NCC's Gospel Extravaganza will lift your spirits
A quick chat with a Naperville newsmaker
The Voices of Praise Gospel Choir aims to inspire the audience at North Central College's 20th annual Gospel Extravaganza with its musical sound and meaningful messages.
The choir will perform, as will renowned gospel singer Tamela Mann, known for her stage and big screen roles with director and playwright Tyler Perry.
Choir co-president Latoyia Kimbrough is overseeing the spirit-lifting experience with a goal to sell out the thousand seats at Pfeiffer Hall.
Q. How would you define gospel for a person new to it?
A. Gospel is singing from the soul. We don't have an audition for Voices of Praise as with other choirs. It is for those who want to come together to share the Lord's praises. Everyone is welcome. It will be very entertaining.
Q. How did your choir begin, and is it all students?
A. Our choir is so diverse. We started under the guidance of the Black Student Association 20 years ago, but since we wanted everybody to be involved, shortly after we became our own identity. We now have a number of international students, recent alumni and other students.
Q. What is the size and make-up of the Voices of Praise choir?
A. We average 25 people and have three voices -- alto, tenor and soprano. We wear robes of red, black and white.
Q. Why does the college begin Martin Luther King week with the Gospel Extravaganza?
A. In the past, we did it at the end of the week, but this year we lead off the week. It is appropriate because King belonged to the Baptist Church and that is where gospel singing started. During the civil rights movement, people often used songs to overcome adversity.
Q. What takes place at the performance?
A. We will lead off with our choir director, Vinnie Hunley, and his wife, Candice, performing praise and worship. Then their church's youth choir will perform.
Our choir, Voices of Praise, will perform four songs. One of the numbers, "Let's Dance," is our theme song for the year. We also will perform "Glory and Honor," "Bettah" and "Awesome God."
Q. What will be done to commemorate the 20th anniversary?
A. We will recognize all the alumni of the Voices of Praise choir who helped in the past to get the choir to where it is now. We know how much time and energy they put into the choir and so we want to recognize that and tell them we really do appreciate their hard work. We also will have an alumni reception for them.
Q. How special is it to have Tamela Mann perform?
A. This will be an amazing show with her. She is an energetic performer and nationally known artist.
She is better known as "Cora," her stage name, and her work with Tyler Perry. She is a fantastic singer and is in the Kirk Franklin choir.
She touches everybody with her songs. Her songs tell people to push through their struggles and never give up. She also will sign her CDs.
Q. Are there other note-worthy performers?
A. Tamela Mann's husband, David Mann, will join her on stage. Before Tamela, Bryant Jones and Chosen choir, who have been with us the past three years, will perform. Our audiences respond well to him. He always gets the audience involved in music everybody knows.
Q. Do you need gospel experience to come?
A. My roommate came in freshman year and had no gospel experience. Later she said, "It was just amazing."
It is very energetic and everyone can relate to the songs. I encourage everybody to come and join in if they feel comfortable. We are a very welcoming choir and invite the audience to participate.
Since our songs are repetitive, people feel comfortable singing. We sing about things that everybody experiences in life.
-- Joan Broz
If you go
What: Gospel Extravaganza, with Voices of Praise Gospel Choir
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave.
Tickets: $12 adults and $10 student and senior citizen in advance; $15 at door.
Info: (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/x20266.xml