The Denmark Technical College Alumni & Student Ensemble performed African American genres, ranging from Negro Spirituals to Contemporary Gospel to Standards to Classic R&B, all used to educate, expose, and entertain during Black History Month. The ten voices, in select groupings, were featured on six Black History Month programs.

Gospel Live was held on February 8th at Midlands Technical College’s Harbison Theater. There, the full ensemble joined other choirs from South Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to offer an evening of Gospel music. Denmark Technical College performed a Praise Medley of six selections that included “Battle of Jericho” arranged by Moses Hogan, “Anthem of Praise” by Richard Smallwood, and “For Every Mountain” by Kurt Carr; the choristers received high acclaim from the standing-room-only (SRO) audience. All ensembles ended the rousing evening with mass choir renditions of “Prayer of Jabez (Bless Me)” arranged by Donald Lawrence and “God is Great” by John Lakin.

The Bamberg County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held its annual Calendar Tea on February 21st at which the College’s recently named president, Dr. Willie L. Todd, Jr., was the speaker. Both vocal and instrumental music were contributed by choir members Ashley Jordan and Velik Davis, respectively. Selections included Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King,” composed by and the traditional civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.”

Jordan and Davis represented the College at two performances on February 27th joined by Myron Brooker and Naviree Johnson, these four members of the Alumni & Student Ensemble joined Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Yvette McDaniel, to provide the entire Black History Month program for the Bamberg Disabilities and Special Needs Board’s clients. McDaniel traced African American music from the Negro Spiritual to present day Hip Hop pointing out various uses for major genres. These included songs that signaled escape for the enslaved and African American Motown selections used for presidential campaigns. This 10:00 am performance was followed by a 1:00 pm performance during the Vance Providence Elementary School’s Black History Month program. The speaker for the occasion was Shante Sumpter, news anchor for WACHFox 57. Brooker, a former teacher at the school was featured on Donnie McClurkin’s “Stand.” McClurkin is a South Carolina native and an award-winning Gospel legend. Jordan, Davis, Brooker, and Johnson traveled to St. George, SC on February 28th. Williams Memorial Elementary School held two Black History Month assembly programs on which Denmark Technical College was featured. At both the 8:30 am and 10:00 am programs, McDaniel gave brief histories of the uses of African American music and the performers sang and played selections ranging from the Negro Spiritual “I’ve Been ‘Buked” to the Motown classic “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” It was a special time for McDaniel, whose father was a music teacher and highly acclaimed choir director at Williams Memorial before and through integration in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. Comments were made to the young performers thanking them for their unique contributions. One community leader stated, “This was a Black History Program with substance.”

The Denmark Technical College Alumni & Student Ensemble will continue to offer music ranging from Latin Renaissance Motets to Contemporary Gospel and R&B. The unique ensemble serves the College as its official ambassadors. The history of the choral program is rich and these choristers desire to continue its legacy. For further information, contact Dr. Yvette McDaniel at [email protected] or 803.793.5259.