Gospel Night: David and Tamela Mann Return!
Lead Season Sponsor
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 7:30pm
Corporate support for Saturday evening's concert is generously provided by BSO Business Partner Arthur J. Hurley Company.
BOSTON POPS
CHARLES FLOYD conducting
Finale from Symphony No. 5, Reformation
Mendelssohn
Nimrod, from Enigma Variations
Elgar
Presenting the BOSTON POPS GOSPEL CHOIR
Brother Dennis L. Slaughter, Artistic Director
Norris Welch, Choir Manager
Mark Copeland, piano | Sam Joseph, bass | Dennis Montgomery, organ | Sean Skeete, drums
Psalm 117
Bynum—arr. Floyd
Consider It Done
Dillard—arr. Floyd
Emmanuel
Hutchins—arr. Floyd
What a Friend
Wright-Scriven—arr. Floyd
SHARON MOLDEN, MILDRED E. WALKER, and DAVID GRANDY, soloists
Total Praise
Smallwood—arr. Floyd
INTERMISSION
Presenting TAMELA AND DAVID MANN
Selections to be announced from the stage
When can I take photos and videos? You are welcome (and encouraged!) to take photos and videos before and after the concert, and at intermission. Symphony Hall makes for a beautiful backdrop! Photos, videos, and audio recordings are strictly prohibited during the performance. At that time, be a great neighbor to your fellow concertgoers, put your phone or camera away, and enjoy the moment!
Guests are expected to drink responsibly. Intoxication will not be tolerated. Intervention with an impaired guest will be handled in a prompt and safe manner, which may include ejection from the premises.
The Boston Pops welcomes: Accent Concerts; Harvard Outings & Innings; Ms. Sharon Molden; Ms. Patricia J. Smith; Ms. Glory Wideman-Hughes; Zion Union Church
Steve Colby, Sound Designer | Pamela Smith, Lighting Designer
The Boston Pops Orchestra may be heard on Boston Pops Recordings, RCA Victor, Sony Classical, and Philips Records.
Steinway & Sons Pianos, selected exclusively for Symphony Hall.
Special thanks to Fidelity Investments, Lead Season Sponsor, and Fairmont Copley Plaza, Official Hotel of the Boston Pops.
New arrangements and works for the Boston Pops are generously supported by the Cecile Higginson Murphy Pops Programming Fund.
Broadcasts of the Boston Pops are heard on 99.5 WCRB.
Programs and artists subject to change.
The BSO’s 2025-26 season is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
Board of Trustees | Board of Advisors | Staff and Administration
Artists
-
![]()
Boston Pops
Led by conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, known affectionately as “America’s Orchestra,” performs an exciting and eclectic mix of orchestral arrangements from a wide range of traditions including Broadway and the great American songbook, film music, classical, jazz, pop, country, folk, and, of course, holiday classics. The Pops was created in 1885 as the “light classical” summer season venture of the Boston Symphony. The Boston Pops Orchestra reached its current iconic status during the 50-year tenure of the legendary Arthur Fiedler, who was succeeded in 1980 by the equally renowned film composer John Williams. Keith Lockhart took the helm in 1995. It was Fiedler who started the tradition of Pops performances on the Charles River Esplanade, including the annual Fourth of July celebration, brought the Pops to television with Evening at Pops (1970-2004), and initiated Holiday Pops, which marked its 50th anniversary in 2023. Fiedler welcomed to our stages dynamic, world-class guest artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Julia Child, and Bob Hope. That tradition continues today with Keith Lockhart working with such stars as Brian Stokes Mitchell, The B-52s, Chaka Khan, Nick Jonas, and Rhiannon Giddens. With the Pops, Keith has made 81 television shows, led 45 national and 5 overseas tours, led the Pops at several high-profile sporting events including the Super Bowl, and recorded fourteen albums. Through it all the orchestra has remained of the most recorded, familiar, and beloved ensembles in the world today.
-
![Black and white photo of Charles Floyd sitting at a piano, holding a conductor's baton.]()
Charles Floyd
As a conductor, Charles Floyd has been heard in concert with more than 500 orchestras since 1991, during which time his work at the podium caught the special attention of conductors James DePriest and Seiji Ozawa. His appearances include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Houston, San Fransisco, and Oregon symphonies, and the Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, and Baltimore symphony orchestras. He has also appeared with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Aukland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington in New Zealand, Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Symphony Orchestra. He made his debut with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall in July 2004, and in 2010 debuted with the Holland Symfonia at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. His programs include the standard classical literature from the Baroque era through the 21st century, as well as alternative orchestral repertoire ranging from film scores to a wide range of world musical styles. In 2022, he conducted the Los Angeles premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composition Voiceless Mass by Native American composer Raven Chacon.
