Special to The Times
On Tuesday, March 17, audiences in Birmingham will have the chance to experience a powerful musical tradition when the American Spiritual Ensemble takes the stage at Jane Hollock Brock Recital Hall on the campus of Samford University.
The 7:30 p.m. performance celebrates the enduring legacy of the American Negro spiritual, a musical form born out of the experiences of enslaved Africans in the United States and one that continues to shape American culture and classical music today.
Presented by Davis Architects, the Birmingham Chamber Music Society, and Samford’s School of the Arts, the concert will highlight the ensemble’s mission of preserving and sharing spirituals through powerful live performances and educational outreach.
Founded in 1995 by acclaimed bass-baritone Everett McCorvey, the American Spiritual Ensemble was created to honor and sustain the music pioneered by enslaved African people. Over the past three decades, the critically acclaimed group has performed around the world, presenting concerts that celebrate the emotional depth, history and artistry of the spiritual.
Today, the ensemble remains the only professional group of its kind dedicated solely to performing the American Negro spiritual. Through concerts, recordings and educational programs, and with a repertoire that ranges from spirituals to classical to Broadway and dance, the ensemble works to ensure the tradition continues to resonate with new generations.
In addition to its global performances, the ensemble frequently visits schools and universities to teach students about the history and cultural significance of spirituals. Members present master classes, lectures, radio and television appearances, and interviews that explore how these songs emerged from hardship and faith to become a foundational element of American music.
Everett McCorvey
At the center of the organization is Everett McCorvey, a Montgomery native and a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned a Doctorate in Musical Arts. McCorvey has performed on some of the most prestigious stages in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, Teatro Comunale and Queen Elizabeth Hall. His performances have taken him to audiences in more than 23 countries.
His career spans nearly every corner of the performing arts world. Beyond his work as a performer, McCorvey has built a distinguished career as a musical director, stage director, voice teacher, producer, impresario and orchestra conductor. He currently serves as conductor and artistic director of the National Chorale and Orchestra of New York City and was recently appointed inaugural principal guest conductor at Opera Columbus.
McCorvey is also deeply involved in arts leadership and advocacy, serving as a union representative, administrator, and mentor. In Kentucky, where he currently lives, he serves as chairman of the Kentucky Arts Council, and nationally, he contributes as an advisory panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. He also sits on the board of the Sullivan Foundation of New York, which supports emerging opera singers as they launch their professional careers.
Under McCorvey’s leadership, the American Spiritual Ensemble has also built an impressive discography, releasing twelve albums that showcase the beauty and resilience of spiritual music.
The March 17 performance at Samford offers Birmingham audiences a chance to hear that tradition brought vividly to life through voices dedicated to preserving one of America’s most profound musical legacies.
Event Details
American Spiritual Ensemble
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Jane Hollock Brock Recital Hall
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama
Tickets are available at: www.samford.edu/arts/events/American-Spiritual-Ensemble
