The Eastern Michigan Gospel Choir (EMGC) received an early
gift for their 35th anniversary: a $2,000 prize at a national
competition.
The choir, under the direction of EMU alumnus Devin Gough
(1997), competed in the Pathmark Gospel Choir competition
Feb. 3, in New York City. They took second place in the
open division (ages 18 and up) out of 25 choirs.
"It was a privilege and an honor to rank among some of
the top choirs in the country," said Gough. "This is a
great plug not only for our organization, but for Eastern
Michigan University as a whole."
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SPREAD THE GOSPEL: The
Eastern Michigan
University
Gospel Choir recently took
second place
at a national
competition in New York City.
For
their efforts, the choir won
a $2,000 prize.
|
The choir had 15 minutes to enter stage, sing and exit.
They were judged on their tone, intonation, diction, rhythm,
interpretation, stage presence and ensemble. More than
25 EMU students participated.
The EMGC is a student organization led by former EMU students.
Alumna Martha Jean Cotton founded the Eastern Michigan
University Black Gospel Choir in fall 1972. They dropped
the word "Black" from their name in 1975. The group has
since expanded to be EMGC Ministries, which, in addition
to the choir, includes bible study, a dance troupe, drama
team and academic study sessions.
In addition to opening for well-known gospel artists,
including Andre Crouch, The Winans, The Clark Sisters,
Mary Mary and Daryl Coley, the EMGC has sung at numerous
events, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm's inauguration,
the swearing-in ceremony of new American citizens and the
International Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.
They won the NAACP Image Award for the EMU chapter two
years in a row and have been featured in Ebony magazine.
EMGC's music can be found on their two CDs, "Get to the
Concept" and "Patriotically Yours," the former which made
the Billboard Gospel Charts in 2001. In addition, the EMGC
filmed a DVD, "College Night: The Experience," which was
released in 2003.
Their 35th anniversary was celebrated recently at a reunion
concert Feb. 25.
The EMGC's CDs are available at http://cdbaby.com/cd/emgc .
A video of their performance in the competition can be
viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNpF63qrLXM.
