By Richard Symons

Students may hear a joyful noise resonating from Memorial Hall this weekend as one campus group takes the stage to spread their message.

The UK Black Voices Gospel Choir will be hosting its annual spring concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Admission into the concert will be a canned good, although monetary donations will be accepted.

Janelle Gilmer, a Black Voices member, said this year the concert will focus on breaking down the ego and put the spotlight on worshipping as a group.

“This year our theme is ‘Breaking the Spirit of Competition,’ “ Gilmer said. “Often times we find ourselves trying to outdo one another in almost every aspect of life. Everyone wants to be the best at what they do. However, when it comes to worshipping Jesus Christ, a competition on who can sing the best, who can worship the best is unwarranted and gets in the way of celebrating all of the goodness that God has shown us.”

The Black Voices Gospel Choir was founded in 1970, Gilmer said, when a small group of African-American students came together based on their mutual love of gospel music.

After meeting over several months, the idea was proposed to formally organize as a gospel choir and to seek official recognition as a UK student organization. Students that join UK Black Voices receive academic credit for class participation, while continuing to carry on a tradition of promoting good will through music.

“Basically, the students in our choir all have one thing in common — we love God and we love to share and express this through gospel music,” Gilmer said.

The purpose and mission of the UK Black Voices Gospel Choir is to be an outlet for students to express themselves through gospel music and to act positively as a means of public relations toward recruitment for the university, said Black Voices Gospel Choir Vice President Angel Jackson.

“Although we are the main attraction for the concert, this year we have asked special guests to perform at our concert,” Jackson said. “In attendance will be K-State’s Gospel Ensemble as well as Anointed Praise from Consolidated Baptist Church and many more.”

The Black Voices Gospel Choir will perform Sunday at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

Admission is one canned good or a monetary donation.