Basie’s New Gospel Choir: Joyful Song Amid the Pandemic

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The first round of virtual auditions for the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir Feb. 27 gave singers a chance to show off their talents. A second audition is planned for March 6. Courtesy Count Basie Center

By Gloria Stravelli

RED BANK – In the midst of the social isolation imposed by the pandemic, the Count Basie Center for the Arts is kicking off a new choral ensemble, the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, and Lucy Chen, director of the Monmouth Conservatory of Music and head of the School of Music at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, thinks that it’s perfect timing.

“It’s especially valuable at this time, we’re all working from home and we’re not out as much,” said Chen.

“The beautiful thing about being an ensemble is this choir brings communities together but it also feels that you are participating in something that is bigger,” she said.

“Everyone is singing and the beautiful part is, it is with one voice. This is one of the most important and valuable forms of community we can have.”

Gospel music, choir musical director Gwen Moten explained, is based on “African rhythms, melodies, polyphonic sounds, along with the music that was developed on the American shores, finally emerging as sacred music at the turn of century.

“As times changed, the music also changed,” Moten said. “Today it is inspirational and usually very lively, sacred and joyous. It is generally sacred text, inspired text, based upon the church teachings, based upon joy and happiness.”

Moten, who is musical director for Dunbar Repertory’s productions of “Black Nativity” at the Basie, said she finds joy in training singers. “I teach choirs and that’s what I will do” with the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, she said.

She applauded the Basie for realizing the need for this choir in the community, noting it is a cultural expansion.

The first round of virtual auditions for the choir and a vocal workshop were held Saturday, Feb. 27. Singers wishing to participate in the second round of virtual auditions for the gospel choir – being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 6 – can fill out and submit an audition form online at thebasie.org/gospel to reserve a time slot for a Zoom audition session.

Gwen Moten, choir musical director at the Basie, is also musical director for Dunbar Repertory’s productions of “Black Nativity” at the Basie. Courtesy Count Basie Center

Moten said singers are asked to submit a music résumé, headshot or other photo and prepare a solo vocal selection to be performed during the audition. An optional YouTube/Vimeo link may also be submitted.

“We had a very good turnout; we had nine candidates this past Saturday,” said Chen. “Many of the people who auditioned know Gwen through the workshop or the work she has done in the past.

Singers from as far away as Ocean County, Newark and even New York City have auditioned, Chen said. Once the choir is formed, members will eventually rehearse together, in person. “Since we can’t get together, everything is virtual” right now, Moten said. “We will wait to see when it’s comfortable for everyone to get together. As we work and train we’ll see what’s available in the summer or early fall.”

“It is heartwarming,” Chen said, to talk to the candidates and hear their excitement at the possible opportunity to join the choir.

“Having a leader and director in Gwen makes all the difference,” Chen said. She used the words “modest” and “humble” to describe Moten and said people “just want to work with her.”

Along with Moten, B. Dexter Allgood, assistant musical director for the choir, and Darryl Willis Sr., artistic director of Dunbar Repertory Company, are assessing auditions. Moten stressed that formal training is not a prerequisite for joining the choir. The main requirement is good voice quality, she said.

“Of course, professional singers will have had more training, but we don’t want to eliminate anyone who has the ability and is willing to work with us,” Moten said. If the assessors can see potential or a “natural gift” in someone, they won’t ignore it, Moten said, but, she emphasized, “We want the best.”

“We’re reaching into the community and inviting them to present a loving presentation,” said Moten, who then sees everyone coming together to “become a family.”

“I think this is a perfect time,” Moten said. “We’re coming out of a devastating period. People need to be together, they need to share their thoughts, their hopes, and singing is a wonderful way of sharing themselves.

“It’s as though the Count Basie said, ‘We’re going to do something holistic for the community.’ And this is what they’re doing.”

The article originally appeared in the March 4 – 10, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.