The South Dallas Concert Choir (SDCC) had its beginning in 1986 as a 15-member workshop choir through the South Dallas Cultural Center under the direction of James Spaights. The choir was made up of members who lived throughout the Dallas metropolitan area and has grown its membership to more than 35 members. The South Dallas Concert Choir has chosen as its main focus to perform and preserve the Negro Spiritual in an effort to bridge the cultural gap between various demographic groups by increasing the understanding and appreciation of the musical contributions made by African Americans. Although the choir presents a diverse repertoire of classical music, show tunes and contemporary gospel, it chose the Negro Spirituals as its main focus because of its rapid disappearance from regular performance practice. Following the tradition of our ancestors, most spirituals are sung without instruments. It is the hope that by focusing on the preservation and performance practice of the Negro Spirituals, audiences will learn to appreciate the beauty of a genre that was born out of desperation but infused with hope. At each major performance, the South Dallas Concert Choir seeks to involve and expose talent outside its membership. Invited performers have included dancers, drummers, singers, musicians and poets. The South Dallas Concert Choir applied for and received nonprofit status in 1990. Spaights as conductor was choral conductor and pianist Otis Lloyd. He expanded the opportunities for the choir and conducted the choir until he retired from the choir. Jowanda Jordan became the choirs third director and under her direction, the choir made many appearances around the city and released its first CD. Most significantly, the choir sang the original composition penned by Mrs. Jordan, Lord, Keep the City to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. The composition received world-wide acclaim. Under the direction of Alfrelynn J. Roberts, the South Dallas Concert Choir sings extensively across the city of Dallas at different churches and other venues such as the Charles Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas Bethlehem Center and South Dallas Cultural Center. Season performances include a Christmas Concert (1st Monday in December), a Black History Program (3rd Saturday in February), Annual Seven Last Words Performance (Palm Sunday) and Juneteenth Commemorative Concert (3rd Saturday in June). Other performances include Spiritual festivals in Shreveport as well as a concert series sponsored by the Riverside United Methodist Church in Houston, TX. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, SDCC director emeritus, Jowanda Jordan composed “Lord Keep the City,” a choral piece based on the last speech the President Kennedy prepared, but never delivered. This compelling rendition has been requested from people across the country. A video was filmed and recorded in the Trade Mart where hundreds gathered 50 years ago to hear the unspoken words of President Kennedy. In 2016, the South Dallas Concert Choir will celebrate 30 years of singing for a community that has embraced the programming this ensemble has offered greater Dallas. With a membership that spans the Metroplex, members come from various denominations and religious experiences but share the common goal, to share the love of the Negro Spiritual with the community and celebrate the joys of singing.
