Written by Caroline Montier
What a night! The Spelman College Glee Club, directed by Kevin Johnson, did it once again! The Glee Club had the privilege of performing at the State Farm Arena with the Tabernacle Choir on their Tabernacle Choir Hope tour. They had awe-inspiring performances that blew the audience away. Some of my favorite songs that the ensemble performed that night were Wade in the Water written by Ramsey Lewis, Children Go Where I Send Thee arranged by Kevin Johnson, and A Choice to Change the World written by Kevin Johnson.
One thing that I appreciate about the Spelman College Glee Club is that they move and perform as a unit. In each song, there were multiple choreographed dance moves to match the lyrics that were being sung. Each and every woman on the stage was syncopated with her peer on the left or right. Even when soloists had to use one hand to hold the microphone, they continued the same movement or used simplified movements with the rest of the ensemble. This aspect of unity and “oneness” within the Spelman College Glee Club is what I believe sets them apart from other choirs.
I truly enjoyed hearing vocalist Krista Campbell and Ariana Swindell perform solo’s on Wade In The Water. As a vocalist whose performed solo’s before, I have learned that a good solo performance requires a lot of energy and intention. Campbell was so intentional by adding a variety of dynamics to the melody; this variety ensured that the audience could not only hear the message of the song but truly feel the message of the song. Ariana Swindell performed the rap section of this piece with so much outward expression in her body and facial features. Additionally, she added more emphasis to certain words and phrases to, once again, make her audience truly feel what she is saying.
Overall, the Spelman College Glee Club had a wonderful performance that I truly believe touched people’s lives.
