orchestra.
Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner said the congressional recognition honors the choir’s current achievements while also celebrating the generations of students, directors and supporters whose dedication has helped build and sustain its distinguished legacy.
“A pleasant culture, a positive reputation and a prestigious tradition are modest expressions that accurately describe the renowned choral music program of Coahoma Community College,” Dr. Towner said. “Under the skillful leadership of Dr. Kelvin Towers, the choral music program has stood on the shoulders of its history while continuing the rich legacy of outstanding choirs at Coahoma.
“When we reflect on the tenure of Dr. Towers and the staff of the choral music department, we can see even more clearly how impactful and significant this era of leadership has been. As president, I want to thank every former and current choir member for the contributions, discipline and sacrifice each has given to our choral music program. Each of you should feel proud. Because of you, our program is receiving the extraordinary honor of congressional recognition.
“Lastly, on behalf of our Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students, we certainly want to express our appreciation to Congressman Bennie Thompson. Congressman Thompson has consistently supported our choral music program and has served as a champion of the college in many ways. We are grateful for his courage, determination, educational acumen and his ability to make those he serves feel heard and supported. Without his advocacy, intentional efforts and support, our choir would not be receiving this noteworthy acknowledgment.”
The recognition underscores the broader significance of the choir’s achievement. For generations, the Coahoma Community College Choir has served as one of the institution’s most visible performing ensembles, connecting the college to audiences through music and reinforcing the Mississippi Delta’s longstanding contribution to American musical culture.
The 2025 journey to India extended that legacy across international borders. For the students who participated, the experience represented more than a performance opportunity. It offered firsthand exposure to global cultures, strengthened their development as musicians and allowed them to serve as representatives of Coahoma Community College, Mississippi and the United States.
The congressional recognition celebrates both the students who carried the college’s name abroad and the leadership that prepared them for the international stage. It also reflects the continued impact of the arts at Coahoma Community College and the role the choir plays in preserving and advancing a tradition of excellence rooted in the Mississippi Delta.
The recognition now stands as part of the nation’s official historical record, with the Coahoma Community College Choir and Dr. Kelvin Towers recognized in the proceedings and debates of the 119th Congress, Second Session, for carrying the music, culture and spirit of Coahoma Community College from Clarksdale, Mississippi, to an international stage.