APU Gospel Choir showcases their artistry through an evening of gospel music, history and prayer

Last weekend, the Azusa Pacific University’s College of Music and the Arts hosted their 8th annual Gospel Music Heritage Concert in Munson Chapel.

Under the direction of Lavone Barnett-Seetal, 40 APU School of Music students sang to the theme, “Be Encouraged.”

Every year, the APU Gospel Choir hosts a heritage concert to pay tribute to gospel legends in history. The program notes state, “This concert follows the birth and history of gospel music and the role of the various genres and styles that contribute to shaping it into what it is today.”

Each song was introduced with the story behind the music. Members of the choir stood on the stage in front of a microphone, explaining how pockets of history influenced the song’s lyrics and sound. This feature was highly favored by audience members, as it helped the listeners understand the emotion behind each performance.

“I’m working on my masters here in music education,” Barnett-Seetal said. “My thesis is on a curricular approach to gospel choir. It’s a fun music, it’s a high-energy music, it’s wonderful.”

The concert began with a prayer, and was followed by William E. Becton Jr.’s “Be Encouraged.”

Lavone Barnett-Seetal opened the evening’s first song by emphasizing how we are to be encouraged, despite the discouraging or difficult situations going on here in our country and beyond.

As the choir sang, images of recent natural hurricane devastation were intended to flash on the screen behind them.

After the opening song, the choir sang pieces from the Folk-Spiritual and Arranged Spiritual, sub-genres of gospel music.

Sukwah Grace Lin, APU School of Music participant, composed a piece titled “Give Up the Old Man.” This original Gospel song was performed by the choir in Saturday’s concert as its first public performance debut. The song serves as a testimony of a slave during the era of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Both Traditional Gospel and Contemporary Gospel songs were sung throughout the second half of the concert. Both sub-genres render uniquely articulate musical style and composition.

“I feel like the concert was more about the cultural representation and history of gospel music and spirituals,” audience member and junior English major Roxanne Watson said. “I really enjoyed that the music was not necessarily meant to impress but to encourage and emote.”

The style of gospel music utilizes specific musical qualities like harmonic layering which built upon each other to serve as a unique intonation throughout a particular piece.

“I loved the choirs’ beautiful voices and the charismatic atmosphere the concert created,” audience member and junior psychology major Tori Jones said. “I was expecting to just sit and listen to the choir sing but instead they incorporated a historical aspect and group worship.”

The concert came to a close with a prayer and reprise of “Be Encouraged.”

“Professor Lavone is an incredible director,” Gospel Choir member Seth Wolfe said. “She has completely taken us under our wing. We’re basically one big family. We call her ‘Mama.’”

Wolfe was one of a handful of choir members who performed solos. Before many of the songs, he read a paragraph or two explaining their musicality.

“We’ve come a long way in years past and I’m super excited for what this year is going to hold,” Wolfe said. “We’ve got a lot of concerts planned.”

The APU Gospel Choir invites everyone to join them on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, CA for their next performance. A schedule of their other performances can be located on the School of Music’s website under “Concerts and Bookings.”