Welcome...
The Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song is a group formed for the purpose of preserving the rich heritage of African American songs with special emphasis on the Negro spirituals. This diverse group is comprised of approximately 45 members with different professional backgrounds including students, professors, professional musicians, and others that all share a love of music and a desire to perform it with an emphasis on quality.

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Background Information - From Philanthropy News Digest at the Foundation Center's Web site:

Chase Community Giving Launches Summer 2010 Online Program

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...

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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.

The 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

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.