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“Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service”Sunday, July 12, 2026
Program: 3:00 PM
Pre-Event Luncheon: 12:30-2:30 PM
There is no fee to attend the program or lunch. All are welcome.
Attendance Capacity: 1,000 attendees
As the grand finale of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest in 2026, Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University will once again host “Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service,” featuring performances by the Winston-Salem State University Choir, The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble (BCCE) of Syracuse University, and a community choir comprised of Syracuse-area residents.
This exciting program, which delighted more than 800 patrons in 2025, will offer a dynamic and inclusive spiritual experience that fuses and celebrates Gospel and Jazz music, includes a pre-event welcome luncheon, and seeks to spark and sustain renewal in our local community and beyond. The program and luncheon are both free of charge and open to all.
No registration is necessary however, you may join the Facebook event to receive reminders.
RAIN AND INCLEMENT WEATHER
This event will be held rain or shine! For the luncheon, large event tents will protect everyone from the rain. In the event of inclement weather, attendees will be directed to a safe location.
Join the Community Chorus:
All interested in participating in the community choir may contact Cora Thomas at [email protected] or Hendricks Chapel at [email protected] or 315.443.2901.
Parking:
Free parking will be available in the Irving Garage and the Raynor Lot.
Shuttles will start running from the Irving Garage and the Raynor Lot beginning at 11:30 A.M.
For parking maps, visit: https://parking.syr.edu/visitors-to-campus/lot-directions-and-maps/
Accessibility:
For accessible parking, please call Hendricks Chapel at 315.443.2901 or email [email protected].
CART, ASL and Aira will be offered at this event.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is the instant translation of the spoken word into English text using a stenotype machine, notebook computer and real-time software. This is useful for English speakers who are hard of hearing or deaf.
An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter translates a service or program for those who know ASL and are deaf or hard of hearing.
Aira is a visual interpreting service that makes visual information accessible for people who are blind or have low vision, or for any person with a disability who may benefit from verbal descriptions of visual information. Syracuse University is a proud Aira Access Partner. SU makes Aira visual interpreting services available to our community of students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and visitors on campus at no cost. Interpreters audibly describe a person’s visual surroundings via a live professionally-trained agent and the Aira Explorer mobile app.
Winston-Salem State University Choir
The Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Choir (aka WSSU Singing Rams) is the oldest student organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. There is evidence to prove that the institution of the choir predates the Department of Music, of which it is now a part. The University Choir is now under the leadership and baton of Maestra D’Walla Simmons Burke. This University Choir has performed commissioned works, such as On Imagination and I Too (Undine Smith Moore), Recent Reflections on Deep River (Michael Williams), Come Sunday (arr. S. Van Dixon), Hold On and Oh, What a Beautiful City (arr. Stacey Gibbs), to name a few. Under the leadership of Maestra Simmons-Burke, the Winston-Salem State University Choir has traveled both nationally and internationally. Read more about Maestra Simmons-Burke below.
The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble (BCCE) of Syracuse University
Founded in 1977 by Rev. Dr. Seretta C. McKnight to provide a spiritual home for Black students at Syracuse University, the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble (BCCE) ministers through Gospel music that fosters and supports academic excellence at a university welcoming to all. Led by student director Joshua Garvin ’25 and supported through The Alumni Group (TAG) of the BCEE, the choir has performed at numerous venues throughout North America, including the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA), the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and currently led by Rev. Dr. Senator Raphael Warnock.
Gospel Jazz Community Choir
To honor the Sunday Gospel Jazz Service theme of “Return to Community,” a diverse community choir composed of Syracuse area residents will once again be led by Cora Thomas, known locally as “Syracuse’s First Lady of Gospel Music.” Born and raised in Syracuse, Thomas serves on numerous community organizations and hosts “Sunday Morning Gospel” on WAER 88.3 of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. All interested in participating in the community choir may contact Cora Thomas at [email protected] or Hendricks Chapel at [email protected] or 315.443.2901.
Pre-Event Outdoor Welcome Luncheon
To express the Sunday Gospel Jazz Service theme of “Return to Community,” a pre-event outdoor welcome luncheon, featuring free food and refreshments, will take place on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle of Syracuse University from 12:30 PM-2:30 PM. At 2:30 PM, the first 1,000 guests will be ushered into Hendricks Chapel for the 3:00 PM Sunday Gospel Jazz Service start time.
Syracuse International Jazz Fest
For additional information on the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest, please visit syracusejazzfest.com.
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Event Venue
121 Crouse Drive, Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse, NY, United States, New York 13244
Tickets
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