Ebony N. Drake was born on February 1, 1982 in Stugarrt, Germany to Rev. James Drake and Sandra Drake.  She is one of four girls.  Ebony has always loved singing.  She sang her first solo at the age of five with the children’s choir of Friendly Church of God in Christ in Augusta, GA. 
                             

Ebony has been in church all of her life.  Her father was military, which meant a lot of moving for the family.  Her father later retired in Newport News, VA.  There, Ebony became very active in various activities at her new church home, New Beech Grove Baptist Church.  She loved praise dancing and singing in the youth choir the most!  She later became an assistant to the director of the 50 member youth choir.

Ebony not only enjoyed singing and dancing in church, but she enjoyed these things in school as well.  She attended Denbigh High School in Newport News, VA where she participated in several choral groups which are as follows:  Show Choir- president and head choreographer, Essence- an all girls group, Troubadours- an elect 20 member ensemble, and Concert Choir.  She also participated in district, state, and nationwide competitions placing in all three.

Ebony graduated with honors from Denbigh High School in 2000 and went on to pursue a degree in Psychology with an Education track from Virginia Commonwealth University.  After graduating from VCU, Ebony went on to teach pre-kindergarten for two years and is currently working as a Family Development Specialist with Family Lifeline in Richmond, VA. 

Ebony joined the VCU Black Awakening Choir in the fall semester of 2001.  She became the vice president in 2003, president in 2004, an assistant advisor in 2005, and onto assistant director.  She has also been a section leader throughout the years.  Ebony has been through the good the bad and the ugly with this choir, and she remains yet another year.  Ebony loves the Lord and is determined to do the work of the Lord; for it is he that made us and not we ourselves.  She believes in the power of God and she is ready for another wonderful year of excellence in ministry with the Black Awakening Choir.  Her favorite verse is taken from Psalms 121: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from which cometh my help, my help cometh from the LORD.”