Donned in purple and white, members of the Northwestern Community Ensemble performed songs alongside Grammy-winning gospel singer and songwriter Jekalyn Carr at their 55th anniversary event Easter Sunday in Cahn Auditorium.
Communication Prof. Kent Brooks, NCE’s faculty adviser, framed the show as “a worship experience,” not just a concert. He invited attendees to participate by standing up and physically engaging with the music.
“This choir was started as an act of resistance. That’s something to celebrate,” Brooks said. “In the beginning, this choir wasn’t even recognized as a registered student organization, and it took some time. For those who don’t know the history, they couldn’t even have rehearsals on campus. But look at God, 55 years later and here we are. Amen.”
The choir sang numerous religious songs for the occasion, like “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood, “Don’t Cry” by Kirk Franklin and “Send The Rain” by William McDowell. The audience — filled with NCE alumni — sang along to lyrics projected onto a screen behind the ensemble.
To hear the performers sing and attendees reflect on the music, listen to Sound Source.
Second-year Master of Divinity student Medomfo Owusu, the NCE chaplain, joined the choir shortly after moving to the U.S. She said she hoped to bond with people her age who enjoy gospel and share a passion for faith through music.
Owusu added that it was special to see attendees resonate with different kinds of music, from songs that were more Easter-related to those that reflected more traditional gospel music.
“It was an answer to prayer,” she said. “I had been praying over the week that the place would be packed, sending flyers out to friends at my seminary and friends at church and other people that were nearby.”
Carr, the special guest artist of the show, led the audience in several hits of hers, including “You’re Bigger” and “It’s Yours.” In a shiny silver dress adorned with flowers, Carr enthusiastically hit poses and strutted across the stage — and even ventured into the crowd at one point.
Owusu said Carr lifted ensemble members up with a spirit of encouragement to stay lively and active in their performances.
“She really wanted us to tap into our youthful energy,” Owusu said. “She’s in her 20s herself, and a lot of us are in our late teens and early 20s, so we can sing and act like we’re young even though it’s been a long day and even though we’re busy students and just have some energy for worshiping the Lord.”
NCE alumni and attendee Sharon Miles (Communication MFA ’25) said the group was “a rock” to her last school year when she was wrapping up her degree, and that was why she came to the event — and will continue to attend as many as she can.
While she was previously unfamiliar with Carr, Miles said she was happy to have been introduced to the singer’s personality and music.
“Her message specifically about believing that God is with you through the good times and dark times was very relevant for this moment,” Miles said. “We all feel that with the weight of so many things that are happening, so to be in this space and to be reminded that God is with you through that was a really important message that broke through the crowd tonight.”
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— Sound Source: Northwestern Community Ensemble sings from the spirit at Easter concert
