Get ready to take a journey through the soulful sounds of multi-award-winning Stevie Wonder for the 7th annual Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey through Black History event, presented by the Cumberland Choral Arts.
A vocal experience unlike any other, Lift Every Voice takes audience members on a journey through Black history with Black musicians. Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, located at 400 Campbell Avenue, will host this year’s event on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and $5 for students. They can be purchased online at https://secure.givelively.org/event/cumberland-choral-arts/lift-every-voice-and-sing-the-music-of-stevie-wonder.
While February is the designated month for Black history, the impact of Black ingenuity can be seen and felt every day. The sound of America has been heavily influenced by the groundbreaking music and lyrics of Black artists and continues to shape current trends on the airwaves. The seed for Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History was born in 2008, when founder Brenda Vandervort-Miller moved to the area and attended several Black History events. She realized that while there were plenty of events that focused on history and celebration, none actually approached it from a musical perspective.
In 2019, as she was watching Beyoncé’s Homecoming performance, inspiration hit.
“Hearing her sing Lift Every Voice and Sing, I had a ‘light bulb moment’.... I grabbed my iPad and created a tentative program, which eventually became the first Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History. Our first show was performed on February 22, 2020. We're now 6 years and 7 shows in,” she reflected.
Vandervort-Miller, a native New Yorker, found her voice early and has worked under some of the industry's most prominent teachers and mentors, such as Ms. Claudia Cummings. Her accolades are many and include her time as a principal with the Festival Theatre of New York and The Opera Company of the Highlands, the second recipient of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers Award, and the first recipient of the Methodist University Hall of Fame award for outstanding achievement in the arts.
After her graduation from Methodist University, Vandervort-Miller spent her time in New York City on the stage, taking on roles like Carmen Jones, Queenie (in Show Boat), and as part of the ensemble in The Magic Flute. She’s also had the distinction of being chosen as the Mezzo Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah at West Point Military Academy.
When she returned to North Carolina, she didn’t slow down. She joined the Cumberland Choral Arts and has made it her second home. Since her return, she not only founded Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History, but she has also featured as the Mezzo Soprano Soloist for CCA’s productions of Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Mendelsohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the 30th anniversary production of Mozart’s Requiem.
Vandervort-Miller and Cumberland Choral Arts work tirelessly to bring this once-a-year production to life.
“I am truly thankful to my Cumberland Choral Arts family and the Board of Directors for their continued support of LEVAS. I'd also like to thank the music director for our show, Chris Colon, and the other performers: Corey Leak, Monique Butler-McLeod, Dr. Denise Payton, Jared Payton, Jamele Lrato, Deidra Baldwin, and Joy Vandervort-Cobb. They are each immensely important to the success of our show, and I couldn't do this without them,” Vandervort-Miller commented.
A family-friendly event, LEVAS is more than singing.
“Our shows are educational, approachable, and fun! We strive to create a relaxed, light-hearted show that will have our patrons leave feeling uplifted and inspired to learn more about the music or artists we honor,” she remarked.
The theme each year is the choice of Vandervort-Miller, something she doesn’t take lightly, choosing artists and themes that oftentimes go underrepresented and are lesser known. In addition to the regular program, LEVAS will be paying tribute to legendary Gospel singer Richard Smallwood.
Stevie Wonder is a household name and carries a whole generation in his heart. His songs can be heard in movies, commercials and music lovers' car radios. His lyrics are a familiar sound and can get anyone singing along.
“Stevie is a music icon and a pillar of the Black community. He's contributed so much not only to our community, but to American culture, as an activist for social justice and for the handi-capable community, in addition to his music. I feel that it is important to shine a light on his accomplishments,” Vandervort-Miller said of this year’s choice.
Cumberland Choral Arts has been a vital part of this community since its inception in 1991.
“A 1991 performance of Mozart’s Requiem, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death, brought together a group of local singers under the baton of Mr. Alan M. Porter, the chair of the Music Department and Director of the Fine Arts Division at [what was then called] Methodist College. The ensemble enjoyed singing together so much that they became the genesis for the Fayetteville-based mixed adult community choir, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, now known as Cumberland Choral Arts. Dedicated to bringing classical choral works to the greater Cumberland County area, the group has expanded its repertoire to include jazz, opera, spirituals, standards, and music from the stage and screen,” Vandervort-Miller said.
For more information on Cumberland Choral Arts, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/.

(Photo: The voices of Cumberland Choral Arts will Lift Every Voice and Sing on Saturday, Feb. 28. Photo courtesy of Cumberland Choral Arts Facebook Page)