Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir to perform in free concert

The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir will perform in a free concert on Friday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Woolsey Hall, 500 College St.
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The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir will perform in a free concert on Friday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Woolsey Hall, 500 College St.

“Listen to the Lambs: Music from the African American Worship Experience” is the title of the event. There will be open seating, so guests are encouraged to arrive early.

The music ministry at The Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York is comprised of six choirs. The United Voices of Abyssinian is a “mass choir” of sorts that embodies the totality and unity of the music ministry, made up of men and women of all ages and from many different backgrounds and professions. They are brought together by their love for singing and their faith. The choir sings a wide range of repertoire including anthems and standard church literature, oratorios and major choral works, Negro spirituals, hymns (both in the Anglican tradition and the African American gospel tradition), gospel music (both contemporary and traditional), praise and worship music, inspirational pop music, and sacred jazz. In addition, there is a strong emphasis on sacred music of all genres by African American composers. The choir, which is led by James Davis Jr., Abyssinian’s director of music ministries and fine arts since 2008, has collaborated with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta, the New York Pops Orchestra under Skitch Henderson, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under Wynton Marsalis.

The Abyssinian Choir sang for the inauguration of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as at the Centennial Celebration of the New York Public Library. It has appeared at the Apollo Theater, Radio City Music Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Historical Society. The choir has also shared the stage with a plethora of artists from various genres including Jessye Norman, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Ashford and Simpson, John Legend, Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood, and Cyrus Chestnut.

Alumnus Nathaniel Gumbs M.M. ’11 will perform on the organ at the concert. The event is hosted by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. 

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Melissa Maier: melissa.maier@yale.edu, 203-432-3222