Classics of Ebony EnterprisesTM is a musical force that began in 1973 and continues to grow. NEVILLA E. OTTLEY began the Music School as a home studio in her apartment living room in Silver Spring, Maryland. Born in Trinidad, she has lived in the USA most of her life.

Some of her activities over the years include:

• 1973 Founded the Ottley Music Studio, a music learning center

• 1976 Established Classics of Ebony Radio Show (1976-1997)

• 1981 Founded The Nevilla Ottley Singers, Inc. in Washington, D. C.

• 1983-88 World Bank/IMF Choral Society Music Director/Conductor

• 1988 Co-founded the Takoma Park Symphony Orchestra with Ellen Bunyan

• 1992 Co-founded the Kwame Awards with Edgar E. Adjahoe

• 1994 Co-founded Classics of Ebony Publishing, Inc. with Adjahoe

• 1995 Spearheaded William Grant Still Centennnial Celebration

• 1997 Co-founded Classics of Ebony Enterprises with Edgar Adjahoe

• 1998 Formed Ottley Keyboard Orchestra

EDGAR E. ADJAHOE was born in Ghana, West Africa, and has lived most of his life in the USA. He began is elementary school education in Mooresville, North Carolina, his mother’s home town, but moved with his family to Westbury, Long Island where his father served as Minister of the Westbury A.M.E. Zion Church.

• Graduated from Westbury Elementary School, Long Island, N.Y.

• Graduated from Westbury High School

• Graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S. D., B.S. (biology major, music minor), 1964

• Bassoonist—Summers 1963 and 1964, Long Island Symphony, N.Y.

• Peace Corps Training, in North Carolina 1964 

His activities during the years are as follows:

• 1965-1968 U. S. Army (in Vietnam 3 months) Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D. C. Biological research.

• 1968-1970 National Institutes of Health, worked in Clinical Labs to develop chromosome studies in patients.

• 1970-1983 Veterans Hospitals in Oakland, CA, Tacoma, WA and the Veterans Administration, D. C. Research Administrative Officer

• 1984-1985 Maryland Correctional Institutions’ Clinics, Jessop, Maryland Infectious Disease Specialist

• 1985-1987 Veterans Hospital, Washington, D. C. Medical Administration Officer

• 1987-1999 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Health Specialist, and later he developed and was appointed Deputy Director, Facility Management Branch.

He stayed in touch with music serving

• 1985-Present, The Nevilla Ottley Singers, Inc., General Manager

• 1990-1995, Takoma Park Symphony Orchestra, Takoma Park, Maryland, Executive Director and bassoonist

• 1994-Present, Takoma Park SDA Church Sabbath School Orchestra, Clarinetist

His over 2 dozen awards and certificates include

• 1984 American Symphony Orchestra League, Washington, D.C. Orchestra Management Certificate

• 1990 District of Columbia Hospital Association Award

• 1995 Dakota Wesleyan University Alumni of the Year

• 1995 Walter Reed Army Medical Center Gold Coin for Distinctive Service

Now Mr. Adjahoe is the Co-owner and CEO of Classics of Ebony Enterprises.