Activities for the celebration of Arkansas Gospel Music Heritage Month are underway. The mission of the celebration is “to empower faith based communities to cross racial, ethnic, religious and geographical boundaries in gospel music and emerge as one body,” according to a spokesman.
Events for the month include:
Saturday, Sept. 17 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Choir Call 2016 will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, 900 University Drive. Participants are invited to attend the event to prepare for the 2016 AGMHM Grand Finale. Details: 870-413-9351.
Saturday, Sept. 17 — 6 p.m. — St. James United Methodist will host Choir Fest 2016 featuring gospel recording artists Vincent Tharpe of Memphis, Tenn., and Miranda Willis of Atlanta, Ga. Guests also include Eighth Street Baptist Church of North Little Rock, Brandon Morgan and Fresh Voices of Little Rock, Pine Hill Church Choir of Pine Bluff, the Yard Voices of Praise of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Patrick Bean and Bonafide Worshippers, Righteous and Fullness of Joy and Mt. Gale Mass Choir. Admission is free.
Sunday, Sept. 18 — 6 p.m. at St. James church — The grand finale will feature a formal, awards style gala. Admission is free. “This celebration has been designed to acknowledge the contributions of Arkansas natives, while furthering awareness of the mainstream role Gospel plays in the state of Arkansas,” a spokesman said.
The celebration began at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Skateland with a youth and young adult skate night: “A Generational Sound of Gospel” — featuring skating, food, Gospel music and live performances.