GospelFEST Celebrates ‘Coral Anniversary Weekend’ with Mixer, Concert
Alumni of the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir will return to campus later this month to help celebrate the ensemble’s 35th anniversary at the university during the annual GospelFEST Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in the E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall.
Dozens of former choir members will take part in a three-day event being called the “Coral Anniversary Weekend,” denoting one of the three concert colors, along with black and gold, that promises to be “special as past members, musicians, and friends join to celebrate their love for the choir, college, community, and gospel music,” said Artistic Director Dexter Criss, professor of chemistry and choir founder.
Since its inception in 1991, the Plattsburgh Gospel Choir has created its harmonic fusion of traditional gospel, urban gospel, contemporary Christian music, European harmonies, blended with Caribbean and Afrocentric rhythms and overtones, entertaining thousands locally, regionally, and internationally.
The choir sings at a variety of settings, including colleges, campus events, K-12 schools, churches, memorial services, weddings, and other community events. It has performed in Burlington, Albany, New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Little Rock, Ark., Chicago, Providence, R.I., and internationally in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Tokyo, St. Maarten/St. Martin, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Additionally, the choir has collaborated with trumpeter Ray Vega, gospel guru Darius Brooks, and clinicians such as Dr. Raymond Wise, Stan Spottswood, Dr. Anthony Leach, and Mario Vaughn, and Ron Rucker of Japan among many others, and has appeared on several TV shows including the WORD Network and Mountain Lake PBS.
It has shared the stage with Lyle Lovett, Sheila Ray Charles, Myra Flynn, and The Kingdom Choir from London. The choir is fresh off its North Carolina 2026 Spring Break Tour, where it performed to crowds in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, and the renowned International Civil Rights Center & Museum, the historic site of the Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins, in Greensboro.
Social Mixer Friday
The “Coral Anniversary Weekend” kicks off Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. with a social mixer in the Flynt Commons, Angell College Center. On Saturday, April 25, the choir will celebrate with a scholarship and awards banquet at 2 p.m. in the Adirondack Room at the Butcher Block, 15 Booth Dr., in Plattsburgh.
Hosted by Michael Thompson, SUNY Plattsburgh Affirmative Action Officer and special projects coordinator in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the event will include musical selections by the Gospel Choir’s Alumni Praise Team.
The choir takes to the Giltz stage for GospelFEST at 7 p.m. featuring the “Coral Reunion Alumni Choir,” directed by host Dr. Rosite George-Delgado ’05. Kayin Queeley ’10 G’14 will lead the “Coral Reunion Alumni Steppers.”
Brunch Sunday
The “coral weekend” wraps up at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 26 with the Farewell Gospel-Jazz Brunch at the Valcour Inn and Boathouse, featuring “Two of a Kind + One” jazz trio, with Steve Collier on piano, Matt Dunne on bass, and Mike Lewandowski on drums.
Inclusive weekend packages start at $150. For more information on ticket prices and concert merch, visit www.plattsburghstategospelchoir.org, email [email protected] or call 518-564-2704.
