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Gospel Night brings spirit to Boston Pops

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2 years ago

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Gospel Night brings spirit to Boston Pops


Long before Dennis L. Slaughter was the Boston Pops Orchestra Gospel Choir artistic director, he was a kid in Jackson, Mississippi transfixed by the magic of the piano.

“There was something so captivating about it,” Slaughter told the Herald. “I saw people putting their fingers on this instrument in random places and creating this beautiful sound. I wanted to know how they could do that because when I put my fingers on it it didn’t sound anything like that.”

Slaughter’s parents were smart enough to put their child in piano lessons. And smart enough to keep him in lessons when he became frustrated at the work it took for him to make those beautiful sounds — he credits his mother with not letting him give up. He eventually received an undergraduate degree in music from the University of Southern Mississippi (plus a master’s in education administration and policy studies from Boston University and a doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern).

The son, grandson, brother, nephew, and cousin of preachers, pastors, and church musicians, Slaughter succeeded in combining his faith and education in gospel music. He has been part of every Pops Gospel Night since its inception in 1993 and will lead the choir again June 8 at Symphony Hall, which will feature 10-time Grammy winning gospel powerhouse Take 6 (who also took part in 1993 debut concert).

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For Slaughter, the annual event is a unique showcase to highlight the music and message of gospel.

“What has made this concert a success over the years is that it gives us something very different from what we would normally see at my church on a Sunday morning,” he said. “I’m not going to see a conductor, an orchestra, and a choir on Sunday morning. And the fact that we have to work so diligently to bring all the elements together and make them sound cohesive is another thing that makes the program so successful.”

The event hosts gospel in an unexpected setting. But as Slaughter points out, gospel doesn’t need to adhere to expectations.

“The music we will sing on that night covers a range from traditional all the way to very contemporary,” he said. “When I hear a contemporary artist perform r&b or soul music, it doesn’t sound radically different artistically, stylistically than the gospel music that you will hear at this concert. The message though, that’s a 2000-year-old message, but it’s constantly being  put in a new set of clothes.”

Just as when he was a kid, Slaughter remains transfixed by music. He just knows that the music he directs now, the music of the Boston Pops Orchestra Gospel Choir, can’t be separated from the message. Slaughter says there will be no proselytizing from the stage, and yet the message remains.

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“It’s nice music, it’s beautiful music,” he said. “But it really can be instructive in your life. It can be meaningful in your life. It can be helpful in your life… My hope is that we get someone thinking about participating in a local church where they can experience all the beauty of God’s love, all the beauty of gospel music, whether it’s with a symphony orchestra or not.”

For tickets and details, visit bso.org

 

Pastor Smokie Norful performs a solo with the Boston Pops at last year’s Gospel Night. (Photo Robert Torres)



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!$+∇√$[+[!LIVESTREAMs!]+] Minnesota Wild vs Boston Bruins Live Free Streams On Tv Channel 2026-03-29

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March 29, 2026

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!$+∇√$[+[!LIVESTREAMs!]+] Minnesota Wild vs Boston Bruins Live Free Streams On Tv Channel 2026-03-29


Minnesota Wild vs Boston Bruins

HERE’S (*WAY TO WATCH*) Minnesota Wild VS Boston Bruins Ｆｒｅｅ LIVE 2026-03-29 Rose Bowl Parade 2026 live: Rose Bowl Parade 2026 look to seize control of thrilling Rose Bowl Parade 2026. Every team in the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Rose Bowl Parade 2026 will host Rose Bowl Parade 2026 at Live NHL mAtch Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 a single point ahead of Rose Bowl Parade 2026 in the standings and just one behind leaders Rose Bowl Parade 2026.



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+)WAY TO WATCH Ｆｒｅｅ Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE

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March 29, 2026

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+)WAY TO WATCH Ｆｒｅｅ Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE


Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals

Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE GAME: Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals look to seize control of thrilling Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals. Every team in the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals will host Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals at Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals Park Stadium with the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals a single point ahead of Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals in the standings and just one behind leaders Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals.



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Red Sox at Reds preview: Sonny Gray makes his first start for Boston – The Boston Globe

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1 day ago

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March 28, 2026

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Red Sox at Reds preview: Sonny Gray makes his first start for Boston – The Boston Globe


Gray, acquired in a November trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, was one of Boston’s key rotation additions, along with Ranger Suarez, in the offseason. He was 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 2025.

“He’s very specific about his work. Every day has a purpose,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Gray. “Two hundred strikeouts, that’s something that we were looking for. The competitor. Every five days, this guy is going to give you everything.”

In his five career appearances against the Reds, Gray is 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA.

“It’s pretty much one of the only things that is continuing to push me, is to get to a World Series, to win a World Series, to pitch in big games,” said Gray. “I love the moment, and I am chasing that moment.”

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Here’s the preview:

RED SOX (1-0): TBA

Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray

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REDS (0-1): TBA

Pitching: RHP Brady Singer

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Singer: Wilyer Abreu 2-5, Roman Anthony 1-2, Willson Contreras 2-7, Jarren Duran 3-10, Caleb Durbin 0-1, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 6-16, Marcelo Mayer 0-1, Andruw Monasterio 1-4, Carlos Narváez 1-1, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-5, Trevor Story 0-4, Connor Wong 2-8, Masataka Yoshida 2-7

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Reds vs. Gray: Will Benson 0-5, Elly De La Cruz 5-11, TJ Friedl 1-8, Ke’Bryan Hayes 4-17, Nathaniel Lowe 2-10, Noelvi Marte 0-5, Matt McLain 2-2, Spencer Steer 4-9, Tyler Stephenson 0-8, Eugenio Suárez 7-13, Jose Trevino 0-2

Stat of the day: Sal Stewart become the first Cincinnati rookie since 1958 to record three hits on Opening Day.

Notes: Cincinnati sends righthander Brady Singer (14-12, 4.03 in 2025) to the mound … With Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo already on the injured list to start the season, Singer is considered one of Cincinnati’s most durable pitchers, leading the Reds with 32 starts last season … Singer has made five career starts against Boston, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.88 ERA over 24 innings … His last appearance against the Red Sox, on July 1 in Boston, ended after just three innings when he allowed two earned runs on three hits.

Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.





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