Baylor, Waco Community Music Groups Take Gospel Singing Back to Basics

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Ten Baylor University music groups and more than 30 Waco area church music groups will come together at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Ferrell Center for the singing of great hymns. The combination of the different groups will amass a 500-voice choir that will be accompanied by the Baylor Symphony Orchestra.

The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

"The heritage of great hymns needs to be passed on to future generations because of the importance of their theology," said Chuck Bridwell, minister of music at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, which is one of the participating churches.

Steve Green, a singer-songwriter, will serve as emcee for the event.

Baylor groups set to participate are the Concert Choir, Heavenly Voices, Baylor Singing Seniors, Chamber Singers, A Cappella Choir, Baylor Religious Hour (BRH)Choir, Baylor Showtime, Men's Choir and Women's Choir.

Guest artists include David Hamilton, a conductor, composer and arranger; David Crowder, a contemporary worship leader and leader of the David Crowder Band; Melinda Doolittle, a finalist on season six of "American Idol"; and Kurt Kaiser a pianist, composer and arranger.

"We think this is a wonderful event for the entire community and we knew we needed some big names, like David Crowder, who would register with a younger audience," Bridwell said.

This marks the fourth year that the Baptist Music Ministers Fellowship has hosted the event. This year's event will include the largest number of groups that has ever participated and is the first time Baylor musical groups have participated in the event.

"I am so excited to be a part of the hymn sing. David Hamilton is one of my favorite arrangers," said Doolittle, who was a third-place finalist on season six of "American Idol." "I grew up in the church, and I feel that it is so important to sing hymns. They were written years ago, at a time when faith was the foundation of people's lives, and I think it is important to get back to that time."

by Diamond Richardson, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805