History

"Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our
God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." - Ps. 147.1

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Choir was conceived in 1990 through collaboration of the San Diego Symphony Association, the San Diego County Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and the San Diego Baptist Ministers Union. The first performance of this Choir was organized and directed by Louise E. Pearson, a music educator with the San Diego Unified School District. The Rev. Glenn L. Jones, former Pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church then conducted the choir for the next five years.

The Choir originally joined together to perform annually as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Choir. The Choir at that time featured approximately 200 voices from the San Diego County community. The purpose was to raise funds for scholarship grants by performing musical tributes of gospel favorites, with the San Diego Symphony.

The Director

In 1996, Pastor Ken Anderson, through the assistance of the San Diego County Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and the San Diego Baptist Ministers Union, became the Director of the Martin Luther King Commemorative Choir.

In 1997, Pastor Anderson reorganized the Choir, renamed it - Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir San Diego - with a new purpose and a Board of Directors. Pastor Anderson changed the performance schedule from once a year to a full concert series, starting in September and ending in June.

In addition to directing MLKCCSD, Pastor Anderson is college pastor and choir director at Grace Church San Diego (formerly Scott Memorial Community Church); a music teacher in the public school system; and Director of the UCSD Gospel Choir.

The Choir

The Choir has performed consistently throughout San Diego County. In December 1998, the Choir performed with the San Diego Symphony in "T'was the Night" and in May 1999, performed with the Symphony at College Avenue Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church in Chula Vista. The concert schedule has included performances for the NAACP, San Diego Hospice; San Diego Museum of Art; Christmas on the Prado; Southwestern College; Point Loma Nazarene University and many, many Churches throughout San Diego County. Membership in the Choir is open to singers and musicians, from all denominations, with prior choral experience. Members must have a desire to volunteer their time and talents, and attend regular weekly scheduled rehearsals. Auditions are held for new members at the start of every season. Find out how to join.

As of 2007 the Choir has given out 48 educational grants.