North Carolina A&T State University choir director, Travis W. Alexander, was named a national conductor for the 105 Voices of History HBCU National Concert Choir’s 5th Season Celebration on Sept. 21 at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

He spent half the year traveling to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country to rehearse the various groups of singers brought together regionally to prepare music for this big concert featuring representation from each of the 105 HBCUs.

“This national choir is a conductor’s dream made up of the crème de crème of choral singers.  Each school conductor selects the very best student to participate, and they must go through a rigorous audition process to be a part,” said Alexander.

The event culminated with a week of intense 12 hour days filled with morning and evening rehearsals at Howard University and workshops at the Washington National Opera Company of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Grammy award winning gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins was the guest artist and sang two selections with the choir under Alexander’s direction. Grammy nominee Wintley Phipps was the host.  “The Last Words of David,” arranged by Randall Thompson, “Way Over in Beulah Lan’” arranged by Stacey Gibbs, “Come Thou Fount” arranged by Mack Wilberg and “The Potter’s House” with Tramiane Hawkins as soloist were some of the highlights of the repertoire conducted by Alexander.

“As a national conductor, I was so fortunate to be able to take three of my A&T University Choir students with me for this all-expense paid week in D.C. when usually only one student per school is allowed. It was a great opportunity for my students to meet, perform and forge new relationships with cutting edge students from other universities who are also leaders excelling in this difficult discipline of  classical music,” Alexander said.

Three senior music majors, tenor, James Thomas and sopranos Stacee Lyles and Chelsey Stanley, represented A&T in the national choir. Last year, Alexander’s student, senior Anjelica McRae, was named National Voice of 105 by a committee of judges who deemed her solo musical preparation and performance the top among her 105 peers from the other universities across the nation.