Professor & Director: Dr. Linda B. Walker
lwalker@kent.edu, 672-2431
History of the ChoirIn the 85-year history of the School of Music there had not been a gospel choir, and gospel music had not been performed as a part of the School's repertoire. This history changed when Dr. Linda B. Walker founded the Kent State University Gospel Choir in 1996. The class is open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni of Kent State University and members of the surrounding communities. Members of the group represent many ethnic and racial backgrounds: African American, African, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic American. The repertoire includes contemporary gospels, traditional gospels, and spirituals. The choir enjoys an excellent local, regional, national, and international reputation. An ensemble from the choir was invited to tour in Italy in the fall of 1998. The final tour concert was held at historic St. James Church in Florence, Italy. Among the hundreds of guests were Kent State University President Dr. Carol A. Cartwright and the Consul General of the American Embassy. Members of the choir toured the Bahamas in January 2001, culminating in a performance at College of the Bahamas in Nassau. They toured Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and Nitra in March 2003. In Nitra, students of Dr. Walker assisted in conducting a college-level master class for Slovakian music majors. In March 2006 an ensemble from the choir competed in the College Gospel Choir Explosion, sponsored by the Louisville (KY) Urban League, winning second place out of six participating choirs. This
popular group is invited to perform for on-campus activities, school
districts, churches, colleges and universities, local and national conferences,
and social/civic organizations. The choir is accompanied by
piano, drums, wind instruments, and bass guitar. Musicians
who play these and other instruments are always welcomed to audition. |