News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Jennifer Wilson, 607-753-2232

SUNY Cortland Plans 'Gospel Music Celebration' on Feb. 24

CORTLAND, NY (02/14/2008; 1110)(readMedia)-- SUNY Cortland’s Africana Studies Department will present a “Gospel Music Celebration,” featuring the Seven Valley Chorus Sweet Adelines performing as guest choir with the SUNY Cortland Gospel Choir, on Sunday, Feb. 24, at SUNY Cortland.

The program, which will begin at 4 p.m. in Old Main Brown Auditorium, will be followed by a dessert reception on the Old Main mezzanine.

The admission price is $2 for students; $4 for faculty, staff and senior citizens; and $5 for general admission. Families with children are welcome.

Professor Seth Asumah, chair of the Africana Studies Department, will offer a welcome to open the 90-minute program.

The SUNY Cortland Gospel Choir, under the direction of Robert Brown, adjunct professor in African American Studies, will perform the opening and closing music for the celebration. The choir will perform its most popular selections, including “He Will Supply,” “Faithful Is Our God,” “Spirit and Truth,” “Call My Name,” “I Need You to Survive” and “Perfect Praise.”

The Sweet Adelines, a popular women’s choral group, will join the Gospel Choir for two spirituals, including “Do Lord.”

Cortland High School staff member Dorothy Thomas ’77 will present two piano selections, “It is Well With My Soul,” by Horatio G. Spafford and Phillip P. Bliss, and “Come Thou Fount,” a melody by John Wyeth.

The Gospel Choir musicians will offer a jazz set. The musicians are saxophonist Jamie Yaman of Cortland, N.Y.; and keyboardist Andy Rudy, bass guitarist Reggie Siegler, percussionist Benjamin Terry and trombone player Robert Brown, all from Syracuse, N.Y.

Support for the event comes from the Gospel Choir, the Black Student Union and the Student Activity Fee.

For more information, contact Professor Samuel L. Kelley at kelleys@cortland.edu or (607) 753-4104 or Asumah at asumahs@cortland.edu or (607) 753-2064.

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