The Auburn University Gospel Choir is a diverse choral ensemble of passionate singers, dancers and instrumentalists. Auburn University music professors and married couple, Drs. William and Rosephanye Powell have led the choir since 2001, leaving a lasting impact on the music department and students alike.
The choir season begins with auditions at the beginning of each semester. Each year, the choir accepts around 50 student participants from various backgrounds, majors and walks of life. The group is unified by each individual's love for singing songs with emotion and power, which is the heart of gospel music.
“It’s just such a fun place to be, because I get to sing and worship Jesus at the same time. It’s wonderful and so moving. Every class, I walk out feeling more fulfilled,” said Claire Preston, sophomore in rehabilitation and disability studies and Auburn Gospel Choir member.
For Preston, finding a community of people who are passionate about music and Jesus at college has been nothing less than joyful. She appreciates that being a part of the gospel choir has given her an outlet to relieve stress, bring herself peace and create new friendships.
What brings the choir together the most is their reason behind singing each song: to glorify God no matter what. This became evident when Rosephanye, one of the choir's beloved directors, suffered from a stroke earlier this semester.
“It was particularly impactful because of the history they have with both of us,” said William, the other director and Rosephanye's husband. “So to see her one day at the beginning of the semester and everything's fine, and then we come back after she’s been away and they hear the story."
For William, teaching with Rosephanye has built the couple into who they are. Since their beginnings at Alabama State University, the two have continuously taught as partners and colleagues.
“Some of the students will see us and go, ‘How do you work so well together?’ and you know, we’ve been doing this for decades. It’s just the together part of who we are and how we operate,” William said.
During his wife's absence, William was comforted by his colleagues, students, and the Lord, since he believes that the Lord's plan is always perfect. He attributes much of his wife's healing to their faith, and he has full confidence that Rosephanye will be fully healed through occupational and physical therapy.
”Just seeing her come into the room, she may have been in a wheelchair, but at the same time, it just showed such strength, resilience and trust in the Lord’s plan. She may not be physically the same way she used to be, but that doesn’t mean she can’t go back to that in the future," said Marielle Burque, sophomore in exercise science and Auburn Gospel Choir member.
For Burque, the Auburn Gospel Choir has been her home away from home at college. She always knew she loved to sing, and she wanted to continue to grow her passion when she came to Auburn. After auditioning for the choir at Camp War Eagle, Burque knew she had found her place on campus.
“I was really glad to start doing gospel choir, but I didn't know anybody. But when I met my friends, they really made me feel like I was a part of the group. It just helped it become more of a family, not just a class,” Burque said.
The gospel community doesn’t stop at Auburn University. On Sunday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m., the Auburn University Gospel Choir will be hosting its annual Unity Concert with the University of Alabama's Afro-American Gospel Choir at True Deliverance Holiness Church in Auburn. The Unity Concert is a long-standing annual tradition for both choirs, beginning in the 1980s. It was formerly known as the Team Up For Jesus concert.
The concert is always a precursor to the Iron Bowl, empowering both schools to come together as one and express their love for gospel songs while worshipping God. Admission is free to all, allowing anyone to come celebrate differences, praise the Lord and enjoy the gift of gospel music.
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Chloe Glass, sophomore majoring in English language arts education, is from Daphne, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
