They sing. They clap their hands. They rock and move and sway. The Denison University Gospel Choir will perform “A Concert of Gospel Music and Spirituals” at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, in Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). The choir, under the direction of Raymond Wise ’83, will host a varied program of spirituals, traditional and contemporary gospel music.  

The program will include “Everybody Clap Your Hands,” “Glory and Honor,” “King of Kings,” “Shine The Light,” “Even Me” and others. The Rev. Frank Lane will assist Wise as a guest conductor with the gospel choir. Also featured on the program will be newly formed Denison Gospel Ensemble, a smaller auditioned group, also under the direction of Wise.

Formed in the spring of 2000, the Gospel Choir has grown from 26 members to over 100 members and is growing each semester.

All of the participants of this choir are enrolled in an African-American Gospel Music and Spirituals course in which they receive training in the performance and historical development of African-American Gospel as well as academic credit.

This multi-cultural choir is comprised of students, faculty and staff members of all races and nationalities from the Denison campus and local community. While a few members are music majors, the majority of the members are non-music majors who represent various academic majors and class levels.

Wise, the choir’s director, is founder and president of Raise Productions, a gospel music production company in Columbus. He also serves as a part-time member of the Music Department at Denison and teaches at The Ohio State University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville—Denison’s Gospel Choir performs “A Concert of Gospel Music and Spirituals,” 8 p.m., Wed., April 9, Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). Free and open to the public. To confirm, call 740-587-6220.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575