AURORA - Wells College community members opened up their arms this weekend, inviting others to come and join them in singing some gospel music.
Friday and Saturday marked the Fourth Annual Wells College Gospel Choir Weekend Workshop and Concert.
The gospel weekend allows people from all over to come to the Aurora campus to learn and sing some of the gospel music popular in many African American churches in the South.
Joining the Wells College Core Gospel Choir were choirs from Hamilton College and local churches in Aurora and Union Springs.
Also contributing to the weekend's events were Rev. Kirk Hatcher, a choral director from Montgomery, Ala., and gospel pianist Ed "Chief" Menifee, from Atlanta.
The Rev. Karen Green, who is the dean of students at Wells, has worked with Hatcher and Menifee at some of her previous jobs. She said they do a wonderful job teaching gospel music at events like this all over the country.
Green herself is a significant part of the gospel weekend at Wells College. Her previous job as dean of students at Hamilton College helped her bring singers from that school to the gospel weekend every year. Green said the weekend means a great deal to her personally.
"Even though I'm the dean of students, this weekend is more to me than that," Green said. "I see this as a part of my ministry, at Wells (College) and the Aurora Community."
The gospel weekend began Friday and culminated with a performance Saturday night of the music that was taught all weekend.
Friday night and Saturday morning are reserved for rehearsals.
Even though the music is one of the most significant parts of the gospel weekend, perhaps the message being portrayed by the music is more important, those in attendance said.
Vanessa Spears, Wells College Class of 2007 and appointed director of the gospel weekend, discussed how getting the message of the ministry out to the people is a crucial part of the event.
"We sing the songs to give out a message," Spears said. "And that message is about love, hope and Christianity - that there is a higher power above us that guides us."
Those interested in the gospel weekend need not worry that they've missed their only chance to participate. In the fall, members of the Wells College and greater Aurora community return the favor to Hamilton College by participating in their gospel weekend.
The gospel weekend allows people from all over to come to the Aurora campus to learn and sing some of the gospel music popular in many African American churches in the South.
Joining the Wells College Core Gospel Choir were choirs from Hamilton College and local churches in Aurora and Union Springs.
Also contributing to the weekend's events were Rev. Kirk Hatcher, a choral director from Montgomery, Ala., and gospel pianist Ed "Chief" Menifee, from Atlanta.
The Rev. Karen Green, who is the dean of students at Wells, has worked with Hatcher and Menifee at some of her previous jobs. She said they do a wonderful job teaching gospel music at events like this all over the country.
Green herself is a significant part of the gospel weekend at Wells College. Her previous job as dean of students at Hamilton College helped her bring singers from that school to the gospel weekend every year. Green said the weekend means a great deal to her personally.
"Even though I'm the dean of students, this weekend is more to me than that," Green said. "I see this as a part of my ministry, at Wells (College) and the Aurora Community."
The gospel weekend began Friday and culminated with a performance Saturday night of the music that was taught all weekend.
Friday night and Saturday morning are reserved for rehearsals.
Even though the music is one of the most significant parts of the gospel weekend, perhaps the message being portrayed by the music is more important, those in attendance said.
Vanessa Spears, Wells College Class of 2007 and appointed director of the gospel weekend, discussed how getting the message of the ministry out to the people is a crucial part of the event.
"We sing the songs to give out a message," Spears said. "And that message is about love, hope and Christianity - that there is a higher power above us that guides us."
Those interested in the gospel weekend need not worry that they've missed their only chance to participate. In the fall, members of the Wells College and greater Aurora community return the favor to Hamilton College by participating in their gospel weekend.
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