What began in 1972 as the West Campus Gospel Choir will celebrate its 30th anniversary tomorrow night as the Boston University Inner-Strength Gospel Choir with a performance at Marsh Chapel, initiating of a series of events celebrating the group’s anniversary.
Tomorrow night’s concert will help raise money for other planned anniversary events, which include a February trip to Chicago. They will also use the money to host a weekend reunion celebration in April with a choir from Des Moines, Iowa. They have performed in Memphis, Tenn. and Washington, D.C. in past years.
The group is comprised of almost 60 students and plans to sing a variety of gospel songs over the course of their anniversary tour, including one entitled ‘It’s Time to Give Him Praise,’ written by a group member.
Samuel Nieva, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said the song was ‘one of his favorites.’
The group practices every Sunday night for three hours and sings at churches in the Boston area about twice a month, according to Nieva. He said the choir has sung at churches including Massachusetts Avenue Baptist, Western Avenue Baptist and Exodus Faith Ministry. Director David Coleman has held his position for the last 10 years.
College of General Studies sophomore Gregory Milard said though most of the members of the choir come in with no experience singing gospel, they learn quickly.
‘I had no background in gospel singing and there were no auditions,’ Milard said. ‘But we sound good as long as all our voices come together.’
Group members said although the songs they will sing at the performance at Marsh Chapel would not necessarily be sung during the Chicago tour, the concert would be good preparation.
‘The fall concert will be a great opportunity for us to share our singing with the BU community and larger Boston community,’ said Lauren Moore, a CAS senior and the gospel choir president. ‘It will give us a chance to focus and bond as a choir before our trip.’
Jaime Sua, a CAS senior and the tour coordinator, said he has never been to Chicago but has always wanted to go.
‘It’s a large city, and I’ve never been to the Midwest,’ Sua said. ‘It will be a great chance to see a lot of churches and meet a lot of religious people.’
Ai Lu, a CAS sophomore who is in charge of corporate sponsorship, said the choir must raise about $30,000 in order for all 60 members of the choir to go to Chicago. The group is contacting the Education Resource Center, the Board of Trustees and the Student Union Senate to raise the money, according to Nieva.
