The Tuskegee University "Golden Voices" Concert Choir (GVCC) was founded in 1886 by Booker T. Washington to lead vesper services and other campus events. In addition to weekly chapel services, it now serves as an ambassadorial organization to promote the rich heritage and legacy of Tuskegee University through choral music. The GVCC gained notariety with invitations to sing at notable venues such as Radio City Music Hall, The White House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Constitution Hall, and it has made radio and television appearances on ABC, CBS and NBC. The GVCC was invited to sing with Grammy Award Winning singer/songwriter John Legend and Common in celebration of the release of the movie Selma. The much sought-after Choir continues its performance tours throughout the country. The Choir is under the direction of Dr. Wayne Anthony Barr and accompanied by Dr. Yi Chang. If you would like to sponsor the "Golden Voices" Concert Choir at your venue, please submit a Request the Choir form. If you are alumni of the choir, please follow us on Facebook, or let us hear from you. Send us your Alumni Contact Information so that we can keep you updated on choir activities.
Become a member of the "Golden Voices" Concert Choir
The choir is open to all Tuskegee University students,
regardless of their major. An audition is required for those
who wish to become a member of the choir.
Please contact Dr. Wayne Barr for an audition time
(Email: wbarr@tuskegee.edu or Phone: 334-727-8394).
Prepare a song of your choice with a track, or a capella.
TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM L. DAWSON
Legendary composer, conductor and musician William Levi Dawson organized the School of Music at Tuskegee in 1931. Dawson's legacy lives on through the Tuskegee University "Golden Voices" Choir which he begun and directed nearly a century ago. Under his conductorship from 1931 to 1955, the Tuskegee choir of one hundred voices gained international fame.
Read Dawson's Tribute
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Musician
Do You love to sing?
Do you love music?
Do you play an instrument?
Or maybe you were in the choir at your high school or church.
The bottom line is---if you enjoy music, then you should
come and join the "Golden Voices" Concert Choir
and share your talent with others!!
"Golden Voices" Choir Releases CD
To celebrate the University's 125th Anniversary,
the Choir, under the direction of Dr. Wayne A. Barr,
released a CD entitled "Ev'ry Time I feel the Spirit".
The Tuskegee Song
In honor of Tuskegee University's 25th Anniversary in 1906,
Paul Laurence Dunbar was asked by Founder, Booker T. Washington,
to write a poem capturing the Tuskegee spirit.
The present tune was composed by Tuskegee Band Director
from 1906-1913, Nathaniel Clark Smith.
View The Tuskegee Song
Contact Us
Tuskegee University
Golden Voices Concert Choir
Dr. Wayne A. Barr, Director
Tuskegee University Chapel
1200 W. Montgomery Rd.
Tuskegee, AL 36088
Phone: 334-727-8394
Fax: 334-724-4655
wbarr@tuskegee.edu
Follow Us
http://www.facebook.com/TuskegeeGoldenVoicesChoir
http://www.tuskegee.edu/student-life/student-organizations/choir/golden-voices-choir-membership-form
http://www.tuskegee.edu/student-life/student-organizations/choir/request-the-choir
http://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=K5lQfwr-Nkmjck2gi_F7Dh1Av9erOepInPF9cwrOefFUNzBMUzUyVUJOSk9DVFFOTU9KVUQ4NDZSTC4u
About the Director
DR. WAYNE ANTHONY BARR
Choral Director, and Head of the Dept. of Fine and Performing Arts
Dr. Wayne Anthony Barr serves as Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Department Head of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Tuskegee University. Barr came to Tuskegee University from Detroit, MI, where he was Minister of Music/Organist at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church since 1997. Dr. Barr holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan with the organ as his major instrument; two master’s degrees from Southern Methodist University, one with an emphasis in organ performance and a second in choral conducting; and his undergraduate work was completed with high honors at the Westminster Choir College in New Jersey.
Membership at Hartford Memorial exceeds 10,000, although weekly attendance is reported to be between 3,000 and 3,500 members. In addition to his church work at Hartford Memorial, Dr. Barr has been an organist and choir director at churches in Plano, Texas, Nashville, TN, and Rocky Hill, NJ.
