The University’s Gospel Choir won first place last week at the Disney Gospel Choir Fest at Epcot Center in Florida for the second consecutive year, beating out 11 other choirs whose members were worthy adversaries@@http://insideoregon.uoregon.edu/uo-gospel-singers-have-wild-ride-at-disney-world/@@.
“It was tough because there was some really good competition,” said Andiel Brown@@http://www.uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/Andiel*Brown@@, director of the gospel choir. “Everyone was very talented; strong voices — it could have gone any way.”
“We got to spend time with 30 friends at Disney World, we won against our competition and we got to sing for a huge crowd of enthusiastic gospel music fans,” said Ella Greene@@no listing@@, first-year member of the gospel singers. “That’s something that’s not always easy to find in Oregon.”
The University Gospel Choir is composed of over 60 singers on average; however, this summer they traveled with only 24 members. All members of the choir are either students or former students of the University.
“I have always been in choirs of some sort,” eight-year member Sarah Luther said, “but the UO Gospel Singers have kept me coming back because of the power of the music we sing and because of how the members of the choir have become like family.”
The choir typically travels to schools, churches and events — even the Oregon State Capitol on multiple occasions — to spread their message of hope and spirituality through song.
“Gospel is very spiritual, sacred music,” Brown said. “It’s indigenous to Americans. It started with the African-American slaves, and the purpose is to uplift the soul and to give glory. The subject matter (of gospel music) is always spiritual.”
The University Gospel Singers performed three songs before the judges and crowd at Disney’s Epcot Center, including “Let the Praise Begin,” “Well Done” and “Joyful, Joyful.”
“I feel like this year more was at stake for us,” Luther said. “I felt like we had to work twice as hard to be able to have a chance to win. I think they knew a little bit more of what to expect from us, whereas last year we kind of had the element of surprise on our side.”
The gospel section of the University’s School of Music and Dance is broken up into three sections@@http://music.uoregon.edu/programareas/ensembles/gospel.htm@@. The first, the University Gospel Choir, is an open, all-comers-welcome choir for any student who wants to join in singing gospel. The University Gospel Ensemble is aimed at those gospel singers who have a background in the tradition of gospel music and are accepted after an audition. The third group, which won at the Disney Fest, is the University Gospel Singers, composed of an elite group of gospel singers from both the choir and ensemble.
“We had to overcome so many obstacles and persevere through everything that was against us,” Brown added. “It was a testament that if you believe and you keep pushing through you can accomplish anything.”
“I have always been in choirs of some sort,” eight-year member Sarah Luther said, “but the UO Gospel Singers have kept me coming back because of the power of the music we sing and because of how the members of the choir have become like family.”
The choir typically travels to schools, churches and events — even the Oregon State Capitol on multiple occasions — to spread their message of hope and spirituality through song.
“Gospel is very spiritual, sacred music,” Brown said. “It’s indigenous to Americans. It started with the African-American slaves, and the purpose is to uplift the soul and to give glory. The subject matter (of gospel music) is always spiritual.”
The University Gospel Singers performed three songs before the judges and crowd at Disney’s Epcot Center, including “Let the Praise Begin,” “Well Done” and “Joyful, Joyful.”
“I feel like this year more was at stake for us,” Luther said. “I felt like we had to work twice as hard to be able to have a chance to win. I think they knew a little bit more of what to expect from us, whereas last year we kind of had the element of surprise on our side.”
The gospel section of the University’s School of Music and Dance is broken up into three sections@@http://music.uoregon.edu/programareas/ensembles/gospel.htm@@. The first, the University Gospel Choir, is an open, all-comers-welcome choir for any student who wants to join in singing gospel. The University Gospel Ensemble is aimed at those gospel singers who have a background in the tradition of gospel music and are accepted after an audition. The third group, which won at the Disney Fest, is the University Gospel Singers, composed of an elite group of gospel singers from both the choir and ensemble.
“We had to overcome so many obstacles and persevere through everything that was against us,” Brown added. “It was a testament that if you believe and you keep pushing through you can accomplish anything.”
