Gospel Journeys II: Hip Hop and Hope at Endicott

 BEVERLY – Black History Month just got current. 

Endicott College brings together artists and scholars of hip hop, rap, dance, jazz, gospel and choral music together for Gospel Journeys II: Hip Hop and Hope, on Saturday, February 23, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Performance Hall, Center for the Arts, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly.  General admission is $10 and free for Endicott ID holders, and can be reserved at www.endicott.edu/centerforthearts or by leaving a message at the box office at (978) 998-7700. 

            “At our first Gospel Journeys event in 2012, everyone was so pumped by it that we decided to do it again,” said Rebecca Kenneally, Chair of Performing Arts at Endicott College and director of the Endicott Singers. “And the idea for bringing hip hop into it was a natural idea after last year’s ‘journey.’” 

The event features Dr. Emmett Price II, Director of African American Studies at Northeastern University, whose lecture at the first Gospel Journeys event inspired this year’s theme. Dr. Price is known for his work on the evolution of spiritual and gospel music, as well as blues, and their logical progression toward the music of today. His lecture “From Gospel to Hip Hop,” given at Endicott College in 2012, inspired Kenneally to bring the music and dance of hip hop to the concert. 

            We are thrilled to bring Devin Woolridge of Phunk Phenomenon to this event,” Kenneally said. Woolridge and his company are known from season six of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. “As a guest choreographer, he set a Hip Hop piece on nine of our dance students, and it will just heighten the energy and joy in this event.” 

Dr. Price will act as host, leading the audience through the evolution of spiritual, gospel, blues, jazz, rap, pop and hip hop with live examples from his own band featuring MC Matthew Rose and from the dancers and choirs. The Endicott Singers and the Millennium Gospel Choir will sing their own repertoire and join together on several songs as well, led by Kenneally, and expert Gospel conductor Donnell Patterson of The New England Conservatory of music. 

            “This is our best concert of the year,” said Kelsi Brown, Endicott College junior and President of the Endicott Singers. “I keep telling everyone they cannot miss this.” 

Reserve tickets at www.endicott.edu/centerforthearts or by leaving a message at the box office at (978) 998-7700.  For more information about the event or the Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts, please contact Becca Kenneally, Performing Arts Chair, at rkenneal@endicott.edu or (978) 232-2397; or you can visit the Endicott College Center for the Arts webpage at www.endicott.edu/centerforthearts.