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The Group...
The Chattanooga Choral
Society for the Preservation of African American Song (CCSPAAS) traces
its beginnings to informal gatherings of former students, church choir
members, and friends of the late Edmonia Johnson
Simmons. Mrs. Simmons taught music at the Howard High School in Chattanooga
for nearly four decades, and served as music director for several area
churches. During holiday seasons, especially Christmas, Howard alumni
would join current students and church choir members for concerts, caroling,
and often informal sessions in her home.
In 1984, Dr. Lee Norris Mackey, a Simmons protégé,
undertook a research project to investigate the programming performance
practices, and recordings of African American spirituals by choirs of
Historically Black Colleges, and Universities (HBCU’s). Mackey found
that there had been a significant decline in the performance of spirituals;
thus the need, mission, and name of the organization were affirmed. Dr.
Mackey sought and received funding from the Lyndhurst Foundation in Chattanooga
for this project.
Following in the footsteps of his former teacher and friend, Dr. Mackey
taught music in the Chattanooga Public Schools System, where he directed
highly acclaimed choral programs at both the Brainerd and Chattanooga
High Schools. With its students, alumni, and friends, the membership base
of the Society was expanded.
Concert programs indicate that as early as 1974, the name Chattanooga
Choral Society was used in presentations by the group. In 1984, the formal
organization of the chorus was announced as a unit of the Chattanooga
African American Heritage Museum. The first concert was presented in November
17, 1984, at the First Baptist Church (East Eighth Street). The program
was an overwhelming success. Since that time, the ensemble has performed
bi-annual concerts – fall and spring – and for schools, community
service, religious, and professional organizations and conferences throughout
the state.
The
Directors...
Since 1990, Roland Carter, a distinguished conductor, pianist, composer
and arranger also, a Howard alumnus and Simmons protégé,
has directed CCSPAAS. Carter is the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American
Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He also serves as
director of the Chancel Choir of the Cascade United Methodist Church of
Atlanta, GA, and Artist-in-Residence at the Christian Faith Baptist Church
of Raleigh, NC. He is the immediate past president of the National Association
of Negro Musicians (NANM), Inc., and serves on the boards of the Chattanooga
Symphony Orchestra and the League of American Orchestras. Under his guidance,
CCSPAAS released their first recording "Close to Thee."
Associate Director, Wilma Boykin LeSure is an alumnus of both Howard and
Riverside High Schools where she was a music student of Mrs. Edmonia Simmons
and Mrs. Lucinda Pickett-Jones. Her early studies in piano were with Mrs.
Alma Stovall. She received a B. S. degree in Music Education from Knoxville
College and a M.S. in Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Mrs. LeSure retired after 34 years from the Hamilton County Schools of
Chattanooga. She is currently the Director of Music for Greater Friendship
Primitive Baptist Church. She is married to Eddie LeSure and mother of
Edwin LeSure. She is also a charter member of The Chattanooga Choral Society
for the Preservation of African American Song.
Associate Director, Michael Jerome Mitchell Jr. received a Bachelors of
Arts in Vocal Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
in December 2007. He is currently teaching music at the Barger Academy
of Fine Arts in Chattanooga. He is a member of the National Association
of Negro Musicians (NANM) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He resides
in Chattanooga with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Jayda.
Upcoming Events...
| Date
and Time |
Event |
Location |
|
Sunday, February 13, 2011,
3:00 PM
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ANNUAL SIMMONS-O’NEAL
MEMORIAL CONCERT
Chattanooga Boys Choir
and
The Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song
|
To Be Announced |
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Past Events:
Sunday, June 27, God’s
Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse featuring The Chattanooga
Choral Society.
Tuesday, June 1, Celebrating
the 123rd Birthday of Roland Hayes with Harv Wileman, tenor.
Thursday,
April 22 through Saturday, April 24 - 2010 African American Music
Workshop
Workshop was presented with grant support from Allied Arts of Chattanooga
and the Tennessee Arts Commission - Clinician: Dr.
James Abbington
Sunday,
March 21, 2010, 5pm - 2010 Lee Norris Mackey Memorial Concert,
Special Concert Guest -Wintley Phipps - W.
Phipps' Bio
Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 3:30 pm - 17th Annual Simmons-O'Neal Memorial
Concert with
The Chattanooga Boys Choir under the direction of Vincent Oakes.
December 24, 2009 - 6:00 p.m. - Annual Candelight Service, Lessons, Carols,
and Spirituals, First Baptist Church (East Eighth Street).
November 14, 2009, 5:00 pm - Premiere concert featuring the first CD release
Close to Thee by the Chattanooga Choral Society for the
Preservation of African American Song, CCSPAAS, under the direction of
Dr. Roland Carter, First Baptist Church (506 East 8th Street). View article
from the Chattanoogan.com

Join
Us...
The Chattanooga
Choral Society invites you to join us each Monday evening at 7:00 pm,
at First Baptist Church of 8th Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Auditions
are arranged upon request or by contacting Wilma LeSure (423) 892-1439
or Bryant Lowery (423) 902-4983.

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current Choir Roster as of August, 2010 is as follows:
Soprano: Sylvia Dance, Atheria
Freeman, Claraniece Hogan-Collins, Brenda Holloway, Vanessa Kimbrough,
Bertha Lawrence, Wilma LeSure, Mildred Logan, Lauvern McBee, Wynona
McGhee, Lucilla Nash, Conius Price, Daisy Scott, Patricia Starks,
Juliet Williams
Alto: Juliette Brown, Cynthia Carter,
Angela Green, Rebecca Harris, Fartema Fagin, Tiffany Hudgins, Glenna
Kelley, Aundrette Logan, Beverly Scott, Toshebia Williams
Tenor: Lynn Ford, Bertram Jenkins,
Gatha Logan, Jr., Arthur Terry, James Toney, Mike Mitchell, Gregory
Williams
Baritone: Mike Geer, Bobby Graham,
Eddie LeSure
Bass: James Baldwin, Sr., Larry
Bray, Floyd Eaves, Bryant Lowery, Bo Walker
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Sponsorships...
Major Corporate Sponsors ($1,000), Corporate Sponsors ($300), Concert
Partners ($100 plus), Concert Patrons ($100), and Friends of the Choral
Society. Contact Wilma LeSure, Michael Geer, or Bryant Lowery for details.
Contact
Us...
Associate Music
Director, Wilma LeSure, 423-892-1439
President-James
Toney, Immediate Past President-Bryant Lowery, Vice
President-Lynn Ford, Executive Director-Beverly
Scott, Treasurer-Juliet Williams, Secretary-Sylvia
Dance, Financial Secretary-Conius Price, Chaplain-Larry
Bray, Parliamentarian-LaFrederick Thirkill, Librarian-Brenda
Holloway, Historian/Archivist-Wynona McGhee.
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Last
updated:
August 9, 2010
Copyright 2006-2010 - © Chattanooga Choral Society for the
Preservation of African American Song - All Rights Reserved
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