Lift Up the Gospel Choir to Sing

"The Gospel Choir is a great class. It allowed me to work towards dreams I've had since before I could talk. It taught me how to grow in the skills that are more challenging for me. The class will make you think and challenge you in good ways. It builds a sense of community and allows you to grow in music culturally. Without it, you only have one side of music." 

-Dr. Michelle Ryan (Alumni of Gospel Choir)

The Fresno State Gospel Choir is a collective and collaborative effort to lift up student voices and engage in a dynamic active-learning process to create, inspire, empower, and transform through the power of the African American Gospel tradition. The Gospel Choir is an excellent recruiting tool for the university showcasing the performance and talent of Fresno State students while promoting an understanding of African American culture with performances at local churches, schools, and colleges and potential participation in annual university events such as the African American Student Recruitment Conference and the African American Graduation Ceremony.

The choir began in the 1970s to introduce performances of a variety of inspirational songs reflecting the African American cultural experience. Open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members, the choir includes a diverse group of believers from different ethnic, racial, cultural, and national backgrounds. Participation is required through rehearsals, activities, programs, and field trips. Some of the popular songs recently practiced and performed by the Gospel Choir include Mahalia Jackson’s “How I Got Over,” James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” “Jesus, Be a Fence,” “You Fight On,” “Nobody Greater” and South Africa’s national anthem “Nkosi Sikelel' Afrika” to celebrate the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic elections in April 1994.

"The Fresno State Gospel choir combines culture, spirituality, and music fostering a sense of community and inspiration."

-Dr. Asia Smith 

Student members of the Gospel Choir earn academic credit through enrollment in the Gospel Choir class (AFRS 121/Music 102GC) offered through the Africana Studies Program and the Music Department. In this course, students receive training not only in performance techniques but also study the historical development of African-American gospel music. Your donation will help support the further growth and productivity of the Gospel Choir to make a new recording and gain new experiences performing at a professional studio.