Spirituals will remain very much a part of the choir’s repertoire, but the director of the Tuskegee University Golden Voices says he hopes the choir will "also rise to the challenge of a Faure Requiem," and do works from Benjamin Britten to Russian choral works to works by German masters.
His doctoral dissertation at the University of Michigan focused on "The History of the Pipe Organ in Black Churches in the United States." Barr said he found that immediately after Emancipation, a lot of Black Churches had pipe organs, a trend that declined during and after the depression.
African American churches wanted pipe organs because, Dr. Barr said, the pipe organ "represented the best in church music." He said that mind set changed as the music changed, and Black churches moved away from hymns. But he said churches need to get back to singing hymns. "The music that is taking place of the hymn is very trivial," Dr. Barr maintains. "We sing what we believe," Dr. Barr explains. "Hymns reinforce our belief." He says a lot of songs today are one liners. "They give the what. Hymns go further. They give the what and the why," Dr. Barr observes. Dr. Barr calls for identifying new ways of using the pipe organ so that it remains relevant.
Although he has been a part-time music instructor at William Tyndale College in Michigan while serving as Minister of Music at Detroit’s Hartford Memorial, Dr. Barr’s appointment at Tuskegee University will be his first at a four-year institution.
Since his undergraduate studies at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, Barr says his goal has always been church music. But as he progressed through school, he says "the academic arena also became appealing." "I could teach students to go out and teach others. You do more with what you have" in a university setting, he allows. "In the church setting, you are teaching but they (the church members) are not likely to go out and teach others."
Barr says he hopes to "build on the tradition and legacy of the Tuskegee University Golden Voices." He wants to take the name of Tuskegee University out into the larger community, including annual choir concert tours. "Wherever we can go, wherever we can take the name Tuskegee--even Europe, no place is too far (for the choir to travel)," the choir director says.
Dr. Barr completed his undergraduate studies at Westminster Choir College with scholarships in conducting, organ performance, church music, and piano performance.
He has served as president of the Detroit Area chapter of Choristers Guild, as well as a member of the American Guild of Organists, Music Teachers National Association, National Association of Negro Musicians, Organ Historical Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
History of the Tuskegee University Choir
The famous Tuskegee Choir is an organization steeped in more than a century of pride and the richest of choral traditions. Since its inception, the Tuskegee Choir has served as an artistic model while carving its place in American history.
1881 - 1930: The Legacy Begins
Singing and the Institute founded at Tuskegee, Alabama have grown to become tantamount. From the beginning years of its history, students at Tuskegee Institute were encouraged to express themselves in communal singing. Founder Booker T. Washington, insisted on the singing of African American spirituals by everyone in attendance at the weekly Chapel worship services, a tradition which continues today. Further, he stated, "...If you go out to have schools of your own, have your pupils sing them as you have sung them here, and teach them to see the beauty which dwells is these songs..." Thus, the school developed and passed on a singing tradition.
In 1884, Booker T. Washington organized the Institute's first singers. The Tuskegee Quartet consisted of students Hiram H. Thweatt of Tuskegee, Alabama and John F. McLeMore of Cussetta (Chambers County), Alabama, Warren Logan, a Hampton Institute graduate from Greensboro, N.C. and leader Robert H. Hamilton, also a Hampton graduate from Hampton, Virginia. This group was sent out by the founder to "promote the interest of Tuskegee Institute" by acquainting benevolent audiences to the Tuskegee name and the Washington philosophy for several brief years. The quartet was reorganized in 1909 and intermittently traveled until well into the 1940's, sometime adjusting its members to five, six or even up to eight.
The school choir was developed in 1886 because Dr. Washington had determined that the Institute was in need of a group of singers who could lead vesper services and sing for special campus occasions. Huston Johns was chosen as the first director. The school choir would expand its role to providing vocal music for all cultural and religious campus activities.
Directors of the choir who led vesper services and other campus events include: Robert H. Hamilton (1887-95), Charles G. Harris (1895-97; 1899-1901), Elizabeth W. Morse (1897-99), Cornelius W. Pierce (1901-02), an interim term of Pedro T. Tinsley (1902-03), Edward N. Broadnax (1902-03), Jennie C. Lee (1903-28) and Portia Washington Pittman (1928-31). Portia Washington Pittman was the only daughter of Booker T. Washington.
