MSO IN THE NEWS...

The Boston Community Choir performs at the Middlesex House of Correction at Billerica
 

On May 16, 2009, individuals from the Boston Community Choir (a.k.a. The Boston Pops Gospel Choir) gathered at the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica to perform a concert.  This choir is an all volunteer group comprised of singers from many church, community, and university choirs throughout the Greater Boston area.

Months of planning and discussion took place to arrange this special event.  The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office’s Reverend Milton Thomas and the choir’s scheduling director, Norris Welch spent countless hours to make this an enjoyable day for all.

On the concert day, the room was filled with joy and enthusiasm that was shared in song.  Inmates joined in verse to the song “This Little Light of Mine.” They really did “Let it shine.” 

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office hopes to have an encore performance with the entire choir in 2010, in time for Easter.  Without the help of those such as Reverend Milton Thomas, Assistant Superintendent Sean McAdam, the Culinary Arts Program and the rest of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office staff, the day would not have prevailed as it did.

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The Boston Pops Gospel Choir was originally brought together to perform in the first “Gospel Night at Pops” in 1993. “Gospel Night” is a result of the vision and commitment of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Cultural Diversity Committee. This vision was particularly championed by the late Vondal M. Taylor, Jr. (1954-95), who was Vice-Chair of the Cultural Committee and overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Cultural Diversity Committee, in its effort to increase the diversity of Symphony Hall’s patronage, developed Gospel Night to appeal to a broader–than-traditional audience.

After the death of Vondal Taylor in 1995, Brother Dennis Slaughter (seated at the keyboard), who had performed with the choir since 1993, decided to develop Boston Community Choir as an entity outside of Symphony Hall. Through his efforts and musical direction, the Boston Community Choir has become well-known throughout the Boston Area for its inspired and uplifting performances.

The choir’s performances of note include:

·                    Singing at the opening of the Fleet Center with Patti Labelle, and James Taylor.

·                    Singing with Natalie Cole during concerts at the Harborlights Pavilion.

·                    Performing every year since 1996 in Boston’s Famous First Night Celebration.

·                    Singing at the Re-Lighting Dedication of the Museum of Fine Arts,…. and many community outreach functions which promote all things positive

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