Howard Burns, a well-known jazz musician who directs the FCC Jazz Ensemble, will speak at Frederick Community College (FCC) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 as part of the Moving Mountains Speaker Series.
 
During his talk, titled “Keeping the Music Going,” Burns will discuss his upbringing and musical education, and discuss the importance of always giving your best effort.
 
“I grew up in a family of nine sisters and brothers,” Howard Burns said. “Our parents never told us what career to choose, but instead told us to pick what we wanted to do, as long as we gave it our best. It’s important for people to find their own passion and do it well. You have to pick your goal and do all you can to achieve that goal.”
 
The event is the third of the 2019-2020 Moving Mountains series. The monthly series features inspiring professionals who share their life experiences and encourage teens and young adults to set the bar high in all areas of their lives.
 
Burns started performing at an early age. While in high school in Baltimore, he was a member of Chocolate Rain, which performed around the region and opened for bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire, the Isley Brothers, The Blackbyrds, Ohio Players, Weather Report, and Parliament.
 
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, Belgium. Burns has led the Howard Burns Quartet for 25 years. He has performed with the Four Tops, the Temptations, and many other well-known musicians throughout the years.
   
The Moving Mountains speaker sessions are free and open to the public, and take place in the JBK Theater, located inside the Visual & Performing Arts Center on the main campus. No registration is required to attend. Teens and young adults who attend and sign in for three of the six sessions in an academic year are eligible to receive a certificate of leadership and participation.
 
Other upcoming speakers for the 2019-2020 season include:

• February 19 – Ryan Morse, owner of Crucible Performance and personal trainer
• March 18 – James Hatch, FCC Cybersecurity and Computer Science Program Manager

For more information, click here. If you have questions, contact Mike Pritchard at [email protected] or 301.846.2417.