March 6, 2013

A most outstanding performance of choral music could be heard last Sunday at the dedication ceremony of the Prentiss Normal and Industrial Institute Rosenwald Building.

The Holy Inspirational Mass Choir was scheduled to perform early in the program and much to the surprise of emcee Ms. Patricia Tillman, they were not in attendance when their name was called.

We later learned the group had three other performances that morning and in true southern style were simply running behind.

I was sitting on the second row when all 20 members of the group began gathering in front. I quickly realized my camera lens was not going to be able to focus on the entire lineup, so I got up and moved to the back of the room for a wider shot. And good thing I did.

When they started clapping and swaying, the entire room sat up straighter. And when the singing of those powerful voices finally got going, I literally broke out dancing (nobody saw…).

One could imagine the strong sound coming from that group back in the old days before microphones, when singers were only dependent on lung capacity.

And what is really cool is that a quarter of the group is young Prentiss High School students.

Keep up the good music Holy Inspirational Mass Choir. Truly amazing.