Lansing Community College students, faculty and staff came together to create an expression of hope and resilience by joining together virtually in song with their rendition of “We Shall Overcome.”
With opening remarks by LCC President Dr. Steve Robinson, who also sings with the choir, 24 participants rehearsed and recorded themselves led by LCC Music Program faculty chair Dr. Jonathan Ten Brink.
Ten Brink, the mastermind behind the endeavor chose the staple of the Civil Rights movement for the virtual choir because, “as individuals and a community, we are in the midst of overcoming so many things, and this song of protest and hope brings individuals together as a community to inspire others.”
“We Shall Overcome” was called “the most powerful song of the 20th century,” by the Library of Congress, and serves as a fitting anthem for the challenges 2020 has unleashed on the world. Ten Brink continued, “This has been a tough year with some big hurdles to stability, success and community. Despite all the obstacles that have come our way, we as an LCC community will persevere and not just overcome, but thrive.”
Other contributions to the piece included editing of video by Rob Edwards, audio editing by Brock Elsesser and producing coordination by Arts Outreach Coordinator Melissa Kaplan.
