S.C. Adopts Choral Anthem Written by Winthrop Alumnus (05/27/26)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The song, "While I Breathe, I Hope," that James Kevin Gray wrote more than a decade ago was voted on as the state's official choral anthem.
• After an early push, effort was renewed in 2025 through House Bill 3949. It ultimately passed the House and Senate before being signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster on May 15, 2026.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Winthrop University alumnus James Kevin Gray '99 received news this month that he had been waiting on for years.

The song, "While I Breathe, I Hope," that he wrote more than a decade ago was voted on by the S.C. General Assembly as the state's official choral anthem. Listen to the official choral anthem here.

Gray shared the anthem publicly for several years through local performances and online recordings. The first of the recordings was by fellow Winthrop alumnus Jay Forrest '87, '90, and his choir, the Clover High School Choraliers.

He then reached out to State Rep. John King after meeting him at a community event in Rock Hill. Impressed by King's vision and love for South Carolina, he enlisted King's help.

King introduced the first bill proposing that the song be made the official South Carolina state anthem and continued to support the initiative for the past decade. "Without him, this would not have been possible," Gray said.

In 2025, the effort was renewed through House Bill 3949. State Rep. Adam Duncan, a friend of Gray's from high school, joined in supporting the legislation, which ultimately passed the House and Senate before being signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster on May 15, 2026. With the governor's signature, the song was officially designated "While I Breathe, I Hope" as the State Choral Anthem.

Gray Taken Music Director's Job in France

Gray couldn't attend the signing because he has recently moved to France to work as director of music ministries at the American Church in Paris. He said he is profoundly grateful to the legislators, educators, conductors, students and citizens who believed in the piece over the years. "What began as a local musical offering slowly became something much larger through the support of many people across the state," he said.

It was written in 2013 while Gray was serving as minister of music at River Hills Community Church in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Then Governor Nikki Haley was coming to speak at a local gathering, prompting Gray to begin thinking about what kind of musical gift could properly honor both the occasion and the state that has always been home to him.

During a drive through the South Carolina countryside, the idea suddenly came to him to write a state anthem rooted in the state motto, "Dum Spiro Spero," translated as "While I Breathe, I Hope."

"The inspiration came from a deep love for South Carolina itself: the mountains and foothills where I was born in Westminster, the beauty of Charleston and the coast, the small towns, the churches, the people, and the generations of families who helped shape the state," Gray said.

Anthem Viewed as Deeply Personal

His family's roots in South Carolina go back to before the Revolutionary War, so the piece was never simply an artistic exercise. "It was deeply personal," he said. "I wanted to write something that reflected hope, resilience, unity and a sense of shared identity."

Gray said both the music and lyrics came together very quickly, almost as though it already existed and simply needed to be written down. "Within about a day, the full anthem was complete in manuscript form," he said.

South Carolina already had an official state song, "Carolina," with lyrics written by Henry Timrod. Its lyrics were written around the time of the American Civil War, Gray said, and certainly represented the beliefs of that era. Gray wanted to write a piece that could speak to the present and future of the state while still honoring its history.

"Choral music has long been part of South Carolina's cultural and spiritual life, and I hoped this anthem could become something people would sing together during meaningful civic and educational occasions," he said. "I want our children to actually know what our Latin motto means."

The phrase "While I Breathe, I Hope" expresses something universal. Hope belongs to everyone. In a time when so many things can divide us, Gray wanted the anthem to remind people that despite our differences, we share a common future and a common love for home.

Anthem is Versatile for Performances

He hopes the anthem will be sung in schools, universities, civic celebrations, festivals, concerts and state events for generations to come. "One of the most meaningful aspects of this journey has been hearing young singers embrace the work," Gray said.

Early performances came from choirs connected to Winthrop, York County schools and community ensembles. High school and college conductors such as Jay Forrest, Phil Suggs and Kathy Kinsey, professor emerita of music at Winthrop, helped bring the anthem to audiences across the state. In 2022, it was featured as a virtual choral project by the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association.

"As a composer and son of South Carolina, I cannot imagine a greater honor than contributing something musical to the story of the state I love," Gray said. "My hope is that this anthem reminds future generations that hope, unity and possibility are part of South Carolina's identity."

For more information, please contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at [email protected].