Esther Jones, soprano

On being a Fisk Jubilee Singer:

It's a competitive field because it's an honor to be a Fisk Jubilee Singer. If you're a singer, and you come to Fisk University, that's what you want to be involved with. Because it's such an honor and there's such a huge legacy behind it. We're 125 years old this year. And because everybody knows that the Fisk University Jubilee Singers are the thing to represent the school.

What's unique about the history of the Fisk Jubilee Singers?

The spirit in which the original group and the groups thereafter have tried to maintain a spirituality and a closeness to God. A lot of the groups don't have such a deep-seated foundation and closeness to God. That's something that this group tries to maintain because, Mr. Kwami says it all the time. "We need to sing to the glory of God, because without him, we wouldn't be able to do what we have done for 125 years." And we try to maintain that spirituality.

On performing and audiences:

We always try to remember that we are singing to the glory of God; and it's to Him who we give our praises. And so that whenever we go to sing, that's what we try to do. We give the best performance possible. We pray before every performance; because it's important to get our message across. And if only one person is touched in a whole audience of 1,000 "dead" people, then we've done what God would have us to do.

On the importance of keeping the spirituals alive:

It's important to keep that legacy alive. It's important to remember where we've come from and where we will continue to go.

Karla Lewis, alto

What's most unique about the Fisk Jubilee Singers?

What I find most unique is that when the singers first set out in 1871, that they really didn't have the support of the university. In fact, the university really didn't think that 9 young black children could go out and raise money for the school. They really didn't think that they would be successful. They didn't think that people would be receptive. But they decided to do it anyway. and Mr. White, who was over the group, supported them. And he really prayed about it, and did what he had to do.

What's your favorite song?

I love "Every Time I Feel the Spirit," because we get a chance to be really animated with that song, and we look at each other and get a chance to respond to what the other person is doing. It's an upbeat song.