THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190261
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
Sylvester Starkes has been directing local church choirs for about 20 years, the past eight at Mount Carmel Baptist. Now he's even leading one inside Bayside High School, where he began teaching last fall.
The 38-year-old directs the ``Voices of Expression'' gospel choir, drawing on his long experience with gospel music to help students reconcile their differences through a shared interest in praising the Lord and broadcasting the good news of Christ.
The 75-member group, formed at the instigation of students, pulls together kids who've sometimes been at odds with each other, both in and out of school.
``It brings us together,'' says Carshena Cuffee, 15, a sophomore at Bayside and member of the gospel choir. ``It brings a lot of us together. A lot of us weren't getting along at first. Now we're like a big family.''
``It makes your spirit happy,'' adds Lacoya Cuffee, a 17-year-old junior.
The two girls are unrelated and come from different spiritual backgrounds. Carshena Cuffee is an African Methodist Episcopalian, and Lacoya Cuffee is a Baptist.
The choir, formed last September, has performed for numerous organizations inHampton Roads - including Monday night at the Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union program - and demand is so great that the group must turn down ``five or six requests'' each week, Starkes says.
At a performance last week, choir members, garbed in black accented with colorful hand-made kente cloth sashes, dipped and swayed in unison, clapping their hands in time to the strains of popular gospel hymns like ``I Cometh More Abundantly'' and ``How Excellent is the Name of the Lord.''
``Are you happy?'' intoned the soloist.
``I'm so happy, yes I am,'' belted out the choir.
The audience was on its feet, mirroring the choir's body movements.
Starkes faced the singers, urging them on with exaggerated dips, claps and arm-waving.
The voices rose in crescendo.
``I love Jesus Christ in every way.''
``What's his name?''
``Jesus.''
Reflecting the school's racial makeup, the choir is composed mainly of black students, though two white youths are members. Religious diversity is evidenced also by the inclusion of two youths from the Jewish tradition.
And, while some kids hail from the affluent neighborhoods of Bayside, many come from low-income, single-parent households. Academically, choir members are also diverse, ranging from honor roll students to those who are struggling to keep from failing their courses.
Several students who claim to be atheists, and at least one Buddhist, expressed interest in the choir but did not join.
Starkes says one of these youths said, ``I don't believe in that, but you guys have'' a positive thing going.
``The choir is a welcome addition to the school,'' said Bayside principal Michael J. Debranski. ``It brings a different perspective.''
He emphasizes that the choir represents students from various religions.
Starkes adds that ``the country was founded on the principle `in God we trust' and we stand for what the state stands for - upright citizens and respect for each other.''
Starkes maintained an abiding love for gospel music through his childhood and his later studies at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University.
It was a natural fit to combine his church choir work with teaching.
When he transferred to Bayside High last fall, Starkes learned quickly that students had been yearning for a gospel choir for several years. Several parents had even called the school requesting that Bayside start a gospel choir.
Starkes got help from math teachers Vernice Kier and Elke Boone.
``You'd be surprised how many respond to music,'' says Kier. Kier and Starkes agree that the project of song has helped promote an attitude of respect among students.
Starkes has composed and, with the help of Mount Carmel's choir, is in the process of recording a number of gospel songs. He also helped found an interdenominational tour choir in the Tidewater area.
``I like seeing people excited and happy, and music does it,'' says Starkes. ``Kids from the neighborhoods were fighting before. You hear news about fights at Bayside, but there are a lot of positive things going on.'' MEMO: Bayside's Voices of Expression choir is trying to raise enough money to
outfit its members in school-color robes. A recent fund-raiser brought
in about $300, but it will cost about $6,000 for the garments.
Donations may be sent in care of the gospel choir, Bayside High School,
4960 Haygood Road, Virginia Beach, Va. 23455.
ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
STEVE EARLEY
The Virginian-Pilot
Gospel is served up in the Bayside High cafeteria by, from left,
Robin Jones, Leiloni Fuller and Kimberly Stephenson. They're
rehearsing under the direction of, right, Sylvester Starkes and
co-sponsor Elke Boone.
STEVE EARLEY
The Virginian-Pilot
Glenn Malone, left, Prince Smalls, Tasha Scroggins, Brandon Jones
and LaMarr Wells follow those notes up and down the scale with
their bodies during rehearsal at Bayside.
by CNB