Students at Concordia College Alabama plan to celebrate Black History Month by praising God through the centuries-old tradition of spirituals and gospel music.

The fourth annual Gospel Explosion is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. at Concordia College and the event will bring several groups to the stage including The Angelic Harmonizers and several soloists from Tabernacle of Praise.

Minnie McMillan, choir director for the Concordia College Choir, said the event is a fundraiser and all proceeds go towards a good cause — music and education.

“We hope to raise money for a choir or music scholarship and we hope to raise anywhere from $1,100 to $1,5000 for one student,” McMillan said, and explained that sometimes the scholarship is given to several promising students.

The event is also a chance for the Concordia College Choir to connect with choir alumni, as many of the performers and groups that will perform the negro spirituals and contemporary songs are former Concordia Choir singers.

“Our special guest this year are the Angelic Harmonizers, which is one of the oldest groups in Selma and I am one of the alumns from that singing group,” McMillan said. “Groups are coming from Montgomery, Birmingham, Prattville, Wilcox County, Selma and out of Maplesville. This will represent an array of probably 10 to 15 classes from Concordia as these performers are choir alums.”

But the event will also serve as a tribute to Black History Month through song.

It’s Black History Month and what better way to celebrate moments in African American history than through song,” said Desiree Taylor, director for public relations at Concordia.

“Music continues to be the universal language — connecting people from all walks of life, all ethnicities, etc. With Concordia’s Gospel Choir, you never know what to expect but I think those who attend Sunday’s concert won’t leave disappointed.”