Former Concert Chorale Member Set To Release Second Album
One Bethune-Cookman University alumni is living his dream is the music business.
Maurice Downing, 31, is an independent gospel artist who also is high school instructor and owner of a graphic design company.

Downing, who currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, also is working in his second album to be called "Live On Purpose". His first album titled "Triumph" was released in 2012.
Recalling his time here at B-CU, Downing said the road to success was not easy as every day he fought to disprove professors and administrators who wrote him off.
"Do everything
within purpose and
follow exactly what
Dr. Bethune says,"
Downing said in an
interview. "Enter to
learn and depart to
serve. And, I have
done exactly that,"
the Lakeland, Florida
native said.
Still, looking
back on his days
at Bethune-Cookman,
Downing is grateful that the
university accepted
him.
"Bethune-Cookman
University was
my last choice," said
Downing, who attended
the Harrison
Art Center. "After
being denied admission
to University
of Central Florida
where I wanted to
go, my mom gave me
the last school application
she had, which
turned out to be B-CU.
Within less than a
week after I turned in
my application, I received
an invitation to
attend. No other school
responded so quickly.
For that I was grateful,"
he said.
While at B-CU,
he was a member of the
Concert Chorale then
under the direction of
Dr. Rebecca Steele.
When asked about
his most memorable
experience Downing
remembered his senior
project.
"Instructor Sylvester
Polk helped me decide
what I wanted to do.
That project played as a
catalyst to where I am
today," Downing said.
In addition to the
senior project, Downing
remembers the
Florida Classic events
and hurricane evacuation.
He recalled that
on one occasion that
he and a couple of his
friends in the Concert
Chorale decided to
"have church" in front
of some students who
took shelter from the
hurricane in the Performing
Arts Center
on campus. To Downing,
that experience is
special to this day.