This concert honors a towering figure in gospel music, Richard Smallwood, through the combined power of orchestra and choir. The BPO joins the Buffalo United Community Choir for an evening rooted in faith, artistry, and the kind of music that lifts a room from the inside out. Smallwood is celebrated for bridging traditions, drawing on classical training, church roots, and contemporary sound to create music that resonates across generations. You will hear selections from his remarkable catalog, including Total Praise, a modern-day hymn known across denominations and communities. This is more than a performance. It is a shared experience of voice, spirit, and community, offered with joy and reverence.

Program

Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
Buffalo United Community Choir
Ella E. Robinson, BUCC artistic director
Karen Saxon, BUCC artistic director
George Brown, BUCC artistic director
Adolphus Allen, organ
Michelle Thomas, keyboard
James Wingo, guitar
Anthony Cummings, bass
Preston Brown, drums