34th African American Gospel Music Festival set for Nov. 3

10/22/2019 

Four guests will perform at the 34th African American Gospel Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 3, at SUNY Cortland.

The festival begins at 4 p.m. in Corey Union Function Room. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $2 for students and $5 for general admission. Donations to support the Gospel Choir Scholarship Fund are encouraged.

SUNY Oswego, Buffalo State S.P.I.R.I.T., Messengers of Christ, and Deion Patterson will participate in the festival, and festival host SUNY Cortland Gospel Choir, directed by Deyquan Bowens, Africana Studies Department.

Student Government Association Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Roman Rodriguez will extend the welcome on behalf of the College. Pastor Rita Wright from God’s Light House of Praise will present the invocation.

A mass choir comprised of all groups will come together and sing part of the grand finale. Musicians for the festival will be Deyquan Bowens playing keyboard, Benjamin Terry on drums and Thomas Carter on bass. A reception will follow in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge.

The choir is excited to prepare for their Spring Tour to Bridgetown, Barbados in March 2020.

The SUNY Cortland Gospel Choir is a part of the College’s Africana Studies Department. The choir is supported by the Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies, Alumni Engagement, the Cortland College Foundation, the Division of Student Affairs, the President’s Office, Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office, and the student activity fee.

For more information, contact Gospel Choir advisor Lima Stafford at 607-753-4895, or Seth Asumah or Deyquan Bowens in the Africana Studies Department.