Contact: Madison Welzbacher

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s Black Voices Gospel Choir is holding its 50th Annual Spring Concert Saturday [April 30] at 4 p.m. at the Colvard Student Union’s Foster Ballroom.

The group is dedicating its 50th concert to the legacy of performers that came before them. The event is free and open to the public.

Ricky Dillard, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer and songwriter, is the featured special guest. The Chicago native began his music career in the 1980s and has long been involved with church music. His music style intertwines R&B, funk, blues, jazz and Black gospel, and his recordings have gotten high marks on the gospel charts.

Trey O’Neal, a senior software engineering major from Nettleton and a first-semester member of Black Voices, said it’s exciting to be part of the 50th anniversary event.

“It’s important to have a connection with God. Although everyone’s praise is different, in Black Voices we’re all here to worship. I joined Black Voices to reconnect with my faith and be surrounded by people who would be welcoming to me as I do that,” O’Neal said.

For more, follow BlackVoicesMSU on Facebook or Instagram.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.