1931 - 1970: The Dawson Era
A new era began for the Tuskegee Choir in 1931 under our most renowned director, composer and educator William L. Dawson, the "Dean of African-American Choral
Composers". The 100-voice choir appeared at the opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York City (1932). This event expanded Tuskegee's prestige worldwide.
The Tuskegee Choir was invited to sing at the birthday party of President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York. A few days later, the Choir presented a concert at the White House at the request of President Herbert Hoover. In the years to follow, the Tuskegee Choir would perform a series of concerts on the ABC, CBS, and NBC radio networks. It would become the first African-American performing organization to appear at Constitution Hall (1946), Washington, D.C.
The Choir's television debut came in 1950. On February 5th, Edgar Bergen (the father of actress Candace Bergen) introduced the Tuskegee Choir to a national audience on his television program, "The Edgar Bergen Show". The Choir's popularity continued to extend across the television airwaves as invitations poured in for appearances on "The Kate Smith Show" (1952), "The Ed Sullivan Show" (1952), "The Eddie Fisher Show" (1953 and 1954), "Frontiers of Faith" television program (1954) and "The Arthur Godfrey Show" (1954). A record album, "The Tuskegee Institute Choir Sings Spirituals" (1955), closed the teaching career of Professor Dawson, who retired in 1955.
Mrs. Alberta Simms, a dedicated musician, who had served Tuskegee Institute in several music capacities since 1913, completed an interim period. Reliford Patterson assumed the position of director in 1956. A native of Lenoir, North Carolina, Professor Patterson came to Tuskegee after tenures at Shaw (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Wilberforce (Wilberforce, Ohio) Universities. Under Professor Patterson, the Choir celebrated the 25th Anniversary gala of Radio City Music Hall (1958) and performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (1959).
From 1960-62, Professor Patterson secured leave to complete doctoral studies. His interim replacement was the outstanding young Howard University graduate, conductor and educator Odell Hobbs, who would go on to found and head an exceptional music program at Virginia Union University for twenty-five (25) years.
During the term of President John F. Kennedy, the Tuskegee Choir received special commendation from President Kennedy at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C. (1962) and a concert at the United States State Department (1962). Dr. Reliford Patterson would amplify and complete his directorship at Tuskegee with appearances at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (1966) and Town Hall (1967), both in New York City.
Dr. C. Edouard Ward followed Dr. Patterson as head of the Institute's Department of Music and Director of the Tuskegee Institute Choir in 1968. Though Dr. Ward took over as musical leader at a time of crisis on campuses of higher learning in America, he continued the Tuskegee tradition of excellence in teaching and directing music. He competently presented the Choir in concert tours throughout the mid-west, east, and southeast. A true professional and master organist, Dr. Ward's music ministry at Tuskegee was comparatively short.
1971 - Present: The Legacy Continues
In the fall of 1971, the leadership of the Tuskegee Institute Choir was placed in the hands of one Roy Edward Hicks. Professor Hicks had formerly spent his entire teaching career in the state of Texas, primarily the Dallas Public School System. A man with an exceptionally pleasant demeanor, charm and musical gift, Professor Hicks is known to have led groups that numbered up to four hundred singers. He is credited with taking the Tuskegee Choir to new heights of excellence in choral performance.
Under Professor Hicks, The Choir made concert appearances at the Julliard School of Music (1972), the New England Conservatory of Music (1972) and recorded the Tuskegee Institute Choir - Live" album (1979). However, the highlight of Professor Hicks' tenure was a series of five concert tours to the Northern Tier of United States Air Force Bases for the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980.
While still serving as director, Professor Hicks died in August of 1990. His death occurred only three months after the Tuskegee family had mourned the death of our beloved composer William L. Dawson. An interim period was proficiently served by one of Professor Dawson's former students, author and arranger Clyde Owen Jackson, '49.
In 1993, Stephen L. Hayes, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, was named Tuskegee University Choir Director. He served until 1999. Professor Hayes led the Choir to Washington, D.C., for an appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast (1994). The occasion is celebrated annually by the President, Vice President, Supreme Court and Congress of the United States. Mother Teresa was the speaker for the event. Later that day, the Choir commemorated its 1962 visit to the United States Department of State with a concert.
