Join us to launch the More Than Rhythm series with The Heritage Celebration Chorale, an aggregation of choral music educators, enthusiasts, and vocal artists from the Carolinas and Georgia, and experience a sampling of diverse sacred choral textures that exist in the Black sacred music tradition. Led by Dr. Tony McNeill, they offer a program of sacred choral works by Black composers that span several genres and include classical styles, spirituals, hymn arrangements, anthems, gospel, and music from the congregational song traditions of the Carolinas such as metered hymns, traditional and arranged prayer, and praise songs of the Black church. The audience becomes the choir during various sing-along opportunities throughout the concert. Hosted by ethnomusicologist Dr. Birgitta Johnson.

Presented by the Baker & Baker Foundation.
Programmatic support provided by the Friends of African American Art & Culture.

This program has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Dr. Tony McNeill, affectionately known as “Dr. T.,” is a sought-after workshop clinician, lecturer, consultant, mentor, and a guest choral conductor throughout the country. McNeill currently serves as director of choral activities and chair of the Department of Music at Clinton College in Rock Hill, SC. Prior to his appointment at Clinton College, he was a visiting professor and interim choral director at Texas Southern University. McNeill also served four and a half years as the director of worship and the arts at Atlanta’s Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, “America’s Freedom Church” Dr. McNeill is a respected worship educator and consultant and participates as a member of the gospel recording group Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers (SC/NC). He is the founder and curator of THE CALL 2 WORSHIP GROUP, an online community of musicians and clergy.