FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2025
Joyful Noise: Charlottesville Hosts Sister City Gospel Choir Exchange
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – From July 16-23, the Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission and the congregations of University Baptist Church and Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church will welcome 41 singers from United Gospel Choir in Besançon, Charlottesville's French Sister City, for a weeklong music and cultural exchange.
United Gospel is a multi-generational, community choir composed of singers of all levels of talent who share a love of gospel music. The choristers traveling to Charlottesville will join with choir members from University Baptist Church (UBC) and Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church (FABC) to rehearse a special program of music prepared by Ministers of Music Jonathan Spivey (Mt. Zion FABC) and Megan Sharp (UBC) in collaboration with United Gospel Director Jean-Emmanuel Evrard.
During the exchange week there will be three opportunities for members of the local and surrounding communities to hear the combined choirs perform:
Sunday, July 20, 11 AM: Worship Service
University Baptist Church Sanctuary, 1223 West Main St., Charlottesville
Open to all, also available on livestream
Sunday, July 20, 2 - 4 PM: Open Rehearsal
University Baptist Church Sanctuary 1223 West Main St., Charlottesville
Note: this is a rehearsal, not an official performance, but community members are welcome to attend
Tuesday, July 22, 7 PM: Concert
Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church, 105 Lankford Avenue, Charlottesville
FREE and open to all members of the community.
Longtime Charlottesville residents may remember that singers from Charlottesville previously participated in gospel music exchanges organized by the Association of Franche-Comté, based in Staunton, VA, in the early 2000s. This is the first gospel choir exchange between the cities of Besançon and Charlottesville since they officially became Sister Cities in 2006.
About the Charlottesville – Besançon Relationship
Besançon and Charlottesville signed a Proclamation of Friendship in 2004 and became official Sister Cities in 2006 in a ceremony here in Charlottesville attended by the mayors of both cities. As Sister Cities, we mutually pledged to promote the ideals of tolerance, democracy, fraternity, and world peace and to maintain permanent ties between our municipal governments.
Charlottesville’s Sister Cities Commission
The Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission exists to promote understanding of and foster relationships among individuals, communities, and cities of the world through cultural, economic, educational, and humanitarian activities.
Media Contacts
Elizabeth Smiley
Besançon City Representative
Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
smileye@charlottesville.gov