The 2020/21 Virtual Choral Season

Children of the Gospel Virtual Choir
“Why Do We Sing?”

Children of the Gospel Choir
Panel Discussion: Using Our Voices for a Collective Liberation

Children of the Gospel Choir
Freedom in the Midst of Bondage

Men & Women of the Gospel Choir
Things Are Gonna Get Better

Prompted by the coronavirus pandemic and the desire to be vigilant regarding the safety of our choir community, the Children of the Gospel Choir (COTG) and Men and Women of the Gospel Choir (MWOTG) hosted virtual choral seasons in 2020/21, only gathering in groups as local health authorities and our venue partners judged it to be safe. Learn more about the COTG and MWOTG virtual seasons below.

CHILDREN OF THE GOSPEL CHOIR

The members of COTG participated in a year of vocal training, musicianship courses, team-building, and digital recording projects, designed with the future of the choir and the individual growth of each choir member in mind—as a complement to (not a replacement for) traditional live, in-person engagement and performance.

The COTG virtual season featured four major components:

1. Weekly Masterclass-style Rehearsals
   Primary features of these online (virtual) gatherings of all current, active COTG members included masterclass sessions, workshops on vocal technique and health, college prep workshops, and sessions with music professionals.
2. Private Vocal Coaching
   Reputed vocal instructors from throughout the Washington metro area worked with each choir member via Zoom and/or other videoconferencing media to improve their vocal technique focusing on breath control, enhance diction, and establish healthy, consistent practice habits.
3. Musicianship Classes
   Across three sessions (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced), all COTG members participated in online musicianship classes, composition exercises, and other activities according to their level of proficiency with sight-singing and basic music theory.
4. Recording Projects
   Under the guidance of the artistic director, the members of COTG participated in exciting recording projects, culminating in three virtual choir productions (including Living the Dream…Singing the Dream, our annual collaboration with Choral Arts), a virtual panel discussion, and a streamed in-studio performance. These projects have totaled nearly 20,000 views (and counting)! A few of these projects are embedded above on this page.

The COTG virtual season also featured our annual scholarship opportunities for our members:

1. The Charlotte Schlosberg Vocal Scholarships
   The Charlotte Schlosberg Vocal Scholarship was created to support members of the Children of the Gospel Choir by providing selected participants with 12 individual vocal coaching sessions. The scholarship was created to honor the memory of Charlotte Schlosberg, a former member of the Washington Performing Arts Board and an avid supporter of the Washington Performing Arts gospel music programs.
2. “The Reggie” Award
   “The Reggie” award was created to honor former Washington Performing Arts Board Chair Reginald Van Lee, who has been an avid supporter of the Children of the Gospel Choir. It is awarded annually to a high school junior or senior member of COTG who exhibits the qualities that Reggie has always exemplified: strong self-discipline; high goals and high achievements; unfailing good cheer and generosity; and an enthusiasm for the arts that’s accompanied by a commitment to a broader education.

MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GOSPEL CHOIR

The MWOTG virtual season featured three major components:

1. Musicianship Classes
   Across two sessions (Beginner and Intermediate), the members of MWOTG participated in online musicianship classes according to their level of proficiency with sight-singing and basic music theory.
2. Monthly Workshops
   In monthly workshops organized by the artistic director, choir faculty, and staff, the members of MWOTG engaged with major choral composers, clinicians, and compositions that represent a variety of genres, including gospel, hymns, anthems, etc.
3. Recording Projects
   Under the guidance of the artistic director, the members of MWOTG participated in two recording projects: Living the Dream…Singing the Dream, our annual collaboration with Choral Arts, and the season-ending Things Are Gonna Get Better performance (embedded above on this page).