An 'Evening of Togetherness'

Talent from across the region performed at EKU Center for the Arts to celebrate common heritage

Led by Dr. Keith McCutchen, are the combined choirs of Farristown Baptist Church, First Baptist Church (Collins & Francis), First Christian Church, Historic Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Kentucky State University Concert Choir, Madison Singers, Mt. Pleasant Baptist District. Assoc., New Liberty Baptist, Tabernacle of Refuge and Transformation, and Union Church. Photo credit: Whitney McKnight

RICHMOND — Saturday evening was “An Evening of Togetherness” at the EKU Center for the Arts. Choirs from across the region, along with soloists, drummers, liturgical dancers, and a step team, combined their talents for a night of singing, dancing and praise. The event was sponsored by the Richmond Area Arts Council and the Richmond/Madison County NAACP.

Subtitled “A Black History Event, Celebrating Our Shared Musical Traditions Here in Kentucky”, the range of performances spanned gospel, Memphis rock and Blues, African percussion, jazz, and interpretive dance, among other genres.

To view all the featured artists, visit the RAAC website.

La’Shelle Allen performs her song, Journey to Freedom. Photo: Whitney McKnight

The Edge was there to support Bereans who performed in a combined choir performance of Amazing Grace, arranged by Dr. Keith McCutchen, an associate professor in the School of Humanities and Performing Arts at Kentucky State University in Frankfort.

Dr. Bernardo Scarambone directs the Union Church Choir and orchestra in a performance of Love Demands by Mark Hayes.

The combined choirs were:

Farristown Baptist Church, Felicia Ballard, dir., Berea
First Baptist (Frances & Collins), Rev. Robert Blythe, dir., Richmond
First Christian Church, Dr. Markcus Kitchens, dir., Berea
Historic Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Kirkscille
KSU Concert Choir, Dr. Keith McCutchen, dir., Frankfurt
Madison Singers, Richmond (no dir. cited)
Mt. Pleasant Baptist District Association (no dir. cited)
New Liberty Baptist, Berea (no direct. cited)
Tabernacle of Refuge and Transformation, Bishop Brenda Todd Douglas, dir., Richmond
Union Church, Dr. Bernardo Scarambone, music dir., Dr. Steve Bolster, dir., Berea

Whit Whitaker performs He Loved Me With a Cross, by Lindsey & Smith. Photo: Whitney McKnight

The skillful vocalist Whit Whitaker also impressed when he sang a moving rendition of He Loved Me with a Cross, by Joel Lindsey and Sue C. Smith, accompanied at the piano by RAAC executive director, Dr. Randy Westbrook.

Also notable to The Edge was a rousing number performed by the M’Power Rhythm African percussion troupe from Lexington, and a tasteful rendition of the Bacharach classic, What the World Needs Now, by solo saxophonist Angelina Huguley accompanied by Bobby Harris at the piano.

Saxophonist Angelina Hugely with Bobby Harris at the piano, perform Bacharach’s What the World Needs Now. Photo: Whitney McKnight

Running time of the program was just over two hours.

Here are some more highlights:

M’Power Rhythm from Lexington. Photo: Whitney McKnight

Madison Middle School Step Team. Photo: Whitney McKnight

The First Baptist Liturgical Dance Ensemble performs Stand Up, sung by Cynthia Erivo. Photo: Whitney McKnight

Kor’ee Jackson and Wyatt McCarty perform Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla. Photo: Whitney McKnight

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