Over the past 30 years, St. Louis Symphony’s IN UNISON Chorus has become a reflection of our rich African-American heritage.
“Seeing those traditions from the core of our community and culture is very important to what the mission and vision of IN UNISON is,” said IN UNISON Chorus Manager Michelle Byrd.
Next up as IN UNISON continues the work of preserving, promoting, and performing the music of African and African-American culture is IN UNISON Christmas. The musical event, which takes place on Friday, December 13th at Stifel Theatre, is as much a St. Louis cultural staple as it is an annual concert.
“If you have your mind made up that Black music is just one thing, or classical music is just one thing, I encourage people to come and hear what we are doing,” McBeth told The American earlier this year. “I want to be able to use this platform and podium that I have to support the arts and Black music – and to bring the finest music to the community and just continue to live in that vision.”
Each year IN UNISON and The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra uses holiday classics and more as a reminder of the vast influence of African Americans within music. It also pairs the famed chorus with some of the industry’s brightest stars. Next week, Grammy Award-winning vocal group Take 6 will once again join forces with IN UNISON – and will be backed by the fellow Grammy winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
“What we’ve experienced working with IN UNISON, is there’s an angelic sound that is added to what we do that makes the concert more rich,” said Take 6 member Khristian Dentley.
It’s been more than a decade since Take 6 graced the stage with IN UNISON, but the relationship has become more like family than guest collaborators. A distant relative, but one with the same mission and style – which makes it easy to pick up where they left off.
Byrd says, “the wholesome gospel experience” is the chorus’ sweet spot. The same can be said for Take 6, who formed on the campus of Seventh-day Adventist HBCU Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama.
In addition to harmonies, the group uses their voices to simulate instrumentation to add layers to the sound. According to Dentley, Take 6 creates their signature sound with the belief that “each individual was born to answer a question God knew their generation would ask”.
The unique symphonic approach to acapella instantly connected Take 6 with music lovers. Their debut single “Spread Love” helped propel their self-titled album on the gospel, R&B and jazz charts in 1988. They have gone on to win ten Grammy Awards and two NAACP Awards, among others – making them the most awarded acapella group of all time.
The group is an ideal companion to the IN UNISON sound, especially when it comes to songs of the season. Take 6 has become synonymous with holiday music thanks to their trio of Christmas albums –1991’s “He Is Christmas,” 1999’s “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and 2010’s “The Most Wonderful Time of Year.”
Take 6’s upcoming featured performance with IN UNISON will once again be under the musical direction of Kevin McBeth. As IN UNISON commemorates its milestone of three decades, McBeth will soon celebrate his 14th year as director of IN UNISON.
“If you have your mind made up that Black music is just one thing, or classical music is just one thing, I encourage people to come and hear what we are doing,” McBeth told The American earlier this year. “I want to be able to use this platform and podium that I have to support the arts and Black music – and to bring the finest music to the community and just continue to live in that vision.”
When McBeth blends songs and orchestrations, he weaves messages of harmony through the performance to tell a story. The audience is taken on a journey that connects them to the music on a spiritual level.
Along with songs of the season, McBeth will be using IN UNISON Christmas to celebrate the 125th birthday of William Dawson. McBeth has drawn a lot of inspiration from Dawson – an African American composer from the 1800s who continues to inspire directors and musicians from the clergy to even collegiate level singers. His Negro folk influences directors across all racial lines and has become a staple for making African American centered works.
Whether it’s the traditional holiday tunes or the Dawson tribute, Byrd says audiences can once again expect to be blown away by IN UNISON Christmas.
“There is no greater feeling than the electricity,” Byrd said. “From the time you enter to the time you leave, it’s life changing“.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and IN UNISON Chorus will present IN UNISON Christmas featuring Take 6 at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 13th at Stifel Theatre. For more information, visit www.slso.org
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