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.

The Group...
The Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song (CCSPAAS) traces its beginning 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. Records indicate that as early as 1974, the name Choral Society was used in presentations by the ensemble.

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 has been a significant decline in the performance of spirituals; thus the need, mission, and name 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 Eight 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.

CCSPAAS is presently under the direction of distinguished conductor, composer, arranger, Dr. Roland Carter; also, a Howard alumnus and Simmons protégé. Carter assumed directorship of the group in 1990, shortly after he returned to Chattanooga to accept the appointment as Head of the Cadek Department of Music and Conservatory at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
 

The Director...
Distinguished as a composer, conductor, and pianist, Roland M. Carter is the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music in the Cadek Department of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He formerly chaired Hampton (Institute) University's department of music and conducted its internationally acclaimed choirs for nearly a quarter of a century. His accomplishments as a leading figure in the choral arts include concerts with major choruses and orchestras in prestigious venues nationwide, as well as lectures, workshops, and master classes. From presidential inaugurations to the smallest church, from scholarly presentations for national gatherings of musicians, educators, and preservationists to private coaching with individual singers, Dr. Carter lends his keen ear, bright mind, and talented hands to projects of every sort. In recognition of his stature, he has served on National Endowments for the Arts' Heritage, Access and Choral Panels and was honored this year by Shaw University (Raleigh, NC) with an honorary doctor of music degree.

Carter is most especially noted as an authority on the performance and preservation of African American music, having produced and appeared on programs for national and international radio and television networks in support of these aims. He has directed the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song for 14 years, and founded MAR-VEL, a music publisher specializing in the music of African American Composers and Traditions.

Carter is an unquestionably gifted composer-arranger. During the 2000-2001 season, The Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra premiered his first full orchestral composition - "COMMON GROUND"; an overture, infused with subtle themes drawn from the Negro Spiritual, which the composer describes as an "autobiographical essay." His composition "HOLD FAST TO DREAM" was performed during 2001-2002 season by both the Atlanta Sym- phony and on the Plymouth Music Series. It is Roland Carter's arrangement of "LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING" that is most often used to present the anthem in formal settings. A colleague of his once shared her belief that the angels 'sat upon his shoulders and whispered the score for his arrangements of the spiritual, "IN BRIGHT MANSIONS ABOVE;" not a far-fetched notion for those who have heard the work performed.

In addition to performance and academic pursuits, Carter serves on several boards including, the National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Southern Arts Federation, and most recently, he was named to the board of the National Assembly of State Art Agencies.

Upcoming Events...


Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Noon - Chattanooga Kiwanis

Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 3:00 pm - 15th Annual Simmons-O'Neal Memorial Concert.

Saturday, April 19, 2008, 5:00 pm - Third Annual Lee Norris Mackey Memorial Concert, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Tivoli Theatre.

Friday-Sunday, May 23-25, 2008 - Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston, SC

Friday, May 30, 2008, 5:00 pm - Joyce Mathis High School Vocal Competition and Annual Spring Concert, First Baptist Church (Golden Gateway)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - Music from Sacred Concerts (Ellington) with Chancel Choir of First-Centenary U, Jan McNair, Director and Scenic City Chorale, Bill Long, Director, DeVonne Gardner, Soloist - Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, Junaluska, NC.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 7:30 pm - Music from Sacred Concerts (Ellington) - 89th Annual Convention of The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., First-Centenary United Methodist Church.

October (TBA) - Annual African American Music Workshop.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 6:00 pm - Annual Candelight Service, Lessons, Carols, and Spirituals, First Baptist Church (East Eighth Street).


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 January, 2008 is as follows: Soprano: Betty Conley, Sylvia Dance, Atheria Freeman, Wendal Gray, Sonya Henry,Claraniece Hogan-Collins, Brenda Holloway, Elizabeth Jones, Vanessa Kimbrough, Bertha Lawrence, Wilma LeSure, Mildred Logan, Lauvern McBee, Wynona McGhee, Lucilla Nash, Conious Price, Daisy Scott, Patricia Starks, Juliet Williams Alto: Juliette Brown, Cynthia Carter, Dawn Dunn, Valeria Garth, Sheressa Gober, Rebecca Harris, Annaiah Jones, Glenna Kelley, Aundrette Logan, Aloha Pope-Bailey, Beverly Scott Tenor: Dorthy Denkins, Lynn Ford, Robert Freeman, Bertram Jenkins, Gatha Logan, Jr., Ruth Rutland, Larry Taylor, Arthur Terry, James Toney, Michael Mitchell (student) Baritone: Michael Geer, Eddie LeSure, Dale McCoy (student) Bass: James Baldwin Jr., Larry Bray, Floyd Eaves, Rodney Gilliam, Bryant Lowery, LaFrederick Thirkill, Bo Walker, Arthur Woods, Christopher Pollard (student)

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...
Assistant Director, Wilma LeSure, 423-892-1439

President-Bryant Lowery, Vice President-Lynn Ford, Treasurer-Michael Geer, Secretary-Aundrette Logan, Financial Secretary-Juliet Williams, Chaplain-Rev. Robert Freeman, Board Secretary-Aloha Pope-Baily, Parliamentarian-LaFrederick Thirkill, Librarian-Brenda Holloway.