Two chances to catch live gospel music tonight at York U
Media invited to gospel music performance and talk and annual Word, Sound Power event featuring Canadian dub poet, writer and Juno award winner Lillian Allen
TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2026 – Media have two opportunities to attend live gospel music at York University’s Keele campus this evening, with two Black History Month events featuring the York University Gospel Choir (YUGC), one for the York community and the other one open to the public.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, The YUGC’s roots go back to the 1990s with a student-run choir called Vessels of Honour. In 2005, the YUGC was created as a course, making York the first university in Canada to offer gospel music course curriculum. Growing from a small group of 20 students to more than a hundred, the choir regularly performs to sold-out audiences.
Gospel Music Collaboration with Founders College and Black Excellence
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Open to the York University community, the YUGC, led by choir conductor Natalie Stewart, will perform, interspersed by a discussion led by School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design Assistant Professor Melissa Davis on the impact of gospel music on the Black diaspora. Performance and talk starting at 5:30 p.m. with a panel discussion and Q&A to follow.
Put on by Black Excellence at York University (BE U) and Founders College, the event takes place at Founders Assembly Hall, 152 Founders College.
Centering our Stories and Communities: Word, Sound, Power: Black Artistic Expression
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora in the Faculty of Education at York University, with the support of UPS, are pleased to present their annual Black History Month Celebration.
Word, Sound, Power: Black Artistic Expression will be an evening of performances showcasing Black artistic expression here at York University. Featuring musical performances including the Oscar Peterson Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Music Chair Mike Cado, and the YUGC, as well as spoken word artists from Highschool Students to Emcees.
The evening also features a spotlight presentation by Canadian dub poet, writer and Juno Award winner — Lillian Allen.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. RECEPTION (CIBC Lobby, Accolade East Building, 83 York Blvd.)
6:30 - 9:00 p.m. PERFORMANCES (Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building, 83 York Blvd.)
RSVP HERE
This is a free event open to the public. All are welcome to attend, but seats are limited.
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York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. York's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.
Media Contact:
Emina Gamulin, York University Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca
