This week I get to be a groupie and hit the road with one of my favorite choirs, the American Spiritual Ensemble. During this tour, the ensemble will complete residencies at Concordia College, Luther College, and Bethel University.
Well, who IS the American Spiritual Ensemble?
Founded by Dr. Everett McCorvey in 1995, the American Spiritual Ensemble aims to keep the American Negro Spiritual alive. Composed of classical music's finest singers, it has received worldwide acclaim for its renditions and performed in theaters and opera houses everywhere -- including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, The Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall, as well as abroad in Italy, Germany, Britain, Scotland, Spain, China, and Japan.
In my opinion, they are a collection of extraordinarily gifted soloists who can sing opera, musical theater, jazz, Broadway, you name it; they can pretty much sing anything! And what's so exciting about having them tour the region is they'll be delivering some of the most authentic performance of spirituals that Minnesota and Iowa have probably ever seen.
If you are in one of the areas listed below, you should run to get your tickets to hear this world-class choir perform some of your all-time favorite spirituals!
Concert Dates
• Tuesday, April 5, 8 p.m.; Memorial Auditorium, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.; ticket information
• Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m.; Luther College, Center for Faith and Life, Decorah, Iowa; ticket information
• Sunday, April 10, 4 p.m.; Benson Hall, Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn.; ticket information
The Bethel performance will be broadcast live on Classical MPR and recorded for future use.
If you want to learn more about the American Spiritual Ensemble and hear them sing in this week's episode of Sing to Inspire, click the audio player above. Also, please check out the American Spiritual Ensemble documentaries below.
#SingToInspire Performance of the Week
Walk Together Children - arr. W. Henry Smith
American Spiritual Ensemble, performer
Everett McCorvey, conductor
Check out these previous episodes of #SingToInspire
Sing to Inspire: Celebration of the Spiritual - Vol. 1
Sing to Inspire: Celebration of the Spiritual - Vol. 2
Sing to Inspire: Celebration of the Spiritual - Vol. 3
Sing to Inspire: Celebration of the Spiritual - Vol. 4
Sing to Inspire: History of the Morehouse College Glee Club
Sing to Inspire: Precious Lord
Sing to Inspire: Wanting Memories
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