Gospel Singers entertain students, community
Tim Kupsick Freelance Photographer
Gospel Ensemble Instructor Cedric G. Weary, who has taught at the University for about five years,
says that he attempts to cover many aspects of gospel in his class, from worship-style to gospel rap.
The Gospel
Singers will
perform their
next concert
on March 13
at Eugene
Christian
Fellowship.
Tim Kupsick
Freelance
Photographer
The 26-member class
performs for local crowds
and at events statewide
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
The University Gospel Singers'
voices resonate loudly and clearly
in the Music Building's Room 198.
The students stand as they sing,
clapping their hands and swaying
to the rhythm of the vibrant songs.
After singing a traditional
gospel song of worship, some stu
dents clap and cheer, and they all
sit down to catch their breaths.
"It's upbeat," senior psychology
and communications major Cari
Peck said. "There's a lot of energy
in the choir."
Gospel Singers Director Cedric
G. Weary said a gospel group
needs energy, but it also needs
commitment because the group
doesn't just limit itself to the class
room. It is also actively involved in
community events.
Singers also need skill. Weary
said that out of about 45 students
who auditioned fall term for the
gospel singers class, he only ac
cepted two. The class has about 26
students, many who stay in the
group for several years.
"It takes quite a bit of energy,"
he said. "Some good technique is
the number one thing."
Weary, who has taught the
gospel singers, gospel choir and
gospel ensemble classes for about
five years, said that memorization
skills are also important because
most of the material students use
is not charted.
"You have to be able to follow
direction really well in the heat of
the battle," he said, adding that he
likes to improvise during songs.
"That's what makes gospel mu
sic so exciting," he said. "Not only
for the audience but for the choir."
The singers perform at Universi
ty events and hold their own con
certs at the end of each term. Their
next concert will be March 13 at
Eugene Christian Fellowship.
Weary said that the concerts of
fer all students a break from study
ing for finals each term.
"It's kind of nice to unwind,
come hear some gospel music, get
up and stand and dance around a
little bit," he said.
"I've done many forms
of music, but I always
come back to gospel."
Cedric G. Weary
Gospel Singers Director
The group also travels around
the state performing for different
crowds.
The singers performed this
month at the Martin Luther King
Jr. celebrations in Portland and Eu
gene. They also performed at the
annual Lane County Republican's
Lincoln Day Dinner, where U S.
Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., was
an honored guest.
"We're all over the place, literal
ly," Weary said.
Senior English major Dave
Gomez said the singers per
formed before the dinner prayer,
which demonstrates the "tone" of
the music.
"It's to a certain audience," he
said. "It's not just to people who
are looking for a show."
Peck said that aside from just
entertaining, she enjoys playing
a role in the community when
the group sings. "It's fun being
up there and doing it," she said.
"I'm bringing the community to
gether. "
Gomez said the group traveled
to different high schools to teach
about the history of gospel music
in honor of Black 1 listory Month.
Songs included "Negrospirituals,"
"worship songs" and "work
songs."
Weary said the program also
teaches high school students how
the sounds and forms of gospel mu
sic have influenced other genres.
"Most people don't know that
jazz and blues and the early rock
'n' roll was kind of taken from ...
African American gospel and Ne
gro spirituals," he said.
Gomez said that he enjoys
teaching high school students
about the spirituality of the music,
and not everyone has to be Christ
ian to enjoy it.
"It's basically only a Christian
program if you want it to be," he
said.
Peck agreed that the songs can
be both spiritual and fun, saying
that she personally enjoys con
necting prayer with singing.
"1 definitely get some spiritual
aspects through that," she said.
Weary said that most people are
in the group because they like to
sing and enjoy the genre.
"It is very contemporary," he
said, adding that it reminds stu
dents of things they may hear on
the radio. "It speaks to them in
that way."
Weary said that gospel has
many different forms, from "de
mure praise and worship style" to
"gospel rap."
"Anything in-between hymns
and rap, we try to cover a little bit
of all of it, "he said.
Weary added that gospel has al
ways been a part of his spiritual life.
"I've done many forms of mu
sic, but I always come back to
gospel," he said.
Contact the higher education/
student life/student affairs reporter
at chelseaduncan@dailyemerald.com.
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