Since 1995, the Gospel Choir of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) has hosted a benefit concert to raise scholarship funds for students of color. Since its inception, over $38,000 has been donated and distributed to students of color at LSTC. The Gospel Choir was established by former LSTC staff member Ms. Patricia Bartley. Her goal was to ensure continuing education funds were available for students of color to attend seminary. To this end, the choir began hosting gospel concerts to raise funds for tuition scholarships for students.

This 35^th anniversary concert features Gospel Music “According to Chicago,” highlighting songs composed by Chicago artists and songwriters. One of the featured artists is LSTC’s Cantor to the Community, Dr. Keith “DOC” Hampton, a world-renowned composer, musician and “doctor of music.” Other noted composers and songwriters include Tony Tidwell. Percy and Gerald Gray, Pastor DeAndre Patterson, Bishop Larry Roberts and Sonya Whitmore.

During the concert, two scholarships will be awarded to LSTC students. The first scholarship to be awarded is the Rev. Carola A. Burns Memorial Scholarship which supports African American women studying in the Master of Divinity program. The second scholarship to be awarded is the Grover Wright Scholarship Fund, which supports persons of African descent or persons of color whose first language is not English, pursuing the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology or Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

This concert will be both in-person and online. Your support of these two incredible scholarship programs is greatly appreciated and we look forward to a day filled with music and celebration. A reception will immediately follow the concert in the James Nieman Commons where guests will have the opportunity to meet and greet the scholarship recipients.

If attending virtually, please join using the following Zoom link: https://lstc-edu.zoom.us/my/lstc.chapel

Biographies

Dr. Keith T. Hampton

Dr. Keith T. Hampton, affectionately known as “DOC,” is the Cantor to the seminary community at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago Community Chorus (CCC), one of Chicagoland’s most renowned choirs. Dr. Hampton is an organist, conductor, composer, educator, church musician, adjudicator and workshop clinician. DOC is also president of Dr. KT Productions and Director of Music at St Thomas Episcopal Church.

A specialist in the field of gospel music, in 2010, the North Central American Choral Directors Association elected Dr. Hampton as one of the top 25 Contemporary Composers whose composition “Praise His Holy Name” should become a standard for choirs for the next 50 years. 

Dr. Hampton earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Arts from Marywood University and his Doctor of Music degree in Church Music from Northwestern University. He has received numerous awards from around the country.

The Grover Wright Scholarship Fund
Mr. Grover Wright

Grover Wright was associate director of the Division for Professional Leadership at the Lutheran Church in America. He was a strong leader in the church who encouraged Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans to be pastors and lay leaders in the church. In 1989 the Rev. Vicki Watkins and the Rev. Christine Thompson conceived of the scholarship and brought the idea to the choir. It was adopted and established as a ministry project of the choir, to praise God and support people of color in fulfilling their calling. In 1995, Mr. Wright traveled to Chicago to attend the concert which honored his legacy. He passed away on February 3, 1997, yet his legacy continues. This scholarship is for persons of African American descent or persons of color whose first language is not English and are pursuing the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology or Doctor of Philosophy degree.

The Rev. Carole A. Burns Memorial Scholarship Fund
Rev. Carole A Burns

The Rev. Carole A. Burns Scholarship Fund was created by the LSTC Gospel Choir in 2002 as a ministry project. The Rev. Carole A. Burns was a member of the choir and one of the founders of the Grover Wright Scholarship Fund. She was the first female to preach and teach at a Diocesan assembly during the choir’s 1997 tour in Tanzania, East Africa. Rev. Burns passed away on December 27, 2001. To honor her life and gifts, the choir established the Rev. Carole A. Burns Memorial Scholarship Fund. In memory of Rev. Burns, Trinity Lutheran Church in West Bend, Wisconsin gifted to the choir their red and black choir robes. The scholarship supports African American women pursuing their Master of Divinity degree.

This event is sponsored by The Rev. Dr. Albert “Pete” Pero and The Rev. Dr. Cheryl Stewart Pero Center for Intersectionality Studies and LSTC’s Master’s Student Association (MSA).