By Jay Sorgi • Posted February 17, 2026

Their first song together sent the message that people of diverse faiths and backgrounds can weave their diverse voices and traditions into a sonic tapestry that praises God. That was just the beginning.

Seventy singers and musicians combined the forces of three of Philadelphia’s most recognizable choirs Sunday afternoon, Feb. 8 in an offering of powerful choral music based on the Scriptures during “Lift Every Voice and Sing: An Interfaith Choir Concert” at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Center City.

Nearly 200 people heard choral music of praise from the Archdiocesan Choir, the Philadelphia Catholic Gospel Mass Choir, and Nashirah: the Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia. They presented an hour and a half of selections mostly stemming from the Old Testament, entwining thousands of years of tradition, the Hebrew and Latin languages, and modern Black Gospel traditions.

“It’s inspiring. It’s a beautiful thing to be across denomination and faith traditions to be together. It’s just beautiful, inspiring to continue to do our ministry,” said Archdiocesan Choir Artistic Director Charlene Angelini.

“We’re on the same journey, we respect one another and appreciate all the different gifts and styles.”

She and her fellow artistic directors, Tonya Taylor-Dorsey of the Philadelphia Catholic Gospel Mass Choir and Dr. Julia Zavadsky of Nashirah, shared a vision of using music to send a greater message of unity both in praise of God and in connecting diverse people to each other, where God resides within them.

“I remember talking with Charlene about this a few months ago, just about the incredible universality of the church and a presentation like this (showcases) thousands of years of choral tradition,” Taylor-Dorsey said.

The three directors were not shy about inviting the assembled listeners inside the Cathedral Basilica to lift their own voices for the very first song.

It was a mosaic of the Gospel song “Unity,” the Taizé song “Laudate Dominum” and the Jewish traditional “Hine Ma Tov,” with themes shared from Psalm 133. Cathedral Basilica Principal Organist Mark Loria arranged the vocals with the choir directors and supported the singers on piano.

“If you listen to the words of this beautiful piece of music, it is about unity, which is what this concert is about,” said Stacy Williams, director of the archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics which sponsored the concert. “Bring together those of different faiths, those of different ethnicities, to praise together the Almighty.”

Choir members stood beside their counterparts singing varied parts as a harmonious blend of soulful gospel provided a foundation for soprano notes of praise in Latin and Hebrew phrases familiar through many popular and sacred songs, with lots of crowd participation.

“This is not just the unity between the choirs, this is the unity for everyone that is in this space,” Zavadsky said. “It was awesome.”

The directors developed their own ideas for selections then handed them over to Angelini and Loria for arrangement, “and next thing you know, this thing was created that was just absolutely beautiful, that mashed all of that together,” Taylor-Dorsey said.

“Mark took all of the components and figured out a way that it could be concurrent and unified. Hebrew, Gospel, it all came together.”

Each choir then presented selections that showed the diversity of ways to present musically the same message. They took turns singing varied arrangements of Psalm 23, “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” with arrangements ranging from mid-20th century acapella to one composed by the mother of Whitney Houston, Gospel singer Cissy Houston.

The choirs rotated at certain times and joined forces at others on various sacred songs, while Loria shared some selections on the powerful organ inside the Cathedral Basilica.

The combined choirs then brought volume and devotion to three final songs. The first was “Alleluia” by Taylor-Dorsey, before a striking, multilingual arrangement of “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood, one of the most respected Black Gospel music arrangers and composers before his death in 2025.

The last piece brought another invitation for attendees to lift their own voices in the 125-year-old anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Loria offered accompaniment on organ while about 200 voices raised the words of the title.

Choirs that had not often sung together ended the day with prayer, smiles, and hugs underneath the dome of the historic Cathedral Basilica, cementing relationships that might make joint concerts like this one and other musical collaborations in faith a regular happening.

“Our work is not done,” Angelini said. “We continue along. This is the beginning of a journey for us, finding ways, as Julia said, to bring hope and brightness to the world that we’re living in, and there’s no better way than music. Music says what cannot be said with words.”

“This is just the beginning,” said Zavadsky, “just the beginning.”