Photo credit: Detroit Opera House
Detroit’s gospel music community will take center stage this December as the Detroit Opera House welcomes some of the genre’s most celebrated voices. “A Night of Inspiration: A Gospel Holiday Celebration” arrives Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 8 p.m.
Music director Ray Chew will lead the Detroit Opera Orchestra for the one-night event. The lineup features Grammy-winning gospel group The Clark Sisters, acclaimed singer Kim Burrell and award-winning songwriter Donald Lawrence. Detroit-based family group Shelby 5 and local gospel choirs will also join the performance.
The concert will blend gospel classics with popular holiday favorites. It will also bring together artists, musicians and congregations for an evening centered on faith, music and community.
The Clark Sisters, Kim Burrell and Donald Lawrence Lead the Concert
The concert brings together performers whose careers have helped shape contemporary gospel music.
The Clark Sisters, who grew up in Detroit, have spent more than 50 years in the music industry. The pioneering group has won four Grammy Awards and holds a place among the most successful female gospel groups in history. Their influence reaches across generations of gospel artists and listeners.
Kim Burrell will bring her distinctive jazz-gospel sound to the stage. The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter has built a career spanning more than 35 years. Her music blends gospel traditions with jazz influences.
Donald Lawrence will also perform. The Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, composer and recording artist has worked in gospel music for more than 25 years. His experience as a music and choir director adds another dimension to the evening.
Meanwhile, Shelby 5 will represent Detroit’s contemporary gospel scene. The family group combines contemporary sounds with urban-influenced gospel harmonies.
Ray Chew will conduct the Detroit Opera Orchestra throughout the performance. His wife and business partner, Vivian Scott Chew, is co-producing the event. Together, they are bringing their musical vision to the Detroit Opera House stage.
Detroit Gospel Choirs Join the Celebration
Local church choirs will play an important role in the concert. Their participation will connect the performance to Detroit’s longstanding gospel traditions.
The participating choirs represent nine churches and ministries. They include Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC, Anderson Memorial COGIC and Burning Bush International Ministries.
Greater Grace Church, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church and Industry Church will also participate. The lineup further includes Peace Baptist Church, Second Ebenezer Church and Triumph Church.
Their presence gives the concert a strong local connection. It also creates an opportunity for Detroit congregations to share the stage with nationally recognized gospel performers.
The event marks the second collaboration between Chew Entertainment and Detroit Opera House Presents. Their first partnership produced the sold-out January concert, “Symphonic PFunk,” featuring George Clinton and the Detroit Opera Orchestra.
Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard to Receive First Detroit Agape Award
The evening will also recognize the legacy of Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard. Organizers will posthumously present her with the inaugural Detroit Agape Award.
Pollard was a respected gospel historian, author and longtime radio host. She also served as Professor Emerita at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Her work connected gospel music with academic research, church communities and radio audiences. Through those platforms, she helped document and share the music’s cultural and spiritual significance.
The award recognizes her contributions to gospel scholarship and the wider music community. Her recognition adds a meaningful tribute to an evening devoted to celebrating gospel’s influence.
Detroit Opera House Announces Gospel Concert Tickets
“A Night of Inspiration: A Gospel Holiday Celebration” takes place December 19 at 8 p.m. at the historic Detroit Opera House.
Tickets start at $68.70, including fees. Audiences can purchase tickets through the Detroit Opera House website.
Detroit residents can access a special offer during the week of the performance. Residents who present valid government-issued identification showing a Detroit address can purchase two tickets for $25 each at the Detroit Opera House Box Office. Additional ticket packages will also be available.
The concert will close Detroit Opera Presents’ “Hallelujah, It’s the Holidays!” series. The seasonal lineup also includes the return of The Nutcracker with Grand Rapids Ballet, a live orchestral screening of The Holiday, A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live at the Opera House and a Christmas performance by Renée Elise Goldsberry.
With gospel legends, local choirs and the Detroit Opera Orchestra sharing one stage, the December concert will bring a distinctly Detroit sound to the holiday season.
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