Saturday night at E.J. Thomas Concert Hall the very best of our community came out to celebrate two cultures. But instead of a clash, these two wonderful expressions came together with a warm embrace. 

It was another night in late January when Gospel Meets Symphony.

For seventeen years this unique entertainment and spiritual experience has grown, including growing pains, into a virtual full house of amazed participants, a capacity chorus of two-hundred voices and the full complement of accomplished and brilliant musicians of the Akron Symphony Orchestra.  In many ways it is the ecumenical church of the city that takes place once a year and is talked about the rest of the time.

It started with the acknowledgment of hard work of the true believers on the committees and in leadership roles. It quickly moved to the music that was both rousing and touching from a penetrating rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. And without missing a beat the rhythms and soaring spirit of Gospel filled the impressive hall.

Maestro Christopher Wilkins took charge and showed that for a master of the classics, this man has a deep vein of soul and inspiration. Chorus Master Jennifer Mekel Jones molded voices of widely disparate abilities and experience into a cohesive body of song and praise.

In the second half, Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop, under the direction of Leslie Parker Barnes, gave us hope for the future as extraordinarily talented young people took the stage. These kids deserved their place and their moment in the spotlight. Then Maestro Charles "Chuck" Myricks Jr. brought everyone to their feet and placed the fitting capstone on one simply amazing night.

Ask anyone from any other city. In Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, even Chicago and New York, you won't find this kind of event, a not-to-be-missed convergence of community in harmony and, yes, faith, that brings us together quite like Gospel Meets Symphony.

I hope that those who left the concert hall on Saturday night can communicate that feeling, that foot-off-the-ground elation to others and, literally, spread the Gospel. It's not about religion, it is about the power of music and the true spirit of human joy and accomplishment.  

Bravo Gospel Meets Symphony!



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