The Gospel Choir sings songs from a slew of genres and is eager to welcome anyone who wants to join.
From music ministry auditions to choir rehearsal to NC/DC, it’s easy to hear that Northwestern students like singing. But who wants the pressure of auditions, call-backs and cuts? If you’re one of the many students who love to warm up their vocals and carry a pretty tune at the same time, you might want to check out the Northwestern Gospel Choir.
The Gospel Choir eagerly welcomes everyone – from staff to students alike. The best part is, there is no need to try out. If you love to be around people, love to sing and love to have fun, then this choir is probably exactly what you need. It was exactly what sophomore Katie Raab needed.
As she describs it, the Gospel Choir takes a very open approach to anyone and everyone who has a passion for singing. “Not having to worry about looking stupid or weird while getting to sing great songs with great people has really helped me realize some important things about life,” Raab said. “Life should be about complete freedom, with nobody judging you. We should be able to live it up, and that’s what Gospel Choir is all about.”
The choir sings all kinds of music, not just what one would think of a “typical” gospel style. Group members can request any piece of music they want and the whole group will vote to pick which ones they want to sing. Currently, they are working on two pieces.
A typical day in the choir starts with warm-ups, such as scales and other activities to get the singers ready to go. They usually sing one song as a “warm up” song, before diving in and rehearsing other pieces. “Being in the choir is so much fun,” one member says. “Singing has always helped me feel closer to God—I’m not sure why but singing is like my form of praying. Going to Gospel Choir each week just feels like a giant prayer to me, and I walk out every Thursday feeling motivated and relaxed for the rest of the week.”
The Gospel Choir members acknowledge that you don’t need to be an amazing singer to praise God with your voice. All you need to do is show up; you don’t even need to try out. “We don’t want people to feel like it’s a chore to come to choir; we want them to love it! That’s why we emphasize that there is no pressure. We just sing for God and have a good time,” Raab says.
The Gospel Choir meets every Thursday in the choir room from 7 to 8 p.m. The numbers of people at each meeting vary, so don’t feel obliged to show up every time; it’s a very flexible choir. If the Gospel Choir needed a mission statement, Northwestern’s would probably be that their singing is a way to praise God and all He does.
