Gospel Extravaganza wraps up MLK week at North Central

Growing up in Joliet, Danara Barlow and her family always loved - and sang - gospel music.

"I come from a family that sings, all the way up to my grandmother," Barlow said.

So when she finished her time at Joliet Junior College, moved to Wheaton and enrolled at North Central College, her first order of business on campus was to learn whether her new school had a gospel choir.

What she discovered was Voices of Praise, the group that hosts the school's annual Gospel Extravaganza, which will return for its 27th year at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.

Today, Barlow is the group's vice president, and she has been working feverishly with the other 14 members to bring this weekend's concert to the stage.

That means hours of practice, says North Central College Chaplain Eric Doolittle, along with reaching out to gospel acts across DuPage County to get them on the bill, too.

"They've really worked hard and it does take a high level of dedication," Doolittle said. "So not only do they spend several hours a week in rehearsal, they have to work with the student government and reach out to other acts. I'm very proud to get to work alongside of them."

The culmination of their efforts will be a show that includes not only performances by Voices of Praise, but also Nick Lathon and Unrestricted praise team; Alexandria McCain, a gospel soloist and co-director of the Mosaic Choir at Waubonsie Valley High School; Porta Harris with Praise Mime; and the New Era Choir from Joliet Central High School.

The DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church Voices of Praise Choir also will perform, with direction from 2007 North Central College alumna Sarah Homan.

The Gospel Extravaganza typically concludes the college's Martin Luther King Jr. week, as it does this year, or occurs during Black History Month.

Barlow said this is appropriate, since it's a festive event that finds its roots in African-American history.

"I think it's a big deal because it's a good way to wrap up the weeklong or monthlong celebration," she said. "Gospel is a huge part of African-American history, from the songs they sung during slavery through the civil rights movement, to uplift them from their circumstances, and now the tradition continues. Gospel music is a great tie-in."

The huge community support for the event is also reason to celebrate, Barlow says. She admits that when she joined Voices of Praise, she was unsure of how big of an audience the Gospel Extravaganza would draw in a city that is less than 5 percent black, according to city of Naperville data.

But the huge, multicultural crowd that came opened her eyes.

"I didn't expect it to be such a huge thing," she said. "But it shows the power of gospel music to bring people together. I thought to myself, 'This is amazing.'"

If you go

What: North Central College's 27th annual Gospel Extravaganza

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24

Where: Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville

Tickets: $15, $10 for students and seniors

Info: northcentralcollege.edu/showtix