PERFORMING ARTS Gospel Choir’s Staff Problems Solved For Now By Sarah Connolly Hoya Staff Writer
Hoya File Photo Georgetown University’s Gospel Choir temporarily acquired two vital staff members earlier this month, allowing it to prepare for its Dec. 2 concert.
An interim musician and director were hired earlier this month for Georgetown University’s Gospel Choir, filling a void that had existed since Derek Campbell resigned in late September.
Gospel Choir members had gathered over 500 signatures on a petition last month requesting that the campus ministry department provide the group with a musician and director, arguing that they could barely function with those positions vacant.
Now Gospel Choir members say the temporary hiring of Liviticus Thomas and Shelley Henderson will allow the group to be ready for the Sunday, Dec. 2 concert.
“The hiring of the new musician and director were the result of our plan with the Office of the President,” said Julia Chan, Gospel Choir secretary. “We are very pleased because they did what they promised.”
“We are just very glad to be in a stable position after being in limbo for so long,” Chan said. The Gospel Choir is now rehearsing three times a week in preparation for their December concert.
Ronald J. Lignelli, director of the Office of Performing Arts, conducted the search for a new director. After interviewing potential candidates, he hired Thomas and Henderson as director and musician, respectively. Thomas and Henderson will work with the Gospel Choir through the end of this semester.
Both Thomas and Henderson have worked with the Choir previously. Thomas is currently a music teacher at the D.C. Friendship-Edison Collegiate Academy and Henderson is a graduate student at Georgetown. “Shelley leads a small group from the Gospel Choir in the Praise and Worship at the weekly 6 p.m. Protestant Service, so the Choir knows her fairly well. We are really excited because the whole choir is comfortable with them,” Chan said.
Lignelli will mediate the search for a permanent director for the Gospel Choir.
Chan said, “The choir board will be part of the interviewing panel for the permanent director, but that will most likely be done at the end of the semester.”
The choir will most likely push for Henderson and Thomas to stay with them at least until the end of the school year for continuity within the choir, Chan said.
The Gospel Choir has fought for greater university support in the past.
Last spring, students met with then-University President Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., and then-Special Assistant Michael Garanzini, S.J., to discuss their concerns with Campus Ministry and its leadership. The meeting prompted the university to conduct an internal review of Campus Ministry which included a meeting between Garanzini and Bunnell, according to Assistant Vice President for Communications Julie Green Bataille.
The hiring of Henderson and Thomas serves as a short-term solution for the choir so they can still perform their December concert. The concert will take place in St. William’s Chapel from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2., 2001. The concert is free, and free refreshments will be served afterwards.
