The 2025 presentation of IN UNISON Christmas will be a special one. After a nomadic couple of seasons at Stifel Theatre, this year’s annual holiday concert featuring the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON Chorus returns home to Powell Symphony Hall. Now housed within the all-new Jack C. Taylor Music Center, the thought of seeing Powell Hall’s classic Christmas decorations inside the renovated space brings its own anticipation.
The 2024 edition, featuring Grammy-winning vocal group Take 6, was a sold-out performance.
“We are always so grateful to have such an amazing audience,” McBeth told last year’s crowd. “Sometimes you just need a beautiful Christmas carol to remind us of the gorgeous time this season brings. There were some people who wanted to be here tonight, but couldn’t get a ticket.”
This year’s two-night celebration on December 18 and 19 will feature The Clark Sisters—the highest-selling female gospel group in U.S. history. They will headline IN UNISON Christmas alongside the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) and the IN UNISON Chorus. For two nights, their unmistakable harmonies will merge with orchestral grandeur, offering audiences a holiday celebration steeped in both tradition and innovation.
Founded more than 30 years ago, the IN UNISON Chorus was created to preserve and perform music rooted in the African diaspora—spirituals, gospel, and jazz. Each December, the chorus joins forces with the SLSO to deliver a festive program blending sacred classics with contemporary gospel. This year’s collaboration with The Clark Sisters continues that tradition.
Emerging from Detroit in the 1970s, The Clark Sisters—Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard—redefined gospel music by fusing it with R&B, jazz, and funk. Their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, was a pioneering choir director and arranger. She trained her daughters in sight-singing, piano, and choral arranging from childhood. Founder of the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit and the longest-serving international minister of music for the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), she shaped the sound of gospel choirs nationwide and instilled discipline in her daughters.
Under her guidance, the sisters developed what became known as “The Clark Sound”—a daring blend of sanctified vocals and contemporary rhythms that pushed gospel into the mainstream. Over the decades, they’ve sold more than 20 million records worldwide, won three Grammy Awards, and influenced artists from Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond to Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige.
While their collective work is legendary, each sister has carved out her own path. Jacky Clark Chisholm has balanced her solo career with work as a nurse and motivational speaker. Twinkie Clark, often called the “Mother of Contemporary Gospel,” is celebrated for merging secular sounds with messages of faith and inspiration. Dorinda Clark-Cole has enjoyed a Grammy-winning solo career and, for more than four decades, has been one of gospel’s most electrifying live performers. Karen Clark Sheard has become a powerhouse in her own right, with multiple Grammy wins and a vocal style that has influenced generations—including her daughter, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard-Kelly. Together and apart, The Clark Sisters embody the artistry, creativity, and resilience of gospel music.
The IN UNISON Chorus shares that same spirit. Founded in 1992 under Dr. Robert Ray and now led by Kevin McBeth, its mission is to celebrate and preserve African American musical traditions while collaborating with the SLSO. “It has been a wonderful experience being part of the SLSO family, and sharing these concerts during this special time of year,” said McBeth, who is approaching his 15th year as director. Over the years, the chorus has performed with luminaries like Take 6, Oleta Adams, and Wintley Phipps.
The annual IN UNISON Christmas concert has become a beloved tradition, drawing audiences from across the region. It’s more than a concert—it’s a cultural gathering that affirms the vitality of gospel music within the broader symphonic landscape.
With The Clark Sisters at the helm, audiences can expect a program that blends holiday classics with gospel fire. Backed by the lush orchestration of the SLSO and the powerhouse vocals of the IN UNISON Chorus, these performances promise to be both reverent and electrifying.
The event is more than entertainment—it’s a celebration of cultural legacy. The Clark Sisters’ presence underscores the enduring power of gospel music to uplift, inspire, and unite.
“You are in for a night of inspiration, of great music,” McBeth said. “To put you in the Christmas spirit if you are not already.”
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus will present IN UNISON Christmas with the Clark Sisters at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, and Friday, December 19 at Powell Symphony Hall. For more information, visit www.slso.org.
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