The Cosmopolitan Choir of Pine Bluff will present its 55th Annual Anniversary Choir Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Damascus Baptist Church, 224 N. Cypress St. The Cosmopolitan Choir has performed all over Arkansas, performed in Louisiana and has been televised locally and nationally. Each year the Cosmopolitan Choir chooses a member to honor for outstanding service. This year’s recipient is Q. Katryne Stanfield Horton, a founding member and choir director. The community is invited to attend the concert.
The Cosmopolitan Choir has been a staple as one of the leading choir ensembles in Pine Bluff. It began in 1970 when David Hodge Jr. invited local talent from various churches, denominations and those of various musical backgrounds to assemble at Damascus church. The initial goal was to share their love for music while promoting fellowship within the community and engaging others to sing the gospel of Jesus Christ, according to a news release.
The chorale of Christians later became known as the Community Choir. With what started as a 20-member ensemble, the choir amassed to a full choir which in its prime reached a membership of as many as 100 members. The choral performances include a variety of traditional hymns, anthems, spirituals, praise and worship medleys and Southern gospel music.
The Cosmopolitan Choir’s performances have included a special 1981 appearance on the Art Porter Christmas Special “Minor Key” on AETN (now Arkansas PBS) and a presentation on the ACTS Channel from the sanctuary of Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff.
As a part of the 1990 Freedom Fest Celebration in Pine Bluff, Cosmopolitan Choir members participated in a concert with the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra. In November 1998, the choir joined forces with others to form the Pine Bluff Gospel Mass Choir and performed with the symphony orchestra under the direction of the late Micheal J. Bates, former director of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vesper Choir.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Also, the choir collaborated with national recording artist and saxophonist Vernard Johnson and was featured with singer, songwriter, minister and Tony-Award nominated actor Clifton Duncan Davis of “That’s My Mama” and “Amen.” Both performances were filmed at UAPB.
The choir is an avid supporter of education. Following the death of the choir’s founder in 1992, a scholarship was created in 1993 to honor Hodge’s service and legacy. The scholarship is awarded to a UAPB Vesper Choir member.
In 1970, Hodge was asked to organize and direct an Arkansas Mass Choir to perform at the opening session of the State Congress of Christian Education of the Regular Arkansas Missionary Baptist Convention Inc. in Little Rock. The concert was held in the Robinson Auditorium.
Hodge invited local musicians, choir directors and singers to a rehearsal. Horton, a soprano, teacher and choir director, accepted the invitation.
In August 2015, Cosmopolitan Choir members returned after a summer break to resume rehearsals and prepare for their annual celebration. The president informed them that they had no choir director or musician.
Horton was asked to assume the responsibility. After prayerful consideration, she became the director. Horton also invited new members and invited Bates to become the pianist. She also invited members of the Vesper Choir. They accepted and the tradition has continued with the current Vesper Choir Director Jerron Liddell.
When Bates returned to his home in Illinois, Horton contacted Andranette Anderson-Gragg, a pianist. She accepted. A recent member, Sherrie Mayo agreed to serve as assistant director.
Each year choir members petition their friends, family, and local community organizations to donate to the scholarship fund. Donations are made annually to UAPB during their homecoming assembly. The choir also supports the Alfreda Shootes Hill Scholarship named after a late educator and musician. Scholarships are presented to the recipients during the annual concert and since 1993, the choir has awarded more than 30 scholarships.
The Cosmopolitan Choir is under the direction of Katryne Horton; Sherrie Mayo, assistant choir director; and the pianist is Anderson-Gragg.
The charter members are Horton, Ezerene Williams and Columbus Higgins.
The board of directors are Milton Gardner and Parnell McCray.
Choir members include: Horton, Lucille Jasper, Mary Liddell, Margaret Thomas, Serene Williams, Zola Hudson, Doris Holmes, Stephanie Horton, Geraldine Rowdy, Sheila Jackson, Juanita Harris, Betty Johnson, Lisa Wesley, Darryl Johnson, Obadiah Davis, LuJuana Seawood, Vernice Meadows, Joyce Bracy Vaughan, Shelia Stallings and Pamela Wade.
Officers are: Zola Hudson, president; Doris Holmes, vice president; Rowdy, recording secretary; Thomas, assistant recording secretary; Sherrie Mayo, correspondence secretary; Williams, treasurer; Seawood, financial secretary; Betty Johnson, historian; Higgins, business manager; Harris, parliamentarian and assistant chaplain; and Wesley, assistant chaplain.
