Concert Planned ~ Clinic Topic: Music In Black Church

Concert Planned

Clinic Topic: Music In Black Church

Jerry Thomas and the Gospel Experience will present a concert at 8 p.m. May 21 at Pioneer High School.

Thomas also will participate in an all-day clinic on the music of the black church to be held at St. John’s Baptist Church, 834 Monroe St., Ypsilanti, on May 22.

The concert on May 21 also will feature the youth choir of Metropolitan Memorial Baptist Church in Ypsilanti. It is being sponsored by the youth group of Ann Arbor’s Second Baptist Church as a means of raising funds to help them with their summer job program and other youth needs in the church.

Jerry Thomas has been associated with leading figures of gospel music circles including Edwin Hawkins, Andre Crouch and Archie Dennis of the Billy Graham Crusades.

Thomas performs with about 15 high school and college students.

Tickets for the concert may be purchased at Logos book store in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and Howard’s Christian Book Store in Ypsilanti.

Thomas will be joined by four other persons in leading the Gospel Music Clinic and Jubilee Jam on May 22, according to Paul Spann of Highside Ministries, clinic coordinator.

Dorothy Brandon McMillan, a local recording artist; Ron Steel, music counselor of Metropolitan Memorial Baptist Church in Ypsilanti; Robert Hill, director of music at Ann Arbor's Bible Church, and William Garrett, director of the Altar Chorus at Second Baptist in Ann Arbor, also will lead the clinic.

Workshops are planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the clinic. Topics to be considered include gospel vocal techniques, instrumental styles, choir direction, effective choir participating, and voice improvement. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m.