Pastor Marichal Bryan Monts encouraged members of the audience to clap their hands, sing along, and get up and dance; and by the end of the night the audience did what it was told.
From the beginning of the performance this past Monday, it became obvious why Ebony Singers sells out months in advance of its late semester performance. Ebony Singers, a popular Wesleyan class that requires an audition for admission, has around 100 performers.
The evening started with a song praising the Lord in different languages, and the choir swayed and clapped. Encouraging screams could be heard from both the audience and the stage.
All of the songs performed involved the choir, but some showcased the talent of particular Wesleyan students. All the night’s soloists demanded the audience’s attention, and their performances were both captivating and moving.
The music was traditional gospel music that centered around giving praise to Jesus. For many performers it was their first time singing gospel music, an incredibly demanding style of singing.
“To be honest, [the hardest part was] clapping and moving around and singing and remembering all those words all at the same time,” said Celia Reddick ’08. “That kind of musical savvy is not my strong suit.”
Pastor Monts made it look easy as he led his choir through almost ten different gospel songs. Monts graduated from Wesleyan in 1985 and has been teaching here since 1986. He is currently the pastor at Citadel of Love in Hartford, Conn. and has been conducting gospel choirs for 35 years. His mastery of the art form can be seen throughout the show. At all times Mont remained in control of his choir and invited the audience into the experience, demanding something more than just passive listening.
The middle of the show included a new rendition of an old popular church hymn.
“We are going to take you to church; some of you haven’t been in six years,” Monts said. “Just kidding, you were all there last weekend because it was Easter… We spiced this one up for 2006.”
The next song was a lively song about the number of things Jesus can do for a believer, and it included choir choreography and Monts dancing lively across the stage. One by one, professors, students, and other audience members rose to their feet to clap and dance along.
In the middle of the show, Monts invited a former Wesleyan student, now Reverend JP Morgan ’96 of the Montowese Baptist Church in North Haven, to the stage. Morgan performed a beautiful solo that brought members of the audience to their feet and then complimented the choir, before leaving the stage. Morgan rejoined the ensemble for the final song.
By the last song, the audience was on its feet again, dancing and clapping. Monts’ grand finale included a run through Crowell auditorium as the choir held an extended note, anticipating his return. When he finally appeared back on stage, the choir perfectly and quickly finished the song and exited to a standing ovation.
Smiles could be seen and kind words heard as the sold out crowd filed into the warm April night.
“Although occasionally the Ebony Singers aren’t pitch perfect, going to an Ebony Singers concert is a phenomenal experience,” said Sarah Rosenberg ’06. “Everyone, from the energetic choir director to the audience, is on their feet, clapping their hands and singing along. An Ebony Singers concert is not a passive experience; it is a transplanted church revival.”
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