Voices at BGSU Ladies Ensemble wins first place

In its first year competing as an ensemble, the Voices at BGSU Ladies Ensemble won first place at the 2017 Detroit Spiritual Festival on Jan. 27. The festival, which is sponsored by the United Voices of Detroit, included solo and choir performances and competitions.

The Ladies Ensemble performed three songs: “Ride on, King Jesus,” arranged by Moses Hogan; “I’m Gonna Wait on the Lord,” arranged by Damon Dandridge, and “Hold On,” arranged by Stacey V. Gibbs.

“The ladies were all really excited,” said Christopher Carter, Voices at BGSU founder and executive director. “I almost cried when I heard the news. We competed against Southwestern Michigan College Choir. They sounded really great, so when we heard the news we were proud of what we had accomplished.”

The Voices at BGSU Concert Choir performed “My Soul’s Been Anchored in De Lord,” arranged by Moses Hogan; “My God Is a Rock,” arranged by Stacey Gibbs, and “Great God Almighty,” also arranged by Gibbs.

The Concert Choir won first place in the Collegiate Division in this competition last year; It did not place this year.

Carter, an adolescence to young adult integrated language arts major, founded the Voices at BGSU student choral ensemble as a freshman in 2013. The choir, which includes a concert choir, a ladies’ ensemble and a men’s ensemble, performs a variety of songs with an emphasis on Negro spirituals. The choir is open to all majors across campus and consists of 40-50 members each semester.

The choir has performed at a variety of venues across Ohio and Michigan. Upcoming performances include an appearance at the City of Zion Benefit Concert, Bravo!BGSU and the group’s annual Spring Concert.