Morehouse, Spelman College glee clubs on singing with the Tabernacle Choir

Publish date: 2024-05-22

When Kevin Johnson, director of the Spelman College Glee Club, heard about the collaboration with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and the Spelman College and Morehouse College glee clubs, he thought, “Here God goes again.”

It may seem like a coincidence to some, Johnson said. But when opportunities like this seem to come out of nowhere, he sees it as “God getting His work done.”

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and 30 singers each from the Morehouse College Glee Club and the Spelman College Glee Club will be singing together during the “Music & the Spoken Word” program on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 9:30 a.m. (See below for information on how to watch in-person in the Salt Lake Tabernacle or via television or streaming options.) On Friday, Oct. 20, the directors and several students from both clubs spoke about their experiences. 

Morehouse College and Spelman College are private, historically Black liberal arts colleges for men and women, respectively, in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Morehouse College Glee Club is the college’s premier singing organization and has traveled around the world, demonstrating excellence not only in choral performance but also in discipline, dedication and brotherhood, according to the Tabernacle Choir’s release earlier this week. Similarly, the historic Spelman College Glee Club has maintained a reputation for choral excellence since 1924.

Each glee club is singing a song with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra — a spiritual from the African American experience, said David Morrow, director of the Morehouse College Glee Club. 

“We’re excited about adding that to the absolutely wonderful anthems and things that we’re doing with the Tabernacle Choir,” Morrow said. 

Johnson, the director with the Spelman College Glee Club, said that the club will be celebrating 100 years next year. And as they have started a year-long celebration leading up to the centennial with videos on their YouTube channel and other events, he asks two things before they do an event: Is it necessary? Is it effective?

And the answer for both questions with collaborating with the Tabernacle Choir was yes.  

“I’m a believer in the power of coming together as people and choral music allow us to do so,” Johnson said, adding “We are loving it.” 

Johnson said that he’s grateful they are “coming together in faith and love and providing hope” through music. 

Gabrielle Campbell, of Roswell, Georgia, who is in her fourth year singing with the Spelman College Glee Club, is the club president and sings second soprano. She said she didn’t know what to expect from the experience.

When they went to the Tabernacle, she said they sang a few notes from their song. “It just echoed and echoed and echoed, and hearing that was something that I hadn’t heard before to that extreme,” said Campbell, who is a senior majoring in English and minoring in film and visual studies. 

Also, during rehearsal, she said hearing so many voices behind them was a unique experience, too. 

“Being able to hear people singing the same notes that you have been singing a week before, practicing and singing it together with the orchestra, … it was just a very beautiful and very religious experience as well,” she said. 

Elycia Woodham, of Lorton, Virginia, is a student conductor with the Spelman College Glee Club. 

“What was so wonderful, actually, was just all of the love and the excitement, and in the joy that we received from the Tabernacle Choir members who greeted us, and all the stuff that has helped us along the way has been fantastic,” said Woodham, who is a senior majoring in music and minoring in political science and is on the prelaw track. “We have felt loved and wanted since we stepped off the plane.” 

Jordan Stewart, of Atlanta, Georgia, who sings bass, is in his third year of singing with the Morehouse College Glee Club and serves as the public relations manager. 

“I’m so excited to hear our combined voices and really make fabulous, extravagant music,” said Stewart, who is a junior majoring in music. During Thursday’s rehearsal, he said it was “surreal” to sing with that many people. 

“It was phenomenal. The energy was there. It felt very inviting. We’ve felt very welcome here.” 

Lesh’In Edwards, of Lithonia, Georgia, who sings first tenor, has been singing with the glee club for seven semesters. He is a senior majoring in music, with an emphasis on vocal performance and choral conducting. He first heard the Tabernacle Choir when he saw a YouTube video of them performing “Betelehemu.”

Edwards initially studied engineering with a concentration in architectural design and switched to music. He was impressed with Tabernacle and hearing the acoustics in the pioneer-era building. 

“The acoustics are very alive; it’s amazing,” he said, adding how “it’s perfect for bouncing off the sound. … It’s beautiful.”

There are a variety of religious backgrounds represented in both clubs, which are different from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra. 

Simone Moales, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who sings second soprano, is in her third year of singing with the Spelman College Glee Club and is also the club’s vice president.

Rather than the different faiths creating a division, Moales said it can be “a bridge for us to continue to spread love, continue to spread unity and understanding that it is our faith that will bring us together and it is our faith that will keep us together despite its differences.”

Moales said that when she saw everyone singing the same songs, she had a feeling of unity. “Music is the great equalizer. It’s what we’ll always keep us together,” she said. 

Morrow, director of the Morehouse College Glee Club, said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity. The Tabernacle Choir’s reputation is worldwide.” He added that Morehouse College Glee Club has also been able to sing in different areas of the world. Morrow said he hopes they can show unity and diversity and bring hope in Sunday’s performance. 

“If the rehearsal [Thursday] is any indication, it should be a wonderful program,” Morrow said. 

After singing in “Music & the Spoken Word” and the mini-concert, they are singing Sunday at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City before they fly out in the afternoon. 

How to watch ‘Music & the Spoken Word’

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