Throughout the weekend the UT Love United Gospel Choir will present a variety of events, giving students the opportunity to hear ministry through song.

The Love United Gospel Choir (LUGC) was founded at UT in 1970. The choir was formerly known as the John 23rd Singers, a name established out of St. John Baptist Church in Alcoa, Tenn. Leadership of the choir began to notice the love and unity that was present among its members, so they changed its name to the Love United Gospel Choir.

Students in the choir come from all races and ethnic backgrounds and perform for UT events as well as multiple churches throughout Knoxville. Aside from singing, the choir and its members continue to serve the UT campus and the local community with community service.

This weekend the choir will host “LUGC Reloaded,” a weekend full of events geared towards educating the campus and community about gospel music.

Friday there will be a gospel museum at the Black Cultural Center from noon to 2 p.m. The museum will showcase the progression of gospel music throughout the years, featuring artists such as Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and many more.

On Saturday, LUGC will present a number of choirs in their Gospel Fest, an annual concert that highlights various gospel choirs and a gospel recording artist.

The event will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center. It will be hosted by recording artist Micah Stampley.

“People should come to Gospel Fest because it will be a great opportunity to listen to renowned gospel choirs and artists for free,” Tyrone Dobson, director of LUGC, said. “It will be an opportunity to listen and witness how different choirs sound and perform its music.”

For their spring term, guest groups will include A&M Gospel Choir from Alabama A&M University, The African American Voices Gospel Choir from Ohio State University, and Voices of Praise from Tennessee Tech University.

Sunday will showcase LUGC’s efforts of the semester with its Spring Concert. The selected songs will mimic the concert’s theme, “Moving Forward,” encouraging those present to keep the faith and never give up. The event will be held in the UC Auditorium at 3:30 p.m.

LUGC hosts a concert every semester for the fall and spring school terms. Past themes of LUGC’s concerts include “Zion Rejoice” and “Do You Know the Man.

The host of Sunday’s event will be UT alumnus and previous member of LUGC Tamika Pollard. Immediately following the concert will be a Sunday dinner cosponsored by the Students of African American Brotherhood at the Black Cultural Center.

The menu will consist of spaghetti, green beans, mac & cheese, corn, peas, salad, bread and a variety of desserts. Plates will be $3 for attendees of the concert and $5 at the door. The dinner will start at 6:30 p.m.

The Love United Gospel Choir has received many awards in recognition of its hard work, including the Chancellor’s Organization Award and Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Service and Leadership in 1992 and again in 2007.

“Everyone should look forward to Gospel Fest because it is not every day that you can witness a group of great choirs and a famous artist for free,” Dadrien Barnes, president of LUGC, said. “Despite the success of the previous Gospel Fests we are critical of them and take the memory of each to improve and grow, ensuring that the next event is even better.”

Since its inception, Love United has expanded the organization to not only consists of a choir, but also a Dance Ministry, Praise Team and Media Ministry. The praise team, created in 2008, includes two members from each section of the choir. The team serves as an opening for the choir, preparing the crowd in praise.

The dance ministry, Touching Hearts, was formed in 2005. The dance team performs between the choir performances during intermission of concerts.

Media Ministry is in charge of the distribution of all audio and video recordings.

The Love United Gospel choir holds practice every Friday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Music/Theater Room of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Building. Auditions to join the choir are not required.

“LUGC is a source of stability for me,” Dobson said. “It has been the one constant force throughout these four years. LUGC has allowed me to grow into a better person and develop friendships that will last a lifetime.”