DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050054

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: NICOLE HANNANS, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:  124 lines

GOSPEL CHOIRS GAIN POPULARITY

THERE'S A LIVELY and harmonic sound filling the halls of Tallwood High School this afternoon. Like every first Monday of the month, Tallwood's Gospel Ensemble is rehearsing. The rhythmic music can be heard classrooms away.

For a short while, the music stops. The singers, visibly tired from the clapping, dancing and singing, take seats on the floor or nearby desks.

``Y'all, we have been invited to Central Library to perform,'' says Gail Wiley-Davis, sponsor of the choir and a Tallwood English teacher.

The Tallwood choir has been traveling quite a bit in the past two years. Members have been invited to churches in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Richmond. Last year, they sang the national anthem at the state Capitol building.

Wiley-Davis started the choir in 1993 for students who didn't belong to a particular sport or extracurricular activity, but were connected by their beliefs.

``Many students in public schools have very strong religious backgrounds and vocal talents,'' Wiley-Davis said. The choir is a way to bring those students together.

It's a method that is gaining popularity in area high schools as the number and the mission of school gospel choirs grow. Sponsors say the choirs make students feel good about themselves and help them cope with everyday obstacles.

``It's been an encouragement for them,'' said Debi Newton, who advises the gospel choir at Maury High in Norfolk. ``It's always been something they're proud of. While they may not excel in other areas, they do really well in this.''

For Bria Freeman, a 17-year-old junior in the Tallwood choir, the experience has been uplifting.

``It has been really positive,'' Bria said. ``It makes you believe that you can do anything you want through Christ.''

Gospel choirs have differentiated themselves from the chorus electives offered at most schools. Instead of staying in the school environment, choir members have taken it upon themselves to gather at locations other than school.

Members of Maury High's Sounds of Atonement Gospel Choir meet at and work with students from Norfolk State University. They've performed in North Carolina and throughout Tidewater.

Newton attributes the group's success to the students' commitment to the choir and their enjoyment of the music.

``It seems to be a real good connection with the community,'' she said. ``It's the music they love and the music they've grown up with.''

Although the gospel choirs seem to be bringing joyful noise without much complaint, there were concerns raised before they began. The issue of religion and schools is a controversial one and some believe school gospel choirs cross the line. But, as Wiley-Davis points out, gospel choirs are like clubs. They're formed by choice and students are not required to participate. ``However most people have been very supportive from the start,'' she added.

At Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Linda Vastardis teaches a choral class in gospel choir music. Although the administration is supportive, Vastardis is aware that some people oppose the idea of incorporating gospel music into the school's curriculum.

She argues that gospel music is an art form and a genre worth learning.

``It's something that the kids can study and research,'' Vastardis said. ``We're offering it because there is a wealth of interest in this type of music at our school.''

Gospel music, which echoes back to 1870, first attracted a predominantly white following. As time progressed, the music form became popular in largely urban settings.

Black gospel music became distinctive by the 1930s through the efforts of evangelist Dwight Moody and musician Ira Sankey. It combined spiritual hymns, black performance styles, handclapping, tambourines, and piano or organ accompaniment. Today, it is a staple in many black church services.

Because of its strong African-American following, some argue that students of other races might feel excluded by the school gospel choirs.

Newton, who acknowledges that Maury's choir is predominantly black, said any student can participate. ``It doesn't work to say that you have to have a mixed choir or you won't have one at all . . . I always leave membership open. There have been students who weren't African American but have been in the choir in the past.''

Perhaps the only requirement is that students enjoy what they're doing. That's how the CHROME group at Cox High in Virginia Beach got its gospel component started.

CHROME focuses on math and science for minority students. The first half hour of every Cox CHROME meeting is devoted to the math and science, said Peggy Washington, business teacher and CHROME sponsor. But after the study period, the students sing contemporary and gospel music.

CHROME stumbled upon music accidentally. The teens were learning to type business letters on the computer when they decided to try some CD programs. A music program seemed to appeal to the students, so Washington, also a teacher at the Center of Music in Virginia Beach, let them sing some of the songs during their meetings. This proved a good combination.

``Our purpose is to encourage minority students to do well in math, science, and engineering and I think music can be part of that,'' Washington said. ``Maybe some day these kids will be interested in music and will create something better than the Walkmans and radios we have today.''

While CHROME works with music and science, the Tallwood group has kept its focus solely on music. In its four years, the choir has grown from 20 members the first year to 35 members last year. Practices are held in a larger classroom or the cafeteria because the group quickly outgrew Wiley-Davis' small classroom. Wiley-Davis' husband, Rev. Jeffrey Davis, provides music for the choir. The group also added an assistant, Selena Eure. Eure teaches business and keyboarding at Tallwood.

``The choir members are more disciplined,'' Wiley-Davis said, ``The commitment seems to be stronger, and they are touching many young people's lives because more and more are inquiring about joining.''

Evangelist Walteina James of St. Job COGIC in Norfolk appreciates the increase.

``Because gospel music is such a part of my life, I believe it should be a vital part in young people's lives as well,'' she said. ``We live what we sing about and therefore it is a positive influence in young people's lives. The church community is very accepting of their efforts.''

Back at Tallwood, the rehearsal is wrapping up. The choir performs a lively song entitled ``Shabak.'' Members mix the song's Hebrew terms with African movements. They enjoy this song because it allows them to dance and sing the way they want.

After they finish, the students hug Wiley-Davis and head for the hallway humming.

Wiley-Davis smiles and shakes her head.

``There is a Scripture that says, ``for much is given, much is required,'' said says. ``This is something that God expects me to do.'' MEMO: Nicole Hannans is a senior at Tallwood High School in Virginia

Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

BETH BERGMAN/The Virginian-Pilot

Stevie McAllister...

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