Gospel Music Week debuts at CSULB, uniting campus and community

In a cathedral-ceilinged choir room at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, the voices of student singers swelled and soared under the guidance of visiting artist Ananias "Markey" Montague. Seated at the piano, Montague had just distributed the sheet music for "Hosanna," a stirring gospel song he had composed himself. As the choir built toward a crescendo, the room seemed to transform into a space of reverence.

"We worship you today ...," the choir sang.

"Good!" Montague called out.

"We worship you today ..."

"Uh-huh, good!"

"Hos-a-a-nnaaa ..."

The rehearsal offered a glimpse of what's to come during CSULB's inaugural Gospel Music Week, which will unfold during the final week of Black History Month and conclude with a community performance on March 1, open to anyone and everyone who would like to join.

Spearheaded by Daria-Yvonne Jackson Graham, associate vice president of Student Success and Engagement, the weeklong celebration aims to create a united gospel choir bybringing together students, alumni, faculty, several local church choirs and members of the Long Beach community.

"Gospel music is a powerful tool to build community and understand the spirit and the heart," said Graham, herself a pastor's daughter and skilled gospel singer. She has a deep personal connection to the project - and to Montague, having known him for 30 years. Montague even tapped her to sing a solo during the choir's run-through of "Hosanna."

Daria-Yvonne Jackson Graham, associate vice president of Student Affairs, lends her voice as a soloist during the run-through of "Hosanna," an original composition written by Ananias Montague.

The maestro and the mission

A musician, producer and the minister of music at the largest Black church in Nebraska - Omaha's Salem Baptist Church - Montague was a natural choice to lead the initiative, Graham said.

"I immediately thought of him, not only because he is a maestro in his own right and an artist and producer who crosses genres, but also because he loves individuals," she said. "He does not meet a stranger. And the goal of Gospel Music Week is to build a bridge between Long Beach and the community."

Having been tapped to help lead CSULB's inaugural Gospel Music Week, Montague shares snippets of famous gospel songs for choral students in the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music.

The plan is for 95 choral students, including theBob Cole Chamber Choir,to be joined by other university ensembles, local church singers, high schoolers from Long Beach Unified School District, and members of the public. The group will rehearse weekday evenings and perform the following Sunday in what is billed as the Gospel Music Workshop Concert.

Importantly, no auditions are required, and singers of any skill level - or none at all - are welcome. That means seasoned vocalists may be standing next to "people who can't hold a tune," Graham said, and that's the idea. The community choir is meant to foster inclusivity and open the door for anyone moved by the music.

That's just the way gospel was always meant to be enjoyed, Montague said in his opening remarks to the choral students.

Montague, visiting from Omaha, leads an engaging discussion about the evolution of gospel music and its ability to pull people together from all walks of life.

Gospel's roots: Songs of survival, hope

Indeed, he said, unlike traditional hymns, which originated thousands of years ago, gospel's origins can be traced back to the struggles of enslaved people in the American South. They were not only songs of worship; they were songs of survival, hope and coded messages of escape.

"My ancestors used gospel music - what we called Negro Spirituals - as a way of communication," Montague told the class. "There's a song called 'Follow the Drinking Gourd,' which was a message of where they could route their escape toward freedom. There's a song we used to sing in church a lot called 'Get Right Church and Let's Go Home,' which was another song that was used to communicate with other slaves."

The lyrics to that one:

Getright, church, and let's go home/
I'm going home on the morning train/
Evening train might be too late/
Back, back train and getyour load.

As the genre evolved, gospel absorbed the sounds of blues, jazz and even pop, creating a rich, dynamic tradition. And today, Montague said, gospel serves as a global bridge, uniting people from vastly different backgrounds in ways that not many other things can.

CSULB Director of Choral Activities Jonathan Talberg,a Frank Pooler endowed professor, said he already includes gospel among the musical genres explored in his classes, so when Graham approached him with the idea of using gospel music to foster bonds between students and the community, he jumped at the chance.

A choral student sings "Hosanna."

"I just think it's an incredible way to celebrate Black History Month," he said. "The idea of doing something for a whole week just sounded really, really exciting to me."

Graham said she loves that more young people will get to experience the deeply moving and unifying power of gospel music firsthand, and she is especially excited about the new partnership between Student Affairsand Academic Affairs, departments that don't get to overlap very often.

Back in the rehearsal room, the final note of "Hosanna" gently faded as the choral students lowered their sheet music to their laps. Montague flashed his infectious smile, rose from the piano and expressed his gratitude for the singers' time, attention and talent.

As he walked away, the class erupted in enthusiastic applause - something they will no doubt enjoy themselves come March 1.

Choral students and Graham, seated at left, give Montague a round of applause. Professor Jonathan Talberg, director of choral activities, is seen standing.