Gospel Choir to Perform April 21 in Corey Union

04/16/2013 

The SUNY Cortland Gospel Choir, which recently returned from its spring 2013 tour to Washington, D. C., and Maryland, will present a repertoire of contemporary and traditional gospel selections at its annual spring concert on Sunday, April 21.

Some of the group’s favorite pieces will be performed, beginning at 4 p.m. in Corey Union Function Room. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Admission is $3 for students and $5 for the general audience. Families with children are welcome. Complimentary tickets are available on a need basis. The proceeds will go to the Gospel Choir Scholarship and Programming Funds.

Highlighting the event will be pianist Dorothy Thomas ’77 of Cortland, student soloists Jason Carriero, Khalia Brown and Deston Hudson, and the Gospel Choir band, Gospel Chocolate.

Thomas will perform a praise medley that includes “How Great Thou Art,” from her recently produced CD, “Honor and Praise.” The Gospel Choir’s first-half selections will include “Press Toward the Mark” and “Battlefield,” by Norman Hutchins, with Carriero as soloist; “The Best in Me,” by Marvin Sapp, with Hudson as soloist; and “Alpha and Omega,” by Israel Houghton. Additional selections for the second half will include “Perfect Praise,” by Richard Smallwood, with Brown as soloist; “Melodies from Heaven,” by Kirk Franklin; “No Limit,” by West Angeles Mass Choir, with Hudson as soloist; and “Just Want to Praise You,” by Maurette Brown Clark. 

The performance will be directed by Robert Brown, a lecturer in Africana studies at the College. Brown also teaches music in the Syracuse (N.Y.) City School District and is the music director of the New Life Community Church.

Choir musicians are Andy Rudy, Reginal Siegler and Benjamin Terry, all from Syracuse, and Jamie Yaman from Cortland.

Recognition will include the announcement of the Dorothy Shatzky Award winner, to be presented by Joel Shatzky, professor emeritus of English. Other presentations include awarding certificates to graduating seniors and the 2013-14 Gospel Choir Scholarship winners by Seth Asumah, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and chair of the Africana Studies Department. 

The program is sponsored by the SUNY Cortland Africana Studies Department, Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies, Alumni Affairs Office, Cortland College Foundation, Division of Student Affairs, President’s Office, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs’ Office, and student activity fee.

For more information, contact Asumah by email or phone at 607-753-2064; or email Hudson, Brown or Deborah Dintino.