The History Of The Boston Community Choir
The Boston Community Choir (a.k.a. The Boston Pops Gospel
Choir), is an all-volunteer group comprised of singers from
many church, community, and university choirs throughtout the Greater Boston area.
The Boston Pops Gospel Choir was originally brought together to perform in the first "Gospel Night at POPS" in 1993. "Gospel Night"
is a result of the
vision and commitment of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Cultural Diversity
Committee. This vision was particularly championed by the late Vondal M.
Taylor, Jr. (1954-95), who was Vice-Chair of the Cultural Diversity
Committee, and an overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The
Cultural Diversity Committee, in its effort to increase the diversity of
Symphony Hall’s patronage, developed Gospel Night to appeal to a
broader-than-traditional audience. Gospel Night has since become an
annual event that continues to feature the choir.
Choir), is an all-volunteer group comprised of singers from
many church, community, and university choirs throughtout the Greater Boston area.The Boston Pops Gospel Choir was originally brought together to perform in the first "Gospel Night at POPS" in 1993. "Gospel Night"
is a result of the
vision and commitment of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Cultural Diversity
Committee. This vision was particularly championed by the late Vondal M.
Taylor, Jr. (1954-95), who was Vice-Chair of the Cultural Diversity
Committee, and an overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The
Cultural Diversity Committee, in its effort to increase the diversity of
Symphony Hall’s patronage, developed Gospel Night to appeal to a
broader-than-traditional audience. Gospel Night has since become an
annual event that continues to feature the choir.
After the death of Vondal Taylor in 1995, Brother Dennis Slaughter, who had
performed with the choir since 1993, decided to 
develop Boston Community Choir as an entity outside of Symphony Hall. Through his efforts and
musical direction, the Boston Community Choir has become well-known throughout the Boston area for
its inspired and uplifting performances. In it's special way, this choir
is adding to the very rich and exciting history
of gospel music.
Some performances of note include:
 | Singing at the Opening of the Fleet Center with Patti LaBelle, and James Taylor |
| Singing with Natalie Cole during concerts at the Harborlights Pavilion |
| Performing every year since 1996 in Boston’s Famous First Night Celebrations |
| Singing at the Re-Lighting Dedication of the Museum of Fine Arts |
| Joining the rock group Phish at their New Year's Eve concert at the Fleet Center |
| Singing during the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fund-raiser |
| Singing at the Project Clotheslines’ Memorial Display on the Boston Common |
.....and many community outreach functions which promote all things positive.
