VaShawn Mitchell Performs With Students At Berklee College Of Music’s Gospel Performance Program
Berklee College of Music’s annual Gospel Performance Program marked its second year on the Boston, Mass. campus this summer, from Monday, July 24, to Friday, July 28, 2023. Launched by the college’s Africana Studies Division in 2022, the immersive five-day program was open to high school students ages 15 and older with six months of playing or vocal experience.
This year’s program featured visiting artist VaShawn Mitchell, a seven-time Stellar Award-winning singer, and songwriter, who presented a master class and also performed with the students in a final concert on Thursday, July 27.
The program offered ensemble rehearsals, technique-in-performance classes, and gospel history discussions, as well as a presentation on the gospel music industry, covering performance and business techniques while exploring the genre’s cultural relevance and its connection to contemporary music.
VaShawn Mitchell was born and raised in Chicago, IL, a city known as the birthplace of Gospel music, an art form that has been indelibly imprinted on his life. His love for Gospel music led him to spend many years in his youth as a Music Director and then Minister of Music in the city of Chicago. Throughout the years, VaShawn’s artistic vision has grown, shaping him into a mature worship leader and a recognized Gospel songwriter.
Over the last several years, Mitchell continued to stretch his creative talents beyond his own recording career. He has been instrumental in the careers of many of today’s popular artists and has received two Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association for his work as a producer.
Always committed to the promotion of upcoming voices in the Gospel Music industry, VaShawn assumed the role of President & CEO of the Gospel Heritage Foundation in 2018 and has plans to expand the reach of this ministry to prepare the next generation for their own journey.
