The choirs are led by Liberty choir teacher Timothy Williams with coaching by Leslie Roberts, vocal coach.
Mr. Williams said that almost every style of music heard on the radio or in theaters today owes its artistic roots to gospel music.
“The deep emotional roots of the African-American Spiritual and Traditional Gospel Choral Music feed all modern music,” he said.
Among the many pieces the choirs will sing are “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,” and “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?”
Mr. Williams said these pieces “…still resonate 150 years after their original performances because they speak to a longing for something after the trials and challenges of this life.”
The beauty and emotional depth of the gospel songs and spirituals deeply affect the singers, Mr. Williams added.
“Singing these songs and joining together to communicate the emotional impact of these compositions has created a greater sense of empathy for the struggles of their fellow students,” he said.