American Spiritual Ensemble to perform at Berea’s Union Church Sept. 27

The American Spiritual Ensemble was founded in 1995 by Everett McCorvey, professor of voice and director of opera at the University of Kentucky.  The members of the American Spiritual Ensemble are all soloists in their own right, and the vocalists have thrilled audiences around the world with their dynamic renditions of classic spirituals, opera, jazz and Broadway numbers highlighting the Black experience.

The mission of the American Spiritual Ensemble is to keep the American Negro spiritual alive. The group’s repertoire ranges from spirituals to classical to Broadway and dance.

The American Spiritual Ensemble has presented diverse concerts throughout the United States, Europe and South America and has toured Spain 10 times, presenting over 80 concerts.

The Ensemble also are the stars of the recently released PBS documentary “The Spirituals” recounting the history of the art form. The program, which has been airing on Kentucky Education Television, follows the ensemble during their tour of the deep South and further expand their mission of performing the Negro Spiritual during their most recent tour in Spain.  The ensemble also recorded three CDs.

Ensemble founder Everett McCorvey is Montgomery, Ala. native who received his degrees from the University of Alambama, including a Doctorate of Musical Arts.  As a tenor soloist, McCorvey has performed widely including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Opera and Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and in Europe and Japan.  In addition to the positions he holds at the University of Kentucky, McCorvey is on the artist faculty of the American Institute of Musical Study (AIMS) in Graz, Austria.

For more information about the ensemble, visit www.americanspiritualensemble.com