The Paine College Concert Choir and members of the community will join together for a Christmas Celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Gilbert-Lambuth Chapel.
The concert will feature a mix of traditional songs including some with more contemporary arrangements, according to Trey McLaughlin, the choir’s director.
African Noel, Mary Had a Baby and Carol of the Bells will be part of the repertoire as well as the Pointer Sisters’ rendition of We Three Kings.
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The choir was formed in 1960 and performed an average of 20 to 25 concerts a year, according to the choir’s page at the Paine College website. The music ceased with the pandemic in March 2022.
McLaughlin, an adjunct instructor who also serves in the community as the director of Creative Impressions and as the worship leader at Tabernacle Baptist Church, has brought in members of the community to not only augment the small group of college singers, but to build bridges between the college and the community.
“We want to revive the music program. The choir has a really strong legacy,” said McLaughlin.
Trulana Hines is a Paine College graduate who is singing with the group Thursday.
“When I was here, the choir was huge,” said Hines, who teaches at Laney High School.
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Seeing only a small number of students participating is sad, she said, but she is glad for the opportunity to sing with them.
“It’s good to be back,” said Hines, who served as the choir’s president when she was a Paine College student.
And the experience has strengthened her resolve to be an advocate for her alma mater. She plans to encourage more of her students to apply to Paine when graduating.
Paine College is accredited through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges.
Admission to the concert is free.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the publisher of Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
My alma mater ????