Moving Spirituals Assembly from Boston Arts Academy

by Bonnie Shao ’27
Every Thursday morning, the whole school gathers in the theater for assembly. It is a time for the Winsor community to come together to celebrate our classmates, learn from guest presenters, and bond as a school. In addition to performances and presentations from within the Winsor community, we frequently host guest performers and speakers. However, I most enjoy the music performances, which never fail to engage the interest and spirit of the audience. This Thursday's performance from the Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble was no different. 

In her introduction to the ensemble's performance, Natalie Cooper ’24 noted, “Spirituals have been called the backbone of every type of American popular music… ‘The African American Spiritual — with its motifs of homelessness, namelessness, and hope against hope — is the first modern artistic expression of this human outcry in the New World.’ We are so honored to have a special ensemble keeping this important music alive.” Boston Arts Academy is Boston's only public arts high school, and its Spirituals Ensemble, founded in 2009, is made up of 20 auditioned sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Under the direction of Music Department Co-Chair Michael Bradley, the group has won numerous competitions and performed at events such as the inauguration of Governor Maura Healey. Their visit to perform at Winsor has been a longstanding tradition in years past.  

At their visit to Winsor this past Thursday, Director Michael Bradley referred to the group's performance as a “journey through the African diaspora.” He shared how spirituals “[speak] to a people that triumphed in the face of strict adversity” and communicate the “ability for people to triumph through the toughest situations,” referring to how the genre originated in African enslaved people's use of church music to lift themselves up despite terrible circumstances. The group shared pieces such as “We're Marching to Zion,” which featured a stomping rhythm that reflected the lyrics of the piece, “Poor Man Laz'rus,” a parable about a rich man and a poor man, “In Bright Mansions,” which culminated in an incredibly long note held over the recitative “in my father's house there are many mansions…”, and “A Prayer,” a poem set to music. The group ended their performance with several gospel pieces — gospel being a modern derivation of spiritual music — such as “All We Ask” by Donnie McClurkin. These pieces incorporated a few soloists, including Mr. Bradley himself. At the end of their performance, the ensemble was given a standing ovation from the entire school. 

The Winsor community enjoyed the Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble's performance immensely, and we eagerly look forward to their return next year!
Back