Floyd is an annual guest conductor at the Boston Pops. Since 1993 his performances have included Gospel Night at Pops at Boston’s Symphony Hall, a program which features orchestral classics as well as a 120-voice gospel chorus. His work in Boston’s 1996 season included a PBS telecast of Evening at Pops, featuring Patti LaBelle and Edwin Hawkins in a program of gospel music, and critically acclaimed performances as the soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with conductor Keith Lockhart. His programs have featured a diverse array of artists such as the Metropolitan Opera’s Grace Bumbry, William Warfield, and Renée Fleming. He has also performed with Sting, Elton John, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday, Daryl Coley, Sergio Mendes, Nancy Wilson, Earth Wind & Fire, Take 6, CeCe Winans, Chris Botti, and Stevie Wonder. In 1998 he was music director for the nationally broadcast PBS holiday special A Cathedral Christmas with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Floyd’s 11-year partnership with singer Natalie Cole has produced such projects as the multiple Grammy Award-winning tribute to Nat King Cole entitled Unforgettable, With Love; the Emmy Award-winning PBS Great Performances concert video of the same title; and the Grammy-winning releases Take a Look and Stardust.
His compositions range from chamber music to large orchestral and vocal works. A tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, One Man’s Dream for narrator and orchestra, was commissioned and premiered by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in 2001. His Four Spirituals for soprano and orchestra premiered at Boston’s Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in 1995, and his oratorio Hosanna for gospel chorus and orchestra also premiered there in 2000. His Piano Concerto No. 6 premiered with New England’s Cape Anne Symphony in 2012 and his Cello Concerto had its Symphony Hall premiere in 2013.
-
![Tamela & David Mann together]()
Tamela & David Mann
David & Tamela Mann’s story is one of resilience and triumph. Born in East Texas and raised in Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood, they overcame significant odds. Their journey from humble beginnings to becoming celebrated entertainers is a powerful testament to their determination and talent.
David and Tamela Mann began their illustrious careers as integral members of Kirk Franklin & The Family, where their powerful voices and dynamic performances helped shape the sound of 90s Gospel music. Whether it’s David’s soul-stirring vocal lead on “He’s Able” or the powerful vocal prowess of Tamela’s voice on “Now Behold the Lamb,” their contributions to the group were instrumental in bringing gospel music to mainstream audiences, blending traditional sounds with contemporary influences. This early success laid the foundation for their evolution into iconic roles within the Tyler Perry franchise, most notably as Mr. Brown and Cora. These beloved characters not only Introduced their comedic talents but also solidified their status as versatile performers, capable of captivating audiences in both music and on the screen.
David and Tamela Mann have been instrumental to the Tyler Perry franchise, significantly contributing to stage plays, movies, and hit shows like Meet The Browns and currently Assisted Living. Their involvement has been pivotal in employing thousands of minority men and women in entertainment production, leading the way in idea innovation and creating culturally relevant content. Through their work, they have not only showcased their immense talent but also championed diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, paving the way for future generations.
Beyond acting, David is now venturing into world of directing, showcasing his keen eye for storytelling and his ability to bring out the best in his fellow performers. With a list of successful projects to his name, David still finds time to give back to his community through his mental health awareness efforts alongside the Ad Council the Hartsman Mental Institute with his new Mann to Mann series, Love Your Mind.
Tamela's authenticity and passion shine through in every performance, touching hearts and inspiring countless individuals along the way. Her remarkable talent, coupled with her unwavering dedication to her craft, solidifies Tamela Mann's legacy as a true icon in the world of gospel music.
As a married couple for 37 years, they have become a beacon of hope and inspiration, showcasing the beauty of marriage with Christ at the center of their everyday life. With their infectious personalities and genuine affection for one another, David and Tamela Mann continue to uplift and inspire audiences worldwide, proving that love, laughter, and family are truly the greatest treasures.
-
![]()
Boston Pops Gospel Choir
The Boston Pops Gospel Choir, made up of volunteers from church choirs and other choruses in the greater Boston area, was originally brought together to participate in the first “Gospel Night at Pops,” which took place on Sunday, June 13, 1993. “Gospel Night” came about as a result of the vision and commitment of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Cultural Diversity Committee, and particularly because of the late Vondal M. Taylor, Jr. (1954-95), who was Vice-Chairman of the committee and a BSO Overseer. That first performance was led by guest conductor Isaiah Jackson, and Alvin Parris III prepared the choir. The following year Charles Floyd, perhaps best known for his work with Natalie Cole, led acclaimed Gospel Night performances, which featured his own arrangements, both at Symphony Hall and on the Esplanade. In the 2025 spring season, which marks the 31st annual Gospel Night at Pops, Mr. Floyd returns to lead the concert for the 29th time. In 1996 the Boston Pops Gospel Choir joined Patti LaBelle and Edwin Hawkins for a concert taped for the PBS series Evening at Pops.
