Professor Wilson performs for Thanksgiving
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Prof Mark
Wilson with Soul Sounds and Chef Indika. |
Professor Mark Wilson has conducted many choirs in the USA, and is
talented not only in directing them, but is also a singer and a pianist.
The music he will perform tomorrow at the Mount Lavinia Hotel
Thanksgiving Dinner will cover all genres of gospel music, and what is
special in them is that it will be an introduction to new styles of
gospel music for the first time in Sri Lanka. The evening is bound to be
uplifting and inspirational for the audience as he conducts the
internationally recognized Soul Sounds choir.
His many graduate degrees are in sociology, philosophy and divinity,
but his musical education has been considerable. The origins of his
gospel art and music came from his family, particularly from the faith
and southern musical heritage of his mother, Mrs. Bettie Cheeks-Austin
and grandmother, Amelia Jackson.
"They were strong spiritual women, from Canton, Mississippi, whose
hymns, moans, chants and gospel songs inspired them to face many social
barriers, personal struggles and forms of racial oppression in the US
and segregated south. They were always singing, as they trusted God to
bring them through", Prof Wilson said.
He learned to play gospel piano and organ under African American
gospel musicians, like Sharon Hogg, Rev. Elzie Ware and Rev. John
McBride of the Northern California Gospel Music Workshop of America, was
further mentored by David Morales, Artistic Director of Cantare Con
Vivo, who encouraged him to take vocal training with Alice Taylor of the
Oakland Opera Company. As an undergraduate at Howard University, he
participated in the University Concert Choir, Choir, and Collegium
Ensemble.
He will be performing tomorrow at the Empire Ballroom of Mount
Lavinia Hotel with the Soul Sounds from 7.30 pm.
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