Sargent "Gospel Aires" cHOIR
The Gospel-Aires is Sargent’s gospel choir and sings traditional and contemporary gospel music. The Gospel-Aires is a multigenerational choir that has been ministering at Sargent, around the DC area, and beyond for more than 40 years and is striving to continue for many more. The choir is currently under the direction of Marilyn and Theodore Gross.
History of the Gospel Aires
The Sargent Gospel-Aires, the gospel choir of Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, was founded soon after Deborah Young Butler suggested the idea to Reverend James L. Allen Sr. Reverend Allen secured Rick Hardy as the director, and members from the congregation formed the initial 24-member choir in November, 1980. They participated in the their first worship service in December, 1980.
During the first year, they sang at Sargent’s Senior Citizen’s Luncheon and participated in the Jeffrey S. Bolding Concert. The Gospel-Aires also sang at the JOY Gospel Fan Club’s First Annual Gospel Concert at Metropolitan Wesley AME Zion Church in Washington, DC, and sang at John Wesley AME Church in Eastern, MD.
The second anniversary was under the direction of Marilyn Gross. The third and consecutive anniversaries, leading up to the 38th anniversary, have been under the direction of Marilyn Gross and Arie Gray. Membership is open to all who love music and who love the Lord. They have a strong sense of family. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, parents and their children are included in the membership profile.
The Gospel-Aires include in their outreach ministry singing at local churches and schools. They sing to members of Sargent’s sick and shut-in at their homes, nursing homes and hospitals. They have also ministered at prayer breakfasts, revivals and to inmates at Lorton Reformatory.
The Gospel-Aires have been blessed to appear with such artists as Shirley Ables, Hezekiah Walker, and John P. Kee. They competed in the “Kentucky Fried Chicken” Gospel Choir Contest. However, they did not win by the judge’s decision, but certainly had the crowd’s votes. In 1994, they entered and won first prize at the Majic 102.3 “Gospelfest” walking away with a $5,000 recording contract. From that blessing came their first CD, “God Did It.”
Worshiping with fellow Christians of all denominations has led the Gospel-Aires to a great appreciation for the glorious Body of Christ. God has guided the directors for more than 40 years, and may God continue to be with the Gospel-Aires as they fulfill His divine will and witness for Him through song.