In case you missed it: Donald Lawrence and Vincent Bohanan for “A Celebration of Gospel”
Donald Lawrence (left) and Vincent Bohanan
Did you miss “A Celebration of Gospel” on November 17 with Donald Lawrence & Company and Vincent Bohanan & SOV?Lawrence and Bohanan performed to a packed house at the Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church in New Haven, alongside a community choir drawn from the New Haven area. A further 5,600 people watched via livestream. Stay tuned for a link to the concert recording. The event was part of ISM’s Interdisciplinary Program in Music and the Black Church program. Read more about the event:
The Institute of Sacred Music sponsored “A Celebration of Gospel”, an evening of music that spans generations and unites multiple threads of the rich tapestry that is black gospel music. Well-known gospel musicians, Donald Lawrence and Vincent Bohanan, performed with their ensembles alongside a community choir comprising singers from New Haven and surrounding areas. The evening is supported by the ISM’s interdisciplinary Music and the Black Church program.
A special masterclass was also offered with Donald Lawrence on Nov. 16 in Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School. “The Ministry of Song: A Conversation with Donald Lawrence” is part of Professor Braxton D. Shelley’s course on “The Musicality of Black Preaching.” Framed by performances of Donald Lawrence’s music by members of the Yale and broader community, Lawrence and Shelley had a free-flowing discussion about music, ministry, and his creativity.
While in New Haven, Lawrence and Bohanan were both interviewed by Libby Van Cleve, director of the Yale Library’s Oral History of American Music (OHAM) collection. Shelley has been working closely with Van Cleve to establish a series of one-on-one interviews with leaders in gospel music to help preserve the voices of key Black musicians. The interviews with Lawrence and Bohanan will be added to this growing Major Figures in American Music Collection.
Donald Lawrence is a songwriter, producer, composer, music/choir director, and a recording artist. He is the guiding force behind such number one hits as “Encourage Yourself,” “Back II Eden” and “The Blessing of Abraham.” Equally at home in both the inspirational and contemporary arenas, the multiple Grammy and Stellar Award winner has collaborated with a diverse roster, including such marquee names as Karen Clark Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, En Vogue and Mary J. Blige.
Vincent Bohanan founded “The Sound of Victory (SOV) Fellowship Choir” in January 2014. He nurtured his musical virtuosity as a young child, was fortunate to have been mentored and has developed his credentials into a list of accomplishments with esteemed musical groups. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and Audio from Five Towns College. He has worked with “The Institutional Radio Choir” and alongside Vy Higginsen and “The Mama Foundation”, a highly respected performing arts foundation located in Harlem. The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir was established to provide young gospel singers with the platform and outlet to freely develop and express their musical talents in a positive way.
Photos of the Event
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