Williston Community Choir at St. Cyprian’s, New Bern

Join St. Cyprian’s, New Bern and the The African American Heritage & Culture Center for an evening of gospel and spirituals by Williston Alumni Community Choir. The choir’s history dates to 1984 when members of the former Williston High School Glee Club organized an alumni group called the Williston Alumni Choral Ensemble. In 2011 the Ensemble combined with The Wilmington Community Choir to form the current Williston Alumni Community Choir. The Williston School was founded in 1866 by the abolitionist American Missionary Association after the Union army occupied Wilmington during the civil war. It served freed slaves. The institution was closed as a high school in 1968 as part of desegregation. This caused disturbances, resulting in the wrongly-convicted and imprisoned Wilmington Ten, who became internationally known as freedom-fighters. The choir brings the heart and soul of the school’s history and the alumni experience to its rendition of songs of triumph and hope that will uplift our community.