Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-08-08
ChOirS & ChoruSeS Meet
In Annual Convention;
Visitors Throng Cities

when the national convention
of Gospel Choirs and Choruscs,
Inc, celebrated their Goth an
nivcrsary last Sunday.
The anniversary was celebrated
n day before the official opening
OF the convention that will hold
It's final session tonight.
Approximately 1000 delegates
from 20 states and "a local unions
have been In 81. Paul attending
the convention which In In session
Aug , Ia \.
This II the first time that the
convention has been held In the
Twin cities and the Twin city
Gospel Choral union are the hosts
To the convention.
Thomas A. Dorsey. president
and one Of the founders OF the
group said that the organization
was started because II was tho
belief ~ tho founders that there
was n need Ia revive the spiritual
inspiration of the church and one
uf the best methods Ia do that
was by song,
lie went ON 10 state that whom
tho cholrs were first organized In
1882 the depression was at itS
worse and people were drifting
away from the church
And another purpose Of the
ChoiTH was 10 foster and teach the
ApIrituals and gospel songs many
of which had never been written
and wer. passed down from gen
GRAFTON TO generation, Dorsey
stated.
The national headquarters Of
the organization located In Chi
cago, III. maintains two buildings
and q school for future gospel
singers and composers,
The national headquarters and
the school In financed entirely by
contributions.
Also each year the choral UNI
ION gives q $3.50 scholarship 10
some younRster 10 help him fu-
thsr study gospel music.
The convention formally opened
Monday at 0 a, m. After a short
devotional conservation services
were held. There was q sermon by
Rev. ~ Gore OF st. Louis. Mo
Music was rendered by tho Jewel
Gospel Singers OF Newport News.
Va. and the Viotorettes OF Detroit,
Mich.
The afternoon services were
presided over by the national SUI
pervisor Of the aolIat bureau, Will
lie Mae. Ford Smith, Of ~. Louis,
Mo.
The Monday evening program,
under auspices OF the Twin city
Union featured the outstanding
local talent OF the host union.
Mrs, Viola CRASell. In president.
The hlghlight Of the evening
was the procession OF the 100
voice mass chorus. which was un-
der the direction Of Dessie Ores
ham and Bllaa Smith.
The hiRhIlghts Of Tuesdays
meeting were the opening Of a
seminar, sermon by Rev. James
Henry. music by Tennessee and
Virginia Unions.
Tho organization was greeted
Tuesday evening by President
Thomas DOrsey's annual address,
Following the presidents mes
sage was the scholarship contest,
The piano musical participants
were: James Browden. st. Louis:
Miss Ethelens Williams. Mime
Ap0lia: and Ramsey Lewis Jr..
Chicago, who won the $4,000
scholarship award.
Judges Of the contest were:
Earl Rymer 81 the University Of
Minnesota, Hilda Nordstrom Of
~. Paul and Hattie Bell Smith
of st. Paul. Music was furnished
by the Michigan and Illinois I'm
ions. under direction OF A. w.
Hutchins. Sally Jones, IT, J. Car
rutheerH and X. l.. Lewis sr.
On Wednesday evening Mrs.
BEATRICE Brown BeaAley. super
vs0n Of the Youth Department,
conducted the Youth Artist pro-
gram, which featured the address
~ Dorothy Boswell, the Youth
president.
The session. with representa-
tivea from rs states. win close
Friday evening August 8th with
an Artist Night program. Ken
meth Morris IL chairman of the
program.