In a tour of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1995), the University Choir presented concerts at the Old South Church and the State house (Boston), the Berkshires, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Mt. Holyoke College. A return tour to the Commonwealth in 1997 observed the centennial of the Robert Gould Shaw monument. Dr. Booker T. Washington had delivered the dedicatory address (1897) for the famous monument featured in the movie "Glory".
In 1997, the Choir became the first place trophy winner at the prestigious American Negro Spiritual Festival, Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH. Additionally, the Tuskegee University Choir was honored to sing in the East Room of the White House in December 1997.
In 1999, Clyde Owen Jackson returned to serve as Interim Director of the Choir. He served through the spring of 2001. During that time, the Choir continued on campus and out of town presentations, including a performance of Adolphus Hailstork's cantata "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes" with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Clyde Owen Jackson (Class of 1949), died July 11, 2016 in Houston, TX. He twice served as interim director of the Tuskegee University Golden Voices Concert Choir - 1990-1993 and 1999-2001. He was also was the founding director of the William Levi Dawson Alumni Choir at Tuskegee University in 1990. Tuskegee University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2010. His Memorial Service was held during Homecoming weekend, Friday, October 21, 2016, 5:30 pm, in the Tuskegee University Chapel.
In 2001, Dr. Wayne Anthony Barr became Director of the Choir. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan, two Masters degrees from Southern Methodist University, and the Bachelor's degree in music from Westminster Choir College.
Choir Facts
- The Tuskegee Choir is one of the country’s leading college and university musical organizations. It was invited to sing for thirty-six days at the dedication of the Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, opening on December 27, 1932. (William L. Dawson, Director)
- The Tuskegee Choir Album, released in 1954 by Westminister Recording Company, was included in the “Best Selling Long Playing Records of the Decade” as listed in the March 16, 1958 issue of the New York Times.
- A new era began for the Tuskegee Choir in 1931 under renowned director, composer and educator William L. Dawson. The 100-voice choir appeared at the opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York City (1932). This event expanded Tuskegee’s prestige worldwide.
- The Tuskegee Choir was invited to sing at the birthday party of President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park, N.Y. A few days later, the choir presented a concert at the White House at the request of President Herbert Hoover. In the years to follow, the Tuskegee Choir would perform a series of concerts on the ABC, CBS, and NBC radio networks. In 1946, the choir would become the first black performing organization to appear at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
- The Tuskegee Choir’s television debut came in 1950. On Feb. 5, the group appeared on “The Edgar Bergen Show”. The choir’s popularity continued to extend across the television airwaves as invitations poured in for appearances on shows such as the popular “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1952.
- Under Dawson’s direction, the Tuskegee Choir in 1955 produced the album “The Tuskegee Institute Choir Sings Spirituals.”
- In 1958 the Tuskegee Choir received invitations to participate in the Brussels World’s Fair and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Celebration of Radio City Music Hall. The latter was accepted, and members of the choir performed May 29 - June 25, 1958. (Relford Patterson, Director)
- In April 1972, the Tuskegee Choir became the first Black choir to perform in Lincoln Center, New York City. (Roy E. Hicks, Director)
- In 1973, the Tuskegee Choir was invited by the Strategic Air Command to render concerts at Air Force Bases in Maine, Michigan, Montana and North Dakota. A first among colleges and universities. (Roy E. Hicks, Director)
- In 1994, the Tuskegee Choir performed at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. for an audience that included Mother Teresa. It also commemorated its 1962 visit to the United States Department of State with a concert later that day. (Stephen L. Hayes, Director)
- In December 1997 the Tuskegee Choir was honored to sing in the East Room of the White House in December 1997. (Stephen L. Hayes, Director)
- In 2006, the Tuskegee Choir released a CD, Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, to celebrate the University’s 125th Anniversary. (Wayne A. Barr, Director)
- In 2012, the Tuskegee Choir performed for the United Negro College Fund Banquet in New York on March 1, and at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on March 4, marking the fortieth anniversary of the choir’s appearance there.
- In 2015, the Tuskegee Choir sang the song Glory with John Legend and Common on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to celebrate the release of the movie Selma.
- In 2018, the Tuskegee Choir’s Midwest tour included four concerts in Ontario, Canada.
