Tours
NCE sang at churches in Evanston and throughout Chicago and the nation. They realized their vision of organizing tours during spring break. They mainly sang at member’s hometown churches in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Atlanta, Georgia, Columbia, South Carolina, Norfolk, Virginia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Louisville, and Kentucky. And as guest choirs at other universities including Morehouse University, Allen University, and Kentucky State University. Additionally, throughout the year, the choir sang for local programs and in conjunction with other student organizations, including Black Folks Theatre. Many alumni noted that the choir served as an unofficial ambassador for Northwestern University to those who were unfamiliar with the campus or unaware that Black students attended the predominately white school.
Soul Feast was a fundraiser to finance NCE’s first spring break tour. They hosted it in the Walnut Room basement of Ebenezer AME Church.
An excerpt of events featuring NCE between 1972 and 1979
- The African Presence Festival, 1972
- NCE-Black Folks Theatre presentation with Garrett Black seminarians at Jolliet State Prison, 1972
- Benefit performance for the DuSable Museum for African American History in Chicago, IL, 1972
- Performance at the B’Hai Temple in Wilmette, IL, 1972
- Third Annual Illinois Black Choir Workshop, 1974
- “Gospel Truth Comes Out at the Wild Onion Festival,” 1974
- NCE invited to sing by The Catherdral Choir of Greshan United Methodist Church, 1974
- NCE concert at Gorton Community Center, 1975
- NCE featured at a benefit concert at First Church of God, 1976
- NCE Nightclub, 1976
- NCE on “Heritage of Faith,” 1979
National Black College Choir Gospel Workshop
During Thanksgiving break, NCE traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for the National Black College Choir Gospel Workshop. The workshop included a singing competition for participating college choirs. In 1980, NCE won the F.W. Woolworth Competition.
- Letter of support from Chaplain James Avery
- “Ensemble Set For Musical Tour,” Daily Northwestern, October 4, 1979
Concerts & Music
NCE's 1st Decade of Concerts
- “An Evening of Music,” December 10, 1971
- “See How Far We’ve Come,” December 1, 1972
- “Look Up and See God,” December 9, 1973
- “Will You Be Ready When Jesus Comes,” December 9, 1974
- “A Gift of Song,” January 31, 1976
- “Five Years of Praise,” February 5, 1977
- “Tell It Wherever You Go,” February 11, 1978
- “Victory Shall Be Mine,” February 10, 1979
- “Eternally His,” February 23, 1980
- “God Is On Our Side,” February 28, 1981
Songs, Musicians, & Guest Artists
Concert Posters
Reflections: "Glad To See NCE Evolve"
Sources
Unless otherwise noted, the sources displayed are from the Northwestern University Archives and the Daily Northwestern and Syllabus Yearbook, courtesy of Students Publishing Company. The interviews were conducted with the following Northwestern Community Ensemble alumni, L. Stanley Davis, Eileen Cherry-Chandler, Bishop Perry, Bob Moore, Warren Lawson, Jacqueline Lott Jackson, Charles Talbert, and Walter Owens.