The recording is part of the historically black university鈥檚 Homecoming Gospel Concert, held at 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 15, at United Nations Church, 214 Cowardin Ave., Richmond.

It will feature a special guest appearance from Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Bishop Hezekiah Walker, as well as performances from other prominent gospel musicians.

Walker, known for songs such as “Every Praise,” “God Favored Me” and “I Need You to Survive,” established the Hezekiah Walker Center for Gospel Music at Virginia Union University in 2021. Its programs include Gospel Heritage; Song Writing, Publishing and Licensing; and Business of Gospel Music.

鈥淗ezekiah Walker is as prominent an artist in gospel music as anyone you could imagine in any other field, like Michael Jordan in basketball or Taylor Swift in pop music,鈥� said EMU Music Program Director David Berry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty big concert,鈥� said Chamber Singers Director Benjamin Bergey. 鈥淎 lot of really great musicians and a lot of great music.”

“And then, at the end is this culmination-collaboration in sort of a ‘We Are the World’ feel,鈥� added Bergey, referencing the 1985 multi-platinum hit featuring Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder, among others.

Michele Clay, director of the Hezekiah Walker Center, remarked on the significance of the event.

“This is the first time that the VUU Gospel Choir is doing a live recording,” she said. “This is VUU history!”

President Susan Schultz Huxman said details are being worked out for EMU to host the VUU Gospel Choir in Harrisonburg next year for a concert.

“It will be exciting,” she said. “We’d love to make this a regular faith-inspired, peace and justice musical partnership!”

Plans came together last year when a board member of VUU and the Commonwealth Alliance of Rural Colleges 鈥� of which EMU is a member 鈥� approached Huxman and VUU President and CEO Dr. Hakim J. Lucas and proposed the idea of a joint music concert.

Huxman said the schools share many similarities. Both schools are faith-inspired private universities with excellent music programs, both have seminaries central to their identities and both value peace, justice and diversity.

“Like VUU, EMU is all about opening doors, removing barriers and creating cultures where students can feel they belong and they can become their authentic selves and find their calling,” Huxman said.

But the partnership also recognizes their differences, she added.

“We celebrate what the coming together of these two schools can yield: VUU is an HBCU; EMU is a PWI [predominantly white institution]. VUU is in an urban part of the state; EMU is located in a rural part of the state. VUU brings the musical heritage of a gospel choir; EMU brings a musical heritage of hymns sung in four-part harmony.”

“I Need You to Survive,” which will be the one song featuring the EMU Chamber Singers and orchestra strings, is just one of many recorded on Sunday. Huxman said event organizers wish to submit a recording of the entire concert for a Grammy Award.

Chamber Singers is an auditioned touring chamber choir founded in 1979. The mixed-voice choir is made up of more than 15 EMU students of different majors and ages. The ensemble tours in the U.S. each spring break and abroad every other May.

Virginia Union University is a premier liberal arts institution and publicly serving HBCU with recognition as a private institution through the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Founded in 1865, Virginia Union University was originally established to give newly emancipated slaves an opportunity for education and advancement. Today, the university is a center for excellence focusing on preparing and developing today鈥檚 students to become advanced leaders of tomorrow.

EMU Chamber Singers. Photo by Jim Bishop

The Chamber Singers, a select student choir at EMU, will present its annual spring program of worship in music 7 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 20, at Park View Mennonite Church, 1600 N. College Ave.

The 34-member choir, directed by Dr. Kenneth Nafziger, will present a repertoire centered around a cycle of pieces for a cappella chorus by South Carolina composer Dan Forrest, “Words from Paradise.” Each piece in the cycle is on one word used prominently in the Bible: Holy, Hallelujah, Selah, Hosanna and Amen.

The concert will include music from many sources that explores these five words, including traditional classical as well as modern choral music, music from Africa and New Zealand and colorful hymn singing with the congregation.

Dr. Nafziger is professor of music at EMU. His teaching responsibilities include directing the EMU Chamber Singers and courses in conducting, interdisciplinary humanities and world music. Nafziger is also artistic director and conductor of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival held in June each year on the EMU campus.

Nafziger was music editor of “Hymnal: a Worship Book,” released in 1992, and editor of its Accompaniment Handbook (1993). He was assistant to the editor for both “Sing the Journey” and “Sing the Story” and producer and director of four CDs of music from these hymnal supplements. He is also co-author of the book, “Singing: a Mennonite Voice.”

Admission is free. Contributions are welcomed for the EMU music department student scholarship fund.

The Harlem Gospel Choir, one of the pre-eminent gospel choirs in the world, will be in concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in Lehman Auditorium at 草莓社区.

The choir is a gathering of the finest singers and musicians from various black churches in Harlem. The group was founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, who got the idea while attending a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the renowned Cotton Club in Harlem.

The choir has shared their message of love, peace and harmony for years with thousands of people from various nations, backgrounds and cultures. They strive to make the world a more loving and peaceful place.

Through its music and dynamic performance, the choir seeks to create a better understanding of African-American culture and the inspirational music called “gospel.” The primary theme of every performance is “bringing people and nations together and giving something back.”

During 2003 and 2004, the choir traveled the world on an extended “Give Peace a Chance” tour. In recognition of its work, the choir was granted a private audience with His Holiness, the late Pope John Paul II.

This year, the Harlem Gospel Choir is touring the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Italy as part of its “God Bless the Children” tour, working with local children’s charities wherever possible. At home, the choir is raising funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita.

Admission is $25 for reserved seating and $20 general admission. For advance tickets, call the EMU box office at 540-432-4582.