Southern Gospel singing conventions have a long history in the south and they are alive and well in the 21st century. The Mount Pleasant-Titus County Chamber & Visitors Council had the privilege of bringing the Texas State Gospel Singing Convention to Mount Pleasant recently, which drew about 125 singers from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
The convention was held April 18-19 at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center.
Susan Bollman, president of the Texas state Gospel Singing Association, says the group was so overwhelmed by the support from the Chamber and the Mount Pleasant Civic Center that the group voted to bring the state convention back to Mount Pleasant next year. It will be held at the Civic Center April 17-18, 2015.
The state convention had been held in Stephenville every year until 2011 when it was moved to Mount Vernon in 2011. This year, because the event fell on Easter weekend, organizers had to look for a new venue that had room to host the event.
“We are so appreciative of the support we received,” Bollamn said. “We’ve had a great experience everywhere we’ve been, but this time we had the support of the Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Center helping us. It turned out fantastic.”
The Chamber also brought the National Gospel Singing Convention to Mount Pleasant in November 2013. It was held at South Jefferson Baptist Church. The national convention moves throughout the southeast every year. It has only been held in Texas six or seven times, Bollman said.
Chamber CEO Faustine Curry said the state convention was successful due to the great partnership between the Chamber and the City of Mount Pleasant.
“It is always great to have people from out of town visiting Mount Pleasant and I couldn’t have been happier with the turnout on an Easter weekend,” Curry said. “We just love being able to show off our city and show them our Everything Texas hospitality.”
Bollman said the conventions date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“The quartets like the Statesmen, The Blackwoods, and the Stamps all started in this type of music,” she said. “It’s like a church service, but you have a minister of music directing the congregation and then people in the congregation will get up and direct the singing also.”
Bollman said the state convention has five songbook publishers that offer new books every year in the old fashioned shape notes style, Bollman said.
“It’s easy to read the shape notes and if you can read the round notes you can still sing the shape notes,” Bollman said. “Anyone can walk in and pick up a songbook and either listen or sing along with us,” she said.
The organization also awards scholarships for youth and young adults ages seven to 25 who participate in the singing convention to attend the two-week long summer session at its Texas Southern Gospel School of Music.
Bollman said the conventions are free, non-denominational events and the music draws people from all over.
“The music is toe-tapping and it’s fun to sing. The conventions are enjoyable and there’s a message,” she said. “You become part of a family. Once it gets in your blood, it’s hard to get out.”
Mount Pleasant Texas Chamber 