UDC Chorale members chosen for premiere of 105 HBCU Virtual Voices Choir

Five UDC Chorale members will represent the University during National HBCU Week in the premiere performance of the 105 HBCU Virtual Voices Choir. Seniors Ashlee Fields, mezzo-soprano; Victoria Williams, soprano; and Avery Washington, tenor; junior Rebeca Molero, mezzo-soprano; and freshman Malachi Johnson, tenor, were chosen from a national pool of applicants through a virtual audition submitted this summer. The debut performance, “United as One Global Voice,” will be shared to the 105 Voices of History YouTube channel Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 11:00 a.m. with an encore at 8:00 p.m.

The students represent the Vocal Department, UDC Chorale and the Music Department under the direction of Professors Nelda Ormond, Richard Odom, Johnny Butler and Judith Korey. Fields and Williams study in Ormond’s studio; Johnson, Molero and Washington are in Butler’s studio.

Butler called it “particularly thrilling” to learn all five UDC students who submitted were selected for the honor, as the program has historically chosen only one student to represent each HBCU.

Butler described the challenging audition process for the students, “Each student had to submit a video of themselves with their school regalia on, singing their own individual vocal line (soprano, alto, tenor, bass or baritone) to Roland Carter’s arrangement of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Butler went on to explain that the students performed using a prerecorded video with Professor Omar Dickenson (Hampton University) conducting and Dr. Eric Conway (Morgan State University) providing the piano accompaniment. Judges included a panel of voice teachers and choral conductors from across the country.

Don’t miss the debut performance of the 105 HBCU Virtual Choir Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

(Editor’s note: Link preserved here for your convenience. Please insert or share appropriately.)

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdNnVsJe3q6lRDUsxdODAjA

Link Not available until Wednesday, the 23rd at 11 am, EST