UCI CHOIR DOES MORE THAN SING

There’s more to the UCI Black Student Union Gospel Choir than its name suggests.

For one thing, some of its members are not students. For another, some of its members are not black. Funded by the Black Student Union, the group is, in fact, interracial.

The choir, now in its seventh year, represents far more than a mere extracurricular activity for its 60 members. Often invited to perform on campus, the choir will appear tonight in a 7 o’clock concert in the Fine Arts Village Theatre, preceding a lecture by Martin Luther King III, son of the late civil rights leader. The lecture and concert are part of UCI’s three-day symposium honoring Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday is Wednesday and will be observed as a national holiday next Monday.)

“We do a lot of concerts on campus, and we also do at least two or three benefit concerts a year for charity or for educational groups in Orange and Los Angeles counties,” said Jon Sims, who has directed the choir for nearly five years.

“We also go on a little tour every year to Northern California, and we’re trying this year to travel out of state as well.”

The choir rounds out its schedule with performances at various churches. According to choir co-president Tamera Trotter, the group was contacted by a representative of a gospel record label after singing recently at a church near the campus. He had attended the service and asked them to record an album, which they’ll do in September.

“We’re also involved in what’s called the Dr. Mattie Moss Clarc workshop,” Trotter said in an interview before rehearsal on Saturday. “I guess you could call it a gospel extravaganza: It’s churches and groups from L.A. and Orange County, comprising a choir of 300 to 400 people. And we’re making an album Feb. 1. That’s not directly our album, but we’re participating in it.”

Pointing out that last year the choir also reached the semifinals in a 100-choir competition sponsored by gospel star Andrae Crouch, Trotter said: “I feel the entire success of the choir is based on Jon, who’s a very talented choir director. . . . There have been a lot of people who felt they were just average singers, but Jon saw their potential and developed it. He has a way of getting you to sing out if you are a little, you know, afraid.”

At the rehearsal last Saturday, Sims, soft-spoken in conversation, turned into something of a stern taskmaster. For example, when he was displeased early on with a part by the alto section, he said: “What’s the average age here--19, right? You’re not 12 years old. Let’s sing!”

According to choir member Shawn Ghee, who has seen the choir grow from 35 to 60 members in the four years he has been a member, the group’s impact isn’t just musical. “It provides a support group for the members . . . we’re all willing to help each other out,” Ghee said, adding that this could mean assisting with anything from academic problems to financial troubles.

“The choir’s not closed to anybody,” he continued. “We do ask that you believe in the Lord. But other than that, people of any religion, race or nationality are welcome. No one is turned away. We are always accepting.”

This attitude--and, no doubt, the choir’s growing list of achievements--has engendered a deep loyalty in many members. “A lot of people have been in the Gospel Choir for four or more years,” Ghee said. “Some have graduated, are living and working in L.A., and still commute (to the campus) every Monday for rehearsal.”

Ghee expressed regret that his plans to attend law school may prevent him from continuing to sing with the group. “But I will always be with the choir at heart,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed the choir because we’re not just singing--we’re singing for the Lord. We’re ministering the word of Christ through song, which I feel is one of the most motivating ways of expressing the Lord.”