Boston Pops Gospel Choir 2026 Roster
** indicates a soloist
Dennis Slaughter, Artistic DirectorNorris Welch, Choir Manager
Sopranos Neni Carolina Chacin • Alexandria Connolly • Victoria Dandridge • Lennie De Souza • Janie Donovan • Bonnie Durante • Paula Elliott • Christine Ellis • Deborah Freeman Singleton • Zaida Christine Lambe • Laura Lapointe • Katie Leazott • Amina Michel-Lord • Makeysha Montgomery • Ann Moritz • Lakshmi Nayak • Arnetta Neville • Monica Paige • Fierrette Pierre • Roberta Pina • Kimberly Piper • Sharon Sealy • Charlotte Spinkston • Pamela St Aimee • Julie Starr • Marie Toussaint • Martha Vedrine • Brittany Wells
Altos Loraine Adeyemi • Joanne Arneman • Kencia Bernard • Suzane Buell • Sheri Callender • Adrienne Campbell • Karen Colbert • Marcus Daly • Tamarah Davis • Margaret Evans • Bella Harris • Val Harris-Alleyne • Angela Hedley-Mitchell • Thanayi Henry • Deborah Hood • Marcia Jackson • George-Marie Jasmin • Patience Korrie • Marie-Elle Merchant • Sharon Molden ** • Kimberly Oliver • Yemisi Oluwole • Kate Prescott • Barbara Ryan • Sherylynn Sealy • Jacquinn Sinclair • Crystal Tavares • Pat Temple • Samara Tilkin • Beth Tortolani • Eleanor Vaughn • Mildred Walker ** • H. Tracy Williams • Angelica Wilshire • Felicia Wiltz • Vicki Zelski
Tenors Laura Albert • Anthony Clayton • Elly Draper Pendergast • Cathleen Finn • Roscoe Gay • David Grandy ** • Karen Groce Horan • LaDarrell Hagans • Steven Hawkesworth • Herbert Jones • Leslie Langston • Raymond Martin • Josephine Watson
Basses Philip Clinton • David Joyner • Eric Reynolds • Tim Smith • Jonathan Temple • Bradley Turner • Wesley Vaughn
Rhythm Section Mark Copeland, piano • Sam Joseph, bass • Dennis Montgomery, organ • Sean Skeete, drums
Special Thanks Norris Welch, Choir Manager • Herbert Jones • Mildred Walker • Troy Byner
Gospel Night Soloists
-
![Sharon Molden]()
Sharon Molden
Gifted speaker and singer and spirited exhorter are just a few attributes assigned to the character of Sharon Molden. A native of Dallas, TX, she is an active member and vocalist at the Messiah Baptist Church in Brockton, MA, and currently serves as the director of its children’s choir. She can be heard throughout New England singing with numerous well-known choirs and in many venues. For the past 26 years, Sharon has appeared as a lead vocalist and member of the Boston Pops Gospel Choir and has also been a featured vocalist during the Holiday Pops season. She recently was the featured artist for the Stonehill College Nakamichi Concert Series. Sharon has traveled extensively in the United States and throughout the world sharing her vocal talents and gifts.
-
![Mildred Walker]()
Mildred Walker
Mildred E. Walker has performed with the Boston Pops Gospel Choir for over 25 years. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in music education, she is currently the choir director and accompanist at the First Baptist Church of Wollaston in Quincy, as well as the director of the Children for Christ Choir at Concord Baptist Church in Milton. Originally from Dorchester, Mildred is currently a principal cast member of the National Center for Afro-American Artists’ production of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity. She is a past member of the Millennium Choir and the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir. She has performed in productions of Ragtime with the Company Theatre in Norwell and Crowns with Moonbox Productions in Cambridge. She has performed with many artists, including Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Patti LaBelle, James Taylor, Donald Lawrence, Jennifer Holiday, and Kurt Carr; and has toured with many choirs, ensembles, and productions both locally and internationally.
-
![David Grandy]()
David Grandy
David Grandy has been a member of the Boston Pops Gospel Choir since 2009. He has sung with several groups in the Boston area including the Boston Community Choir and the New England Conservatory Millennium Choir, among others. David now sings with the Washington Performing Arts Men and Women of the Gospel Choir and St. James Community Choir, both in Washington, DC. These opportunities have led to his singing in concert venues such as Boston's Symphony Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and the DAR Constitution Hall. David lives in Baltimore, MD. When not singing, he works for the federal government and enjoys traveling and aviation-related hobbies.
Boston Pops Major Corporate Sponsors, 2025-26 Season
The Boston Pops and Symphony Hall major corporate sponsorships reflect the increasing importance of alliance between business and the arts. The Boston Pops is honored to be associated with the following companies and gratefully acknowledges their partnership. For information regarding BSO, Boston Pops, and/or Tanglewood sponsorship opportunities, contact Joan Jolley, Director of Corporate Partnerships, at (617) 638-9279 or jjolley@bso.org.