Upcoming Featured Events

This year, the scene will be a bit different for the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir’s GospelFEST 2023.  Unlike years past, the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir, aka “Plattsburgh’s best kept Secret”, will be making their way off-campus for their annual spring concert. GospelFEST 2023 will be held at Plattsburgh House of Prayer (PHOP) on Saturday, April 22, at 5:00pm. Shortly before the festivities, there will be a “Choir Meet and Greet” from 4:00pm to 4:45pm, as well as musical performances from the SUNY Plattsburgh Jazz Ensemble directed by Matt Pray.  Seats are limited, so arrive early for preferred seating!  This is a “Free Will” Concert!  So, keep your money at home and take a seat or bring your wallet and stuff the plate; it’s your choice!

In addition to tunes that many in the region have come to love, such as “My Help,” “Excellent,” and “Hallelujah You’re Worthy,” there will be a bevy of new selections like “Shabach,” “There is a King in You,” and “There’s No Way.” Additionally, GospelFEST 2023 will include performances by the choir’s Praise Dancers, Praise Team, Step Team, and guest performances by the Voices of Faith.  In addition to our regular soloists which all of us have come to love and appreciate, some new faces and voices will grace the stage with their stellar talents, such as SUNY Plattsburgh’s very own Dr. Lolita Kincade as she makes her gospel choir debut singing “My Help”.  Her powerful-angelic voice is transformative!  We will welcome back to the stage for the first time since COVID, the PSGC Step Team!  Under the direction of Jerrique Ortiz, these student steppers will rock PHOP with their positive inspirational presentation.

The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir is under the Artistic Directorship of Dr. Dexter Criss. Since taking the reins in 2002, Criss and the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir have traveled internationally to Japan, St. Martin/Maarten, Toronto, Montreal, and Trinidad and Tobago where they gave a private performance for President Anthony Carmona and staff. Nationally, they have performed in Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Pa., New York City, Providence, Memphis, Stuttgart and Little Rock, Ark.  The choir has shared the stage with Lyle Lovett, Darius Brooks, Myra Flynn, Daisy Jopling and Sheila Raye Charles, among others. With up to 20 performances a year, the choir performs on campus, at churches, K-12 schools, music festivals, U.S. Naturalization Ceremonies, workshops, weddings, sport events, memorials, and community events. Members perform the Plattsburgh Alma Mater and Star-Spangled Banner regularly at SUNY Plattsburgh commencement programs.

Andrea Ogle, ’09, serves as Associate Artistic Director and Choreographer; RosindaAnthony, ’08 and ’11, serves as advisor; Alexander Malsan, ’13, serves as the choir’s vocal coach. The choir’s student president is Rhoda Agyeman, ’23.

This event is open to the public and is co-sponsored in part by the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of Music, Dean of Arts and Sciences Office, and the SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association. To learn more, contact the Gospel Choir Office at 518-564-2704, or gospelchoir@plattsburgh.edu, or visit the website at www.plattsburghstategospelchoir.org, or find us on Facebook at Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir.

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CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE GOSPELFEST 2023 JOURNAL