GOSPEL CHOIR WELCOMES SINGERS OF ALL CULTURES AND FAITHS

UNITY, Lesley's cross-college gospel choir, is holding its last rehearsal for interested new members on Wednesday, February 5, 7-8:30 p.m. in Porter Exchange.

The choir welcomes singers of all backgrounds, from the entire Lesley community. From its beginning, UNITY has been a multicultural group coming together to sing music from the black church tradition. Women's College student Nakia Campbell began the gospel choir in 1993 so that all students, but especially students of color, would have a "spiritual home" at Lesley. This past fall, UNITY hired a professional director, Linda Brown-San Martin, who also leads gospel choirs at Bentley and Gordon Colleges and has directed choirs at Wellesley College, local churches and community agencies.

Currently, UNITY has 25 singers, a potpourri of students, staff, faculty, and even from the Board of Trustees. "This is the first time that an ongoing non-academic activity includes all segments of the Lesley community," reports Marlene Godfrey, dean of students.

UNITY is also an interfaith group of people from diverse backgrounds such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and the Native American church. Voluntary participation in invocations, prayers and/or silent meditation is offered at the opening and closing of each rehearsal.

Why gospel music, and why now? More people are discovering the joyful energy and spirituality of gospel music for themselves. But gospel music has a long history in this country. It is uniquely American music, arising out of the African-American experience in the post-slavery period.

Katherine Barone, UNITY's faculty advisor, finds a universal experience in gospel singing. "Gospel music is cathartic," she explains, " an emotional release. Choirs offer a way of connecting to a community, centered not on materialism and media-manipulated culture, but on the spirit."

UNITY student co-coordinator Jessica Midwood notes, "It's great to be part of such a diverse group whose only goal is to sing, as well as focus on our own individual spirituality. In the middle of a hectic week, it gives me the chance to meditate, sing, laugh -- just get it all out!"

The choir is for anyone who likes to sing. There are no auditions, but Director Brown-San Martin says that participants should be able to sing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on key. Rehearsals are held every Wednesday during the semester, 7-8:30 p.m. in Porter Exchange. Members must be willing to commit to all the rehearsals and/or be sure to know all the music in order to sing at each program. Tapes are left at the Kresge Center on reserve each week. Contact Katherine Barone, 349-8159.

The choir performs a spring concert at Lesley, and has been invited to sing at local churches and colleges. Those who miss rehearsals may be voice-tested in order to sing at a concert.

Lesley offers other opportunities for singers on campus. Collegium Musicum, directed by Paul Cummings, sings contemporary, secular and non-secular music. Course credit is offered, but it is not required to take the course to join the group. Rehearsals are every Tuesday, 4-6 p.m. Contact Paul Cummings, 349-8983.