Donnell LaRoque Patterson is chair of the Gospel Music department in New England Conservatory’s (NEC) School of Preparatory and Continuing Education.  He also directs the NEC Community Gospel Choir.

Since 2006, Donnell has served as the Director of Music for both the Upper and Lower Schools at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, MA.

From 2002 to 2006 prior to joining the Belmont Hill School, Donnell was Program Director of the Roland Hayes School of Music in the Boston Public Schools. Previously, Donnell was an elementary and high school music educator in the Cambridge Public Schools, beginning in 1982. He has also served as Acting Assistant Director of Music in the Cambridge Public Schools.

In 2014, Donnell joined as the Director of Boston community gospel choir, Joyful Voices of Inspiration.   In addition, for over 20 years, he has been Minister of Music at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cambridge, MA.