Choir History
In the 1940s, in Sevierville, Tennessee, the Church of God started the Bible Training School, which was to become Lee College, now Lee University. This higher education institution sponsored "The Church of God Hour" on the local radio stations and featured a 40 voice mixed choir, which has had several directors, including Harold Cato, Y.H. Yates, and Roosevelt Miller.
In 1958, A.T. Humphries divided the Mixed Choir into two distinct organizations – the Touring Choir and the Campus Choir.
Dr. David Horton was appointed as director for the second time in 1983. Beginning the first semester with 58 students, the choir grew to an enrollment of 150 students. The decision was made to begin auditions and to limit the size of the choir to around 100 students, and the choir began to travel to churches in the surrounding area to sing. Another influence at this time was the creation of Choral Union with the purpose of performing the great oratorios. Dr. Horton decided to make worship music the focus of the Lee University Campus Choir, and this remains the focus of the choir to this day.
With several releases to their name, The Comforter Has Come release was the final project under the direction of Dr. Horton, who had been director for 25 years – he died in May 2006 while on a summer tour with the choir in Nassau, Bahamas. Since his death, the choir has been directed by Dr. Mark Bailey and their current director Pastor Jimmy Phillips.
Read more about this topic: Lee University Campus Choir
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