[metaslider id=4194]
REBECCA HALE
Reverb Editor
On Sunday evening, the Multipurpose Room (MPR) was filled with spirituality and warmth as Fredonia’s own Divine Sound Gospel Choir performed with special guests, the Buffalo State Spirit Gospel Choir. Though few were in attendance, the students present experienced not only an evening of beautiful music and entertainment but of worship.
Jasmine Bell, president of Divine Sound Gospel Choir and a junior applied music and arts administration major, explained that performing in the MPR was new for them, though the group has been around since 2001.
“We’re more prevalent now on campus because we’ve branched out,” she said. “Most of our performances have happened in Mason Hall, but we tried to move it to a venue where it’s accessible to everyone.”
Divine Sound took the stage at the start with “The Introduction” by Laos in Harmony. Afterward the group performed its most beautiful and powerful song of the evening, “One God Medley,” which was arranged by Fredonia’s own Lovely Philema. The piece featured Philema as a soloist, framed by four additional students singing backing vocals.
Their performance set the tone for the rest of the evening, as each singer performed passionately, with eyes closed at times, smiles on each face and arms outstretched in praise. The piece began as a lightly-framed solo and built in volume and intensity until it climaxed in such full harmony that anyone in the building might have gotten chills.
After the piece received a hearty round of applause, Philema stated, “God is good all the time,” and the audience echoed back, “all the time, God is good.”
Next, the Buffalo State Spirit Choir was welcomed to the stage to perform a piece, which was “The Storm” by James Hall. The piece featured jazzy minor chord harmonies and the repetition of the lyrics, “your storm will pass.”
Buffalo State’s choir performed in a more traditional gospel manner; choir members snapped their fingers and swayed while they sang. The choir was conducted by Lashaunda Motley and all percussion was done by Damon Duncan, with Malik Thomas on keyboard.
The program switched gears as the Dancers of Divinity assembled in front of the stage to perform a ballet piece to Jason Nelson’s “I Am.” Clad in flowing white dresses, the four dancers looked like angels, moving fluidly in unison to the low-key music.
To close the first half of the concert, Bell danced a solo piece to “That Name” by Yolanda Adams, which was contemporary and full of passion. She performed as if the Holy Spirit was moving through her in the way she moved and mouthed the words to the song.
Geoffrey Thompson, vice president of Divine Sound and a junior computer information systems major, said that the group wanted this concert to be more informal than past concerts, and stressed the openness of the group and atmosphere.
“It’s more down-to-earth than the typical feel associated with Gospel music,” he said. “It’s very come-as-you-are.”
After a brief intermission, Bell gave a personal testimony, revealing that she is a carrier of the trait for Sickle Cell Disease, and she had been hospitalized just a few days prior to the concert. She spent four days in the hospital, unable to move her arms or legs. She credits her swift recovery to Jesus, saying, “He is the source of my strength.” This transitioned into the next performance, which was “The Source” by Laos in Harmony.
Next on the program was “Worth” by Anthony Brown, sang by the Spirit Choir. This piece featured soloist Jean Michel, who sang soulfully and full of raw emotion, as did the rest of the choir. Even audience members were singing and improvising alongside the choir. It seemed as if they didn’t want this passionate piece to end.
The emotions continued to spill after the song ended. A prayer was said by Divine Sound member and senior Nia Drummond, and another testimony was given by a Buffalo State student who spoke of a dear friend who is currently serving active duty. Another student then took the microphone and continued to pray and give praise to God.
The prayer soon became a passionate sermon — the student continually shouted and repeated praises like “there is no one like Him,” and the audience hooted and hollered back. Almost everyone in the room was on their feet, praising God fervently. Eventually, Drummond had to intervene to calm everyone down, and she improvised singing into the microphone to bring the concert back to the scheduled program.
Finally, the Buffalo State Praise Dancers performed their piece, which was contemporary, like Bell’s solo. They wore dresses similar to those of Dancers of Divinity, but red. The concert came to a close with “Better is One Day” by Trey McLaughlin, performed by Divine Sound. This was a mashup of contemporary worship songs including “How Great is our God.”
It was an evening full of worship and praise, and it was clear that every individual, performer or not, seemed to portray the Holy Spirit working through them, through their body language and performances. There was not one moment of silence the entire evening, and similarly, there was not one soul who left the building untouched by the event.
Thompson said he wants to see Divine Sound grow in the future, both in numbers and outreach.
“Ideally, I would like to see [Divine Sound grow] bigger and maybe more active in the community,” he said. “Our goal is trying to get out into the community, and hav[ing] more of the campus and surrounding area know who we are.”