As part of its Black History Month celebration, the University of Mississippi presented the 2024 Black History Month Concert on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Produced by McDonnell-Barksdale Chair of Ethnomusicology and Professor of Music George Dor, the concert’s theme was “Humanity is Counting on Us.” The event was free to the public.
Many artists participated in the event. Guest artist Kirk Whalum, a Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist and gospel songwriter, was featured. The Memphis, native specializes in soul, R&B and funk, and he also toured with Whitney Houston for several years.
Whalum offered a free workshop for music students in Nutt Auditorium.
After performing their own outstanding piece, the Mississippians Jazz Ensemble, accompanied by Whalum on stage, performed several soul-filled selections, including “Blue Pepper” by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and “Do You Feel Me?” by Whalum.
The UM Gospel Choir sang two songs, “There is No Way” by Ricky Dillard and “At the Cross” by Darrel Petties, while swaying in unison with each other.
The Ole Miss African Drum and Dance Ensemble then performed a Southern Ewe social dance, which originated in Western Africa.
“Gospel choir means everything to me. It’s simultaneously my greatest challenge and my greatest reward,” Aaliyah Bishop, a senior psychology major and president of the choir, said. “I consider it a gift from God. This organization and the opportunity to serve such a beautiful group has brought out aspects of my character that dared to be elevated, challenged and expanded. Without gospel choir and without the members that share this experience with me, I wouldn’t have been able to explore the depths of my potential as a leader and peer.”
Bishop expressed her excitement leading up to the concert.
“We have worked diligently to prepare for this concert,” Bishop said. “It’s an immense honor to be able to serve and represent our university in this manner. More than anything, each of us has a greater understanding of the roles that we play in the world as a whole.”
Bishop further expressed the significance of being able to be a part of the UM Gospel Choir and this year’s Black History Month Concert.
“It goes beyond singing and performance. It’s a way to reach the audience on a deeper level through collectively pouring ourselves into each song and into each other,” Bishop said. “Being able to display our individual gifts as an ensemble is a blessing.”
