Grammy-award winning artist Tasha Cobbs, is scheduled to grace the stage for the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Gospel Fest Saturday, April 2 at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center at noon.
Other performances include: the FAMU Gospel Choir, Omega Forbes, 5th Quarter, United Voices of Tabernacle and many more.
Damon Arnold, a third-year broadcast journalism student from Kansas City, Mo., and member of the FAMU choir, explained the process of preparation for their performance.
“You want to set the atmosphere for the leading artist, while also doing your school justice,” stated Arnold. “So the preparation has been stressful.”
Ciara Hart, a graduating senior majoring in social work from Natchitoches, La., shared her hopes for the event as an anticipating audience member.
"I’m expecting for there to be a packed house because Tasha Cobbs is so successful and the event is open to all of Tallahassee. I’m a bit nervous for the groups that I haven’t heard of because I don’t want to be bored, but I know that Cobbs is going to kill it!"
The Gospel Fest can be expected to bring the community together and the students of the university.
As Arnold explained later in the interview, "We (FAMU Choir) always give a dynamic performance that captures both the old souls, and the new in age.”
Though gospel music is thought to be in some forms one dimensional, it is beginning to expand from the aspect that this particular genre was influenced by religion.
According to Sam Hugh’s article The History of Gospel Music, more recently, gospel has become associated with many different genres, and has also started to reach bigger audiences outside of the church.
Arnold told The Famuan, "I'm hoping that everyone has their own unique sound, and brings something new and refreshing to the table.”
The gymnasium will open its doors half an hour prior to the event starting. There is no cost to the event, so the university is calling everyone, far and near, to join them in celebration of gospel.