The Dartmouth Gospel Choir returned to campus late Monday night after performing at the Jazz Festival of New Orleans. One of two college music groups invited to the festival, the choir spent the weekend volunteering with Hurricane Katrina victims, visiting alumni in the French Quarter and promoting the College at local high schools.
"Overall, this trip had a sick itinerary. Meeting all these officials and artists was unbelievable," Jimmel Williams '07 said. "I am just thankful that I was able to join the choir. This tour was the highlight of the year for me."
According to member Jessica Rawlins '07, the choir was warmly received at the festival.
"Before we went on stage, people were drifting in and out of the tent, but when we began singing, we had their attention, and no one walked out," she said.
James Kim '08 said that the energy the group exchanged with the audience was unlike any concert he has participated in before.
"The wooden stage was literally bending -- I thought we were going to take it down," Kim said.
In addition to singing at the festival, the choir volunteered with the clean-up of the Ninth Ward, which still suffers the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
"There was a sign, directed at tourists, which read, 'Shame on you for not stopping and paying. Sixteen-hundred people died here,'" Williams said. "That pretty much broke my heart, to realize that so many people died right here. The battle is not over, there is much more to be done."
The choir was also invited to sing in a nationally televised event in the Ninth Ward led by the activist Reverend Jesse Jackson.
"I have to say I enjoyed most our performance at the end of the Jesse Jackson rally because that previous Friday we had been there helping," Louisa Thompson '08 said. "After volunteering in the Ninth District, knowing the history behind it, the rally was really the culminating event of my experience in New Orleans."
The group also performed at the Greater St. Stephen's Baptist Church, as well as at various high schools in New Orleans.
In light of the choir's recent success, it may be surprising that the organization was close to disbanding about four years ago. The choir gained new life after the hiring of director Walter Cunningham in 2003. Since then, the choir has doubled in size. The group often works with Cunningham's Chicago-based gospel group One Accord, a change that has boosted membership and enthusiasm at the College.
The choir was recognized by Jazz Festival officials as a result of a recording produced by Cunningham, and the group was subsequently invited to perform.
"They liked our sound and the fact that we didn't look like your average gospel group. We are very diverse and bring something new to the table," Rawlins said.
The choir will be singing in the Hopkins Center on Sunday, May 2.
