This fall marks a significant milestone for York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) – 20 years of gospel music education.
The roots of gospel music at York can be traced back to the late 1990s, when a student-run choir called Vessels of Honour began rehearsing in Winters College. The choir’s growing popularity demonstrated the potential for formal gospel music courses.
In 2005, Professor Karen Burke was hired as a full-time faculty member and she created two courses: the "York University Gospel Choir" (YUGC) and an upper-year lecture course called “History of Gospel Music.”
“I didn’t realize at the time how seminal my hire at York was,” says Burke, current Chair of York's Department of Music. “Little did I know that this was the first gospel music curriculum available at a post-secondary institution in Canada.”
in April 2011.
in November 2015.
in October 2014.
Since its inception, the program has grown from only 20 students to a vibrant community that has had as many as 100 students enrolled in a single term. The YUGC has become a standout ensemble, regularly performing sold-out shows. One of the key contributors to its growth was Professor Corey Butler, a professional gospel musician. He served as the choir’s accompanist and developed the "York University Gospel Ensemble" (YUGE), a course dedicated to training students in gospel instrumental music.
The gospel music courses at York have not only impacted the University but also the wider community. Hundreds of students have passed through the program, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in music education, performance and beyond. Alumni now head music programs and teach at universities, colleges and high schools all around the country, a testament to the music program’s lasting influence. The program has also fostered connections with the broader gospel music community in Toronto, creating opportunities for collaboration and performance.
Over the past 20 years, the YUGC has performed at prestigious events, including the International Association of Jazz Educators’ Conference and the Ontario Vocal Festival. The choir has shared the stage with renowned artists such as jazz pianist Robi Botos and gospel recording artist Carvin Winans, further cementing its reputation as a leading ensemble in the Canadian gospel music scene.
As the program celebrates its 20th anniversary, the future looks bright. The return of the Gospel Inter-Varsity Explosion (G.I.V.E) event coming up on Oct. 26 will bring together gospel choirs from Humber College, the University of Toronto, and York University for a day of learning and celebration. The event will conclude with a public concert featuring a mass choir of over 150 singers. At YUGC and YUGE's concert on April 5, 2025, a YUGC alumni choir will give a special performance, marking the culmination of this anniversary year.
“Gospel music is the cousin of jazz music and comes from the same musical root of spirituals,” says Burke. “I am grateful that York University, in its quest to remain innovative and to honour music genres in a non-hierarchical approach, has provided access to the study of gospel music for 20 years – and students are loving it.”