On Friday, Feb. 24 from 7-9 p.m. in the Union University Chapel, Excel Leadership hosted their Gospel Concert, a night of worship that included Union’s own Gospel Ensemble along with other speakers and performers from West Tennessee.
The event was a closing on Black History Month events and showcased the talents of guests Hub City Choir, Christian rapper MKJ and Lane College’s Gospel Choir.
The Gospel Concert has been done in previous years during Black History Month, but this is the first time Union University’s Gospel Ensemble has participated.
Rapper MKJ, which stands for My King Jesus, is from Memphis, while Hub City Choir and Lane College’s Gospel Choir are located in Jackson.
Emma Arango, a junior Music Production major, was one of the performers in Union’s Gospel Ensemble. She has been a part of the group since her freshman year and shared her fondness for gospel music.
“I like the freedom it gives me to express myself because I get very shy when singing,” Arango said. “But whenever everyone else around me is vibing to the music, its like okay, wow I feel in the moment and I want other people to be able to worship the way I’m worshiping too.”
The ensemble has been preparing for the event since the beginning of the semester, practicing a range of worship songs before deciding on a select few to perform a week before the concert.
Evelyn Halla, an undecided freshman at Union, attended the concert. Halla is a part of Choral Union, another worship organization on campus.
“I thought that the gospel concert was very well put together and featured so many talented vocalists and musicians,” Halla said. “I enjoyed worshiping with others and listening to a different type of music that brings the Union and Jackson communities together.”
Several music students, along with friends and family of the performers, attended the event, all joining together to worship in a way that encourages diversity in our community and in our music.
“It’s [gospel music] very spirit led, even in practice whenever we’re singing we never do it the same way we did previous days, its always different because its just about how you feel,” Arango said. “It speaks to you.”