The Alcorn State UniversityConcert Choir performed at the 55th Presidential Inaugural in Washington, D.C.on Thursday, January 20.
“This is a very good way tostart off the semester,” said W. Christopher Cason, Director of UniversityRelations for Alcorn State University. ”This opportunity is excellent for international recognition.”
The invitation to perform at theceremonies for President Bush was orchestrated by United States Senator TrentLott who represents the state of Mississippi on Capitol Hill and is the head ofthe Inaugural Committee. InSeptember, Alcorn State’s Concert Choir performed at the Chamberlain-HuntConvocation, the 125th convocation ceremony of Chamberlain-Hunt Academy. The ceremony was hosted by theUniversity, located on the institution’s main campus in Lorman, Mississippi atOakland Chapel. Senator Lott, thekeynote speaker for the event, and his wife, Tricia Lott, were present at theservice.
In a Press Release from Alcorn StateUniversity, Senator Trent Lott wrote an invitation to Dr. David Blackburn, ASUConcert Choir Director, and said, “Tricia and I were so impressed when we sawthe choir perform recently and enjoyed the concert very much. It would be a proud moment to have amusical group from the great state of Mississippi perform in such an importantpart of our nation’s history.”
The 50-member choir accepted theinvitation from the Senator and was the focal concert choir at the 55thPresidential Inaugural, where George W. Bush was sworn in as President of theUnited States for the second term. It was a historic event for the University and the Concert Choir.
“As a student, this is truly ablessing,” said Derick Young, a sophomore vocal performance major from St. Louisand ASU Concert Choir member. ”This is a once in a lifetime chance and I could not ask for anythingelse. I am very happy to be here.”
Several months in the making,the Alcorn State University Inaugural Concert Choir Tour totaled seven stopsand equaled approximately 1,100 miles from the University to Washington,DC. Beginning on January 16, thechoir performed at First Baptist Church in Kingston, Alabama. On January 17, the choir performed inMidlothian, Virginia at Spring Creek Baptist Church. The third stop was a performance at Armstrong High School inRichmond, Virginia on January 18.
The choir journeyed to theNation’s Capital on January 19, rehearsed at National Cathedral, and performedat the Presidential Inaugural on January 20.
“This opportunity did a lot forrace relations,” said Evelyn Stewart, a junior vocal music education major fromHouston and ASU Concert Choir participant “Viewing a predominately Black choirand singers says lot.”
The tour continued on January 21when the choir left Washington, D.C. and arrived in Asheville, NorthCarolina. The next day, the choirperformed and toured the Biltmore Mansion. Upon departure, the choir gave a concert at Belleview UnitedMethodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. The tour concluded on January 23 with a final concert in Cleveland,Mississippi at Delta University.
“The whole tour benefited us asa school and other HBCUs, by putting us in the spotlight,” said Stewart. “This is a privilege, and will lead tobigger and better things.”
