The holiday season is upon us once again, and all over campus students are beginning to celebrate. The AU Gospel Choir held its annual Christmas concert Thursday to celebrate not only presents and mistletoe, but more centrally, the birth of Jesus.
During the hour-long performance, the choir performed songs focused on their religious dedication to Christ. The talent of this group of singers was evident from the very first song, "I Just Can't Stop Praising His Name." There were several soloists that further demonstrated the choir's high level of ability on a number of songs. Shayna Hayes, Leon Dixon, Jessica Hollander, Ashley Carter and Bradley White were all stunning in their moments on stage. During their performances, the choir complemented their voices beautifully. Only their vocal quality and obvious training match the enthusiasm with which the choir members sing.
A gospel choir performance is not simply an auditory experience, but a physical one as well. The animation and excitement of the choir members is one that requires audience participation; it is nearly impossible to keep from getting up and dancing, especially since the choir encourages it. Even the most traditional Christmas song of the evening, "Carol of the Bells," was performed with a stamp of originality that set it apart from most other renditions, and the result was a wonderful blend of solemnity and soul.
Despite the overall religious theme of the performance, the choir can certainly be enjoyed by a secular audience. The vocal capabilities of the choir members far exceed any limits that may result from philosophical differences. From a purely musical standpoint, the talent and exuberance of the choir members make their performance worth seeing. Particularly on AU's campus, the Gospel Choir may be somewhat of a unique experience for members of the community, and that is all the more reason to seek it out.
The Gospel Choir has been in existence at AU for more than 15 years. Under the direction of Sylestea Sledge, the choir practices every Wednesday from 8:10 to 10:40. The choir is composed of three different aspects: It is simultaneously a performance group, a class taken for credit and a group for religious worship. It is a student-run group, led by President Tracee Wilson, and all are welcome to participate. The Gospel Choir has a number of off-campus performances each semester, in addition to its annual Christmas concert.
