UM's Voices of Mobile outlines summer tour with Astros, Huckabee and Ramsey Solutions | The Alabama Baptist (2024)

• May 16, 2024
• University of Mobile
• Featured, Latest News, University of Mobile

The University of Mobile elite vocal ensemble Voices of Mobile begins a summer 2024 tour that has members singing the national anthem at a Houston Astros game, performing on the Huckabee talk show hosted by former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee and presenting a devotional message to more than 1,200 employees at Ramsey Solutions.

“This is a great opportunity to share the gospel and tell our University of Mobile story,” said Roger Breland, executive director of the Roger Breland Center for Performing Arts and dean emeritus of the Alabama School of the Arts (ASOTA).

The tour also includes a cruise to Mexico and ministry at churches across the southeast. The summer tour follows a spring break tour that saw the ASOTA ensemble join a 200-voice choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City to present a 30^thanniversary concert of “Saviour,” a modern oratorio telling the story of God’s passion for His people.

• Voices of Mobile will sing the national anthem on May 16 at Minute Maid Park in Houston when the Astros host the Oakland Athletics. Houston Astros Manager Joe Espada was a standout on the UM Rams baseball team and recently was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater. Read more about Joe Espada, the Houston Astros and the University of Mobile connection here.
• Huckabee is a nationwide talk show hosted by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee that airs Saturday evenings on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The ensemble is scheduled to tape two songs on June 20 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The show will air Saturday, June 22. Breland, founder of Voices and the university’s Roger Breland Center for Performing Arts, will chat with Huckabee during the show. This isn’t the first time the former presidential candidate has heard Voices of Mobile. Huckabee was a featured speaker at UM’s annual Leadership Banquet in 2008, where Voices of Mobile performed.
• On June 26, the last day of summer tour, Voices of Mobile will lead over 1,200 employees of Ramsey Solutions in a morning devotional gathering in Franklin, Tennessee. Among those is likely to be Ramsey Personality, No. 1 best-selling author, co-host of The Ramsey Show & Smart Money — and 2012 UM alumnus — George Kamel. Kamel holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from UM. A profile in the university’s TorchLight alumni magazine quotes Kamel: “My time at the University of Mobile was a season I’ll always cherish — from the friends I made, the skills I learned, the professors that poured into me, and the opportunities that were given to me.” Other UM connections at Ramsey Solutions include UM alumni and former Voices of Mobile members Abigail Butler, administrative assistant to the senior executive vice president, and Drew Fitzgerald, speaker relations manager. Kyle Patton, also a UM alumnus, serves as associate director of finance.

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Voices of Mobile is a highly versatile, auditioned vocal ensemble that presents over 125 concerts every year through regional and international tours, offering students opportunities to perform at significant venues such as the White House. Over the past 21 years, Voices has toured 12 nations and presented 2,000 concerts in the United States and across the world.

Voices of Mobile is among more than 15 ensembles in UM’s Alabama School of the Arts, described as “a different kind of performing arts school.”

“The Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile provides quality, world-class academics with unique and memorable performance opportunities in a Christian environment,” said Dr. Andrew Goodwin, dean and assistant professor of music.

The Christian university located in Mobile, Alabama, is enrolling students now for fall semester 2024. Scholarships are still available for prospective students pursuing associate through doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.Apply for admission atumobile.edu/apply.

Audition scholarships are available in the Alabama School of the Arts, an All-Steinway School offering degrees in music, worship leadership, theatre and production technologies.Schedule an audition atumobile.edu/audition.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Kathy Dean and originally published by the University of Mobile.