WASHINGTON (October 31, 2018) - The Howard University Alumni Jazz Brunch marked the close of the 2018 Homecoming festivities. Alumni return home, to the Mecca, for food, drink, and community as they join the campus in celebration of 151 years of truth and excellence. This year the event was hosted at the Washington, D.C. Marriott Marquis and tickets quickly sold out.

Howard Alumni gathered in fellowship for the Jazz Brunch, which was emceed by Alumnus and Founder of Step Afrika, C. Brian Williams. The Brunch included performances by Matt The Violinist, Afro Blue, the Howard University Jazz Ensemble and Step Afrika. Matt The Violinist, is a 3-time first place winner at the Apollo Theatre and a featured artist in the American & Russian tours of The Hip Hop Nutcracker.Afro Blue is Howard University’s premiere vocal jazz ensemble, who some may recognize from having competed on NBC’s “The Sing Off.”The group was accompanied instrumentally by the melodious stylings of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Lastly, Step Afrikais one of the Top 10 US African American Dance Companies and the group recently returned from their performance on Off Broadway! 

All of the performances featured renditions celebrating Black history and culture. Matt the Violinist, who refers to himself as a “Caribbean violinist,” played many familiar hip-hop tunes, but with his own lively Caribbean flare. Afro-Blue began their set with a New Orleans-style rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” which moved the audience to their feet, one being Estelle Franklin, Howard Law 1975. The final performances by Step Afrika left the audience in awe of the talent and passion the performers brought to the stage. 

Nia McDonald, Howard Law 2004, came back for her first Homecoming this year with her family of Howard alumni. Besides Step Afrika, what she loved most about Homecoming was being able to see “all the Howard people together from multiple generations, multiple years.” 

Howard Alumni take great pride in our University because it is where we grow up and we learn and gain perspective about the world we live in. Howard shapes and molds us to be global citizens and advocates for change. Phyllis “Tia” Waller-Pryde, class of 1973, says that “one of the most important things about coming back [to Howard] is really reconnecting with people you share this amazing experience with; to recount the memories, to enjoy the times together, to renew the relationships, and to feel to connected to the place where they all happened.”

Although Homecoming has come to an end, the Howard community will continue to celebrate the accomplishments of the University, students, and alumni throughout the rest of the year.

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Written by Jessica Hernandez

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu.