ACTC Gospel Night Celebrated Black History Month

Published on Feb 22, 2017

Over 50 singers brought the sounds of joy and hope to the free Gospel Night Program held Feb.16 at the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center in downtown Ashland. The program featured choirs and soloists from African American churches throughout the Tri-State.

The sound and spirit of gospel music has been a profound force in American culture, according to Bernice Henry, the program's master of ceremonies. Gospel Night is a way for those voices from the past to be heard and passed on to the future.

Performers included the Mass Choir from Christ Temple Church in Ashland, the Mass Choir from First Baptist Church in Burlington, OH, the Mass Choir and Men's Choir from Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Ironton and the Choir from Quinn Chapel AME Church in Ironton. Soloists were John Smith from Zoar Baptist Church in Cole Grove, OH, and Angela Young from First Baptist Church in Burlington.

Ashland Community and Technical College and the Museum cosponsored the community Black History Month program, with support from Dr. Charles Rhodes, Dr. Michael D. Canty, Dr. James H. Martin, Jr. and UCAN-United Committee to Advance Our Neighborhood.

"We've been holding this program for over a dozen years and hope to have it for many more," said Al Baker, ACTC Diversity of Cultural Diversity. "Music is a universal language, and gospel music speaks to everyone in our community."