STARKVILLE — If you”re a fan of gospel music, you”re in for a treat Saturday.
Peter”s Rock Temple Church of God in Christ on Highway 182 will host a free gospel concert at 6 p.m. Saturday. Brandon Mitchell and Natchez-based gospel group S.W.AP. (Singers With A Purpose) will perform with the Peter”s Rock choir for approximately three hours.
Peter”s Rock has hosted the free concert every other year for the past 15 years. The goal, according to organizer Cornice McGee, is to unite choirs and church groups from across the Golden Triangle.
“This is a blessing for people who are Baptist, Methodist or whatever denomination,” McGee said.
The 10-member S.W.AP. formed in 2006 when lifelong singer Mitchell, from Yazoo County, completed his music performance degree at Alcorn State. S.W.A.P released a self-financed live album titled “I Feel a Move” earlier this year. They”ve been featured on BET.com and will guest record on the Jackson Southernaires” upcoming album.
“This concert will be a special time of praise, worship and adoration for the Lord through song,” McGee said.
Thursday marked the first of a two-day gospel choir workshop at the church, led by co-founder of the Mississippi Mass Choir David R. Curry Jr. Curry was named “Musician of the Year” and “Choir Director of the Year” by the Mississippi Music Awards Association in 1982 and ”83, respectively. He”s written and produced recordings for the MMC, Keith Pringle and the Rev. James Moore.
Part of Curry”s efforts to advance gospel music is to hold workshops for church choirs looking to strengthen their sound and direction. The two-day workshop covers articulation, breathing, endurance and posture for vocalists and provides tips for training and nurturing voices for multiple performances.
“We”re very excited to learn new material from different choirs,” Peter”s Rock Choir President Leanoria Mason said. “They”re bringing a different style of directing and singing that we can glean from and use in our three choirs.”
Choir musicians also will get direction for how to sharpen their sound, but the biggest issue choirs often face is overpowering musicians, Curry said. According to Curry, there”s often a battle between musicians and vocalists over who “shines” during a performance. Such struggles for attention, combined with gospel music”s continuous influence from mainstream music, has watered down the genre.
“A lot of choirs have changed because of secular music, which has polluted it,” Curry said. “Some songs will have ”He” instead of ”Jesus,” yet it is considered gospel; God is not the pronoun.
“The biggest thing choirs are lacking are dedication, realization and having a full commitment to God. That”s what I”ve experienced. They tell me you”re never gonna get 100 percent of anybody, but can we get as close as we can?”
Curry said there”s a distinction, albeit fine one, between being overly influenced by mainstream music and appreciating it. In that vein, he won”t discourage young singers from listening to it but he”ll remind them gospel music stands along from other genres.
“Some people have the wrong motives when they make gospel music,” Curry said. “A lot of people have to understand we serve a jealous God. It”s similar to why a lot of people get into secular music. Gospel music must remain a form of ministry.”
Peter”s Rock Youth Minister of Music Kennetra Floyd hopes choirs who participate in the workshop get Curry”s message. She”s excited to perform Saturday after two days of instruction from Curry.
“I think it will really help us,” Floyd said. “Just because we live in Mississippi don”t mean we have to sound like it. We need to understand the dynamics and become a better ministry as a whole. For some people music ministry is the whole way they can understand. That”s a big responsibility.”
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