Nothing beats a passionate melody coming straight from the heart. The OU Gospel Choir understand that.

The choir is open to all students and performs a variety of gospel, classical and spiritual numbers, said Willie Hill, the choir’s director.

Ready to be called upon, the choir is willing to perform whenever it’s requested, in addition to its scheduled performances the second Sunday of each month at Fifth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

“If they are asked to sing somewhere and they have time to, they will,” Hill said. “They will sing anywhere.”

The choir performed in a gospel music festival Sept. 17 in Sharp Concert Hall with the Ambassador’s Concert Choir of Oklahoma City. The Ambassador’s Choir sang at the memorial service for the victims of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing, and later at the dedication to the Oklahoma City National Monument and Memorial, where its performance was requested by President Bill Clinton.

“Singing with the Ambassador’s Choir was very awesome,” said senior Edna Kay. “They have very well-developed voices.”

Kay has been a member of the OU Gospel Choir for the past three years and has been singing for the past eight.

She loves having Willie Hill as a director, she said.

“He’s awesome, one of the best directors I’ve ever had,” Kay said. “He has the best patience.”

Psychology senior A.J. Stafford said not all of the students involved in the choir are music majors. Whether a student is majoring in music or psychology, the gospel choir is welcoming.

“It’s a place for everyone,” Stafford said.

The choir has rehearsals at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in Adams Center, and anyone interested in joining the choir is welcome to show up to the rehearsal.

“I love the people here,” Kay said. “They’re all awesome.”