The Black Voices Gospel Choir will hold their annual fall concert at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, at Beth-El M.B. Church in Starkville.
Black Voices, also called BV, is a student organization which enjoys praising God and spreading this love and message to not only Mississippi State University campus, but the to community as well. The group does this through community service and participation in campus events.
The choir also represents MSU in gospel competitions across the country.
Earlier this month, Black Voices competed in a gospel choir competition in Lilburn, Georgia, where the group won first place.
“It reminded us how faithful God is, and how He always has His hands on us,” said Alexis Murrell, the group’s president.
Director Zierra Long said it is not just about the accolades of the choir to the members.
“My favorite part is the relationships that I build and the music that we make,” Long said.
As a director, Long said she “wants BV to bond, sing, and express release through worship…and be unashamed of worship and Jesus talk.”
Jazzmyne Bracey, a member of the choir, said she has benefited greatly from her involvement in the group.
“I’ve gained a lot,” Bracey said. “Friends, family, a support group, a safe space, a brand new comfort zone and [I] grew closer to God.”
Following the competition, the choir began preparing for its annual fall concert.
Bracey said this year’s concert “will give the audience a chance to simply worship God and ‘jam for Jesus.’”
Murrell said she would encourage everyone to come to the concert because she “knows the audience will have a worship experience and hopes the audience praises, exalts, and serves with [the choir].”