Town Hall Theater is bringing something extraordinary to Middlebury on Sunday:  the first-ever Vermont performance by the Howard University Gospel Choir.
Formed on the campus of historically black Howard University, Washington, D.C., in 1968, the Howard Gospel Choir has performed throughout the world.  As the first college choir of its kind, HGC is a trailblazer for all gospel music ministries on collegiate campuses.
“This kind of open-throated, open-hearted singing is unlike any other concert experience,” THT executive director Douglas Anderson said.  “These students aren’t just singing.  They’re sharing with us their deepest beliefs and convictions, and doing it joyfully.  You can’t help but be moved by this experience.”
Anderson invited local church and community choirs to attend, and in what is sure to be a thrilling finale, the local singers will join the Howard singers for one or two numbers.  “The tradition here is church music,” Anderson explained, “and as you know the whole idea of church music it to have everyone make a joyful noise together.  So I asked the Howard students if they’d be willing to sing with our choirs and they immediately jumped at it.”
The event is made possible by the generous support provided by The Charles P. Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life at Middlebury College and The Middlebury College Department of Music. Members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will feed the visiting singers in the St. Stephen’s undercroft prior to the concert.
The Howard University Gospel Choir will perform at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $25, and may be purchased at townhallteater.org, by calling (802) 382-9222, at the THT box office (Monday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m.) or at the door, if available.