Outside it was a gray fall afternoon. But inside the award-winning Selma High School Philharmonic Chorale filled the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Selma with the sounds of magnificent music.

Sunday’s annual Fall Debut Concert featured selections from this year’s repertoire of secular and sacred music &045; from classical to gospel to country &045; beginning with &uot;Lift Every Voice and Sing.&uot;

Fifty-seven singers are listed in the program. Alvin B. Tuck is the choir’s director.

According to Selma High School Principal Joe J. Peterson Jr., the choir began the fall with a tour of the Northeast, with performances in Vermont, New York State and Boston, where they performed on the campus of Harvard University.

More recently, the choir journeyed to Dothan for the annual Peanut Festival choir competition. The group went head to head with a number of other choirs from around the state.

Peterson noted with pride that the Selma High choir won first place.

Future performances will be held at First Baptist Church, Selma, at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 and the Selma High School Christmas Concert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 7 p.m. Dec. 11.

The choir has traveled widely in recent years, including such destinations as California and singing with former President Clinton in attendance at the 2000 Jubilee.

Tuck holds a B.S. degree in music from Troy State University and a master’s of music education from Alabama State University. He is also an adjunct professor of music at Faulkner University in Montgomery and serves as music director of First Baptist Church, Montgomery.

Peterson expressed deep gratitude for the entire fine arts program at Selma High School.