Hesston College will host a choral festival, “A Celebration of Gospel: Music and Worship in the African-American Tradition” at 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27 at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

Led by the Bluffton (Ohio) University Gospel Choir, under the direction of Dr. Crystal Sellers Battle, the concert will feature Bluffton and Hesston’s choirs – the Bel Canto Singers and Chorale – as well as local church choirs. A mass choir comprised of all the choirs and local independent vocalists will also perform three songs composed by Dr. Raymond Wise (Columbus, Ohio), a composer, arranger and gospel historian who will be in attendance.

Along with enjoying the sounds of gospel music, concert attendees will have an opportunity to learn about gospel music’s rich history and connection to other styles of music and worship.