Wichita State alumnus Shawn Chastain ushered at the first show ever played at Wiedemann.

Years later, when he stepped back into the recital hall as choir director for A.R.I.S.E. (African Americans Renewing Interest in Spirituals Ensemble), he said he felt as if he introduced his new family to his old one.

Saturday night, A.R.I.S.E. performed at Wiedemann on campus. Chastain expressed his joy to play at the university and commented on the outcome of the event.

“It’s great to be back home,” he said. “I was a freshman when they built Wiedemann Hall, so this performance has a special place in my heart. We had the bases loaded with fabulous singers and a very receptive audience.”

Dr. Sharon Cranford, historian and publicity chair for A.R.I.S.E., explained the importance of faith within the music the ensemble played, as well as the relevance it had throughout the hardships the African American community endured decades ago.

“With faith in God you are able to hold on through very difficult situations and so it brings a message from across the years,” she said.” We know how difficult life was for slaves during the eighteenth century, so when we have difficulties today, it’s a message we can give to ourselves as well as our children that if they can make it you know you can make it — you just need to hold on and keep your faith in God strong.”

When A.R.I.S.E. founder Josephine Brown moved to Wichita, she noticed nobody played Negro spirituals. She decided to start an ensemble that would trigger people’s interest in this particular art form.

“It’s entertaining, it’s informative, it gives you warm feelings and I think people enjoyed it,” she said. “The African Americans as slaves used their songs for encouragement — for fellowship — to feel better about themselves. Some churches think it’s an embarrassment to play these songs, but if you get a taste of it, I don’t think anyone tonight can say they didn’t enjoy it.”