Music education senior Nathan Joseph always knew he wanted to join a gospel choir in college. Even when he was an accounting major, music was his one passion, he said.
Now a senior, Joseph is in his fourth year as the director of Loyola’s Genesis Gospel Choir, a student-run choir which he said “is entirely devoted to spreading the word of God through music.”
Not all of the members have a musical background. For example, music industry freshman Kimberly McMillian sang her first solo in her church choir at age five.
The choir performs twice every semester. The number of main choir members varied throughout this year, from 25 in Fall 2010 to 12 as of March, but the consistent choir members do not seem to mind the change in size.
Music education freshman Alton Savage said that although he had been interested in joining the choir, he ended up as their piano player. Though he doesn’t get to sing very often, he still enjoys being a part of the choir.
“I just sing once every blue moon,” Savage said.
Graduate Juan Marshall, A’09, the longest-serving member, said that he was impressed in how close the choir has become since he joined in 2004.
“Before, it was just a choir. Now it’s family,” he said.
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