Randolph College Gospel Choir offers community, connection for students

Charmayne Wyche, director of residence life and conduct, performs with the gospel choir.

To hear Charles  E. Gibson III and Charmayne Wyche tell it, the creation of Randolph’s gospel choir was meant to be.

“I feel like I ran down to your office about it,” Wyche, director of residence life and conduct, said during a recent chat with Gibson.

Turns out, the idea had already been on his mind.

“I didn’t know if there would be any interest in a gospel choir, so I put it on the back burner,” said Gibson, Randolph’s chief engagement and belonging officer and director of the College’s Intercultural Center. “Then, one day, Charmayne brought it up. I took that as a sign because I hadn’t shared this with anybody. I felt like it wasn’t just a coincidence. I call these sort of situations God winks. It just made sense.” 

For Wyche, the suggestion grew out of her role in the Office of the Dean of Students. 

“I’m always thinking of ways to engage with the students, creating programs they would be interested in, and looking for ways to target different groups on campus,” she said. “Engagement and programming are essential parts of retaining students.” 

They organized an interest meeting for students within a week and were surprised when staff members also wanted to get involved. 

The current group comprises roughly half students and half staff, including Gibson and Wyche. 

“When you come up with ideas, you have to be ready to step in as the advisor,” Wyche said. “The hope was that if we get it started. and we participate, more people will want to be a part of it too. Now I can’t see myself not being involved. I love doing this with students. It’s a way to engage with them outside of my typical residence life and conduct role.” 

Jordan Sykes ’28 joined the choir after hearing about it from Wyche. 

“Being a transfer student, she was kind of like my first friend on campus,” said the theatre major. “And friends make college life a little easier to handle. I think gospel choir can connect us all, no matter what background or race we are. It’s a national language of its own.” 

Jordan Sykes ’28

Their first performance was in November during the dedication of the Intercultural Center’s Hermina W. Hendricks Gathering Place. 

A few weeks later during Holiday on Main, Wyche once again saw the impact they could have on the community. 

“I remember seeing students’ faces,” she said. “They were like, ‘What is this? When did y’all do this?’ That was really encouraging. This is something that was needed on campus. From that point on, Charles became our booking agent, and everybody wanted us to perform at their event.” 

Chief Engagement and Belonging Officer Charles E. Gibson III

The choir sang during the College’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration and even hosted its own event, a gospel extravaganza featuring other local groups, in February. 

“From the Intercultural Center perspective, our goal is to provide opportunities for members of our community to interact with difference,” Gibson said. “We were excited to introduce a tradition we knew a lot of students were probably familiar with, to make Randolph feel like more of a home away from home for them. We’re also exposing it to those who are not familiar with gospel music and that tradition. It’s really fun to bring our authentic selves to the work we do here.” 

Their own experiences with gospel choir in college—Gibson at Wake Forest University and Wyche at Averett University—were invaluable, connecting them to fellow students. 

Gibson said he wouldn’t have graduated on time without it as an outlet, and it helped Wyche find a church home in her college town. 

“I was able to put down roots,” she said. “You’re in college for the academics, but the socialization matters. Having community while you’re on campus is so important.”

This story appears in the Spring 2025 issue of the College’s Magazine, “Vita Abundantior.”