Oct 2026Friday
The Gift of Peace
National City Christian Church
5 Thomas Circle NW
Washington, D.C.
12:15 PM · Free admission
Kevin Paton-Cole
Organist & Bass-Baritone
01 About
Meet Kevin.
Kevin Paton-Cole, MM, is an African American organist and bass-baritone, who studied music at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, earning both a Bachelors and Masters of Music Degree in Voice Performance, and Vocal Pedagogy, with emphasis in Organ Performance. Kevin serves as the Organist, Choral Director, and Director of Music and Liturgy at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland. His experience as a Church musician spans over 20 years, having started his musical journey as a young choirboy at the early age of 11. Kevin’s music roots started in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where he was raised and fell in love with classical, choral and organ music while singing as a treble choir boy at his paternal church, Saint John the Evangelist Church, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Kevin’s music teachers and mentors include Dr. Daniel Aune and Mr. Marvin Mills for organ, Dr. John Walker for choral conducting, and Dr. Harlan D. Parker for orchestral conducting, to name a few.
02 Sacred Music
In the service of worship.
Kevin's formation in sacred music began in the Anglican tradition in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He became a choir boy at age eleven at Saint John the Evangelist Church, Brookfields where his late dad and grandfather served as organist and choir director and began serving as a church organist at age fifteen. Growing up within the High Church Anglican tradition gave him an early foundation in choral singing, hymnody, organ music, and the historic musical traditions of Christian worship.
After coming to the United States, Kevin served Episcopal and Catholic congregations throughout the Washington-Baltimore region, including Epiphany Episcopal Church in District Heights, Maryland; Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.; Saints Philip and James Catholic Church in Baltimore; and Our Lady of Grace Parish in Parkton, Maryland. Since January 2025, he has served as Director of Music & Liturgy at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where his responsibilities include directing and administering the parish music program and coordinating cantors and other musicians
03 Upcoming Performances
On the calendar.
View recital flyer
Oct 2026Sunday
Sacred Music for a Greater World
Christ Episcopal Church
601 Church Street
Cambridge, Maryland
4:00 PM · Free admission
04 Teaching
Developing the complete musician.
Kevin has extensive experience developing singers in school, studio, and parish settings. He is formally trained in voice, organ, choral music, and philosophy, with bachelor’s and master’s-level conservatory education at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. He has worked with singers of varying ages and levels of musical experience, with an emphasis on healthy vocal development, musicianship, ensemble singing, confidence, musical expression, and long-term artistic growth.
His distinctive perspective is shaped by lifelong participation in choral music, beginning as an Anglican choir boy at age eleven and church organist at fifteen, followed by professional work as an organist, music director, conductor, teacher, and mentor of singers.
Teaching Philosophy
As an experienced soloist, music educator, church musician, choral director, vocal and piano pedagogue, Kevin views teaching music as a collaborative process that forms the whole student technically, intellectually, and musically. Regardless of setting, his goal is to always help students develop their confidence, find their own voice or sound as vocalists or pianists. He does this by emphasizing sound, healthy habits which lay a foundation for correct technique, build strong musicianship skills, and enhance confidence with self-belief. He also emphasizes attentive listening, literacy, stylistic understanding, and thoughtful practice, while creating a structured, fun, supportive environment, where students feel comfortable, challenged to grow, and empowered to take risks, explore and embrace being responsible for their learning and creativity.
05 Inquiries
Let’s begin a conversation.
Get in touch about performance bookings, funeral or wedding services, lessons, or anything else.