Suburban towns on the south side of Atlanta were the destinations for the Baptist College of Florida’s Women’s Ensemble Spring tour conducted in mid-April.  The ensemble, led by BCF professor Buford Cox, performed at Pike County High School in Zebulon, Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, and Gordon College in Barnesville.  They also sang at Fellowship Baptist Church in Thomaston, GA, where BCF student Josh Ryals is minister of music, and ended the tour at Cloverdale Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL, where BCF alumni Danny Crosby is pastor and Carl Newman is minister of music and education. 

Choral directors welcomed the ladies into their classrooms with warm hospitality and enthusiasm.  The ensemble sang for each of the host classes, heard the host choirs sing, sight-read a piece together, and answered questions ranging from “What kind of preparation do I need to become a music major? How much time outside of class do you spend learning your music?” to “How many of you have boyfriends?” According to Newman, “Members of our congregation could not stop talking about [the Women’s Ensemble’s] tight harmonies, perfect blend, and musicianship. [They]… represented our college well.” 

The Women’s Ensemble also performed in several impromptu settings such as hotel parking lots and lobbies for the desk clerks and housekeeping staff, restaurants, and sidewalks.  Upon seeing the ladies in their matching performing outfits and asking who they were, one store owner requested a sidewalk performance for her fellow business people.  Many of them left their cash registers to come to the door so that they could hear the singing. 

According to Elementary Education major Lauren McDougal, “I really enjoyed the tour and the fact that we did go to my high school.  It allowed me to show people from my high school that there are other options beside the community college.”  Christian counseling major Carmen Turner added, “I liked how we got to talk with the kids not just about the music department, but the school in general.” 

For more information about the Women’s Ensemble or to request a performance, please contact Dr. Cox at 850-263-3261, ext. 432 or becox@baptistcollege.edu.