Humber celebrated the beginning of Black History Month with Reverberations II Music of the Black Diaspora.
Natalie Stewart, the gospel choir director, said that she was excited for Reverberations II to be a way for students in her choir to showcase their talent and find joy in performing in front of an audience.
“It’s really cool because the choir goes beyond faith,” Stewart said.
She said that it is important to look to gospel music not only for religious purposes but also for a feeling of hope.
“One of the many things I love about hymns is that they give hope when we feel hopeless,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of need for that these days because times are tough.”
Photo credit: Humber College/Kazim Zaveri
Endale Facil, a second-year Bachelor of Music student at Humber said he consistently feels welcome within the Humber gospel choir.
“The atmosphere is such a strong community that makes me feel at home. Our director Natalie has created a safe space that has welcomed all choir members and allowed us to learn about the genre from a non-religious perspective,” Facil said.
He said that gospel music serves multiple purposes in his life, beyond harnessing or strengthening his connection to religion.
“Depending on the song that is being sung, it can serve a religious purpose, especially as a way to deal with whatever struggles I may be having,” he said. “I’d say it provides more of a community-building purpose where I can vibe with friends.”
Facil’s gospel choir erupted in snaps, whoops, and cheers as he delivered his final solo in a modern rendition of Lamar Campbell’s More Than Anything.
Endale Facil sings a solo in in Lamar Campbell’s More Than Anything. Photo credit: Kazim Zaveri
He said he is happy to be improving on his belting skills, and his chosen community led by Stewart, continues to offer him the support he needs.
“I have had such a great experience learning from Natalie,” Facil said. “She brings such passion and fire to her work. Her passion makes us give our best when performing.”
He said that her presence and encouragement make them look forward to their rehearsals, and they have become the highlight of his week.
At Reverberations II, Stewart’s choir sang renditions of hymns that made concert-goers rise from their seats and enjoy the music, regardless of their religious or personal identities.
Humber hoped to provide an uplifting experience through the Reverberations concert amid Black History Month.
The Humber Communiqué newsletter for employees’ said the power of gospel music resonates with the soul, “stirring faith, inspiration, hope, and even joy amid sorrow–tenets of the black cultural experience for over a century.”
It is both Stewart’s and Humber’s goal to host more events like these in the future, beyond the scope of Black History Month.