Local university choir, students shine during campus black history program

Huston-Tillotson University Choir entertains, educates Murchison students
By Kara Kane -- Second Grade Teacher -- Murchison Elementary

Keeping over 700 elementary school students quiet is no easy feat, but on Tuesday, February 19th, the Huston-Tillotson University Choir did just that. The choir, conducted by Dr. Gloria Quinlan, came to perform for Murchison Elementary students as part of a Black History program. The event took place at Hendrickson High School’s Gerrell Moore Performing Arts Center.

The program was developed by Murchison’s own assistant principal, Robin Burwell in an effort to spread knowledge and awareness of the history of African Americans in our country.

“Our theme was ‘African American Sacred Songs and Spirituals’ and I knew that Dr. Quinlan’s choice of songs would fit well with the meaning behind our program. Also, I wanted students to be exposed to music of high quality, ” Burwell said.

Huston-Tillotson Univeristy, a historically black school, is the merger of two colleges; Tillotson College founded in 1875 and Samuel Huston College founded in 1876. The schools came together in 1952 to form Huston-Tillotson College. The private, four year school became a university in 2005.

The choir performed four songs including a sorrow spiritual entitled “I’ve Been Buked”, a jubilee song called “In Bright Mansions," a second spiritual “I’ll Stand” and the South African national anthem, “Zia-humba." Dr. Quinlan spoke briefly about the variety of songs and helped students to understand the different times throughout African American history, such as slavery and receiving the right to vote. The performance was the last stop for the Huston-Tillotson choir before heading to St. Thomas for the U.S.Virgin Islands Choir Tour.

In addition to the choir performance, students from Ms. Judy LaCombe’s fourth grade class described the life of famous poet and author, Maya Angelou. These students, Lawrence Hill, Katelynn Sammons, Brooke Kuempel and Victoria San Pedro, walked the audience through Angelou’s difficult childhood, her years working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and the many awards and honors she has received throughout her lifetime. For the students performing, it was an opportunity to learn about equality.

“A lot of people can learn about their heritage or other people’s heritage. It can change people’s feelings about people of color or people who are different, ” Hill said.

The final performance of the morning was a recital of Maya Angelou’s inaugural poem “On the Pulse of Morning." Several students were chosen from each grade level to participate in the reading. The students came together and practiced fifteen minutes daily for 2 weeks with Ms. Burwell. “On the Pulse of Morning” was read by Angelou at the inauguration of former President Bill Clinton.

Murchison Elementary School principal, Cindy Wright, closed the program with special thanks to Ms. Burwell and all program participants. Student participation and behavior was extraordinary. Mrs. Wright commented on how proud she was of the students who recited the poem and felt that the poem was a great way to impact students in their celebration of Black History.

For more information on Huston-Tillotson University and the HT choir, please visit their website at www.htu.edu.

posted 02/22/08

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