In the spring of 1958 A.T. Humphries divided the Mixed Choir into two distinct organizations – Touring Choir and Campus Choir. This means that Campus Choir is the oldest choral ensemble at Lee University. From this inauspicious beginning until the present, Campus Choir has maintained a vital musical witness. Campus Choir, always joined by the members of the Touring Choir, sang a variety of musical styles but its staple repertory was selection from the “Red Back Hymnal.” Dr. Delton Alford succeeded the founding director and served as director from 1963 to 1967. During his tenure, Campus Choir gave the first performance of the Handel’s Messiah by a Lee University choir. Alford soon established a new organization, the Lee Singers, and began a new direction for his tenure at Lee.

Dr. Jim Burns was appointed director of Campus Choir and served as director from 1967 to 1973 and 1974 to 1978. Dr. Burns continued the tradition of singing gospel hymns and hymn anthems and expanded the repertory. Shortly after his appointment as director, Campus Choir became a fully separate ensemble. During his tenure Campus Choir performed such works as Messiah, King David, Elijah, and What is Man? Under Burns’ direction Campus Choir made its very first recording - Nelson’s oratorio, “What is Man?” The choir continued to broaden its repertory by performing some of the contemporary Christian musicals of the era, such as “Love” and “Tell It Like It Is.” Jerry Long served as director from 1973 to 1974 and continued the emphasis on service music.

Dr. David Horton became the director of Campus Choir in 1977 and served his first tenure through the spring of 1980. During this time, Campus Choir continued its emphasis on service music and classical music. They performed Messiah with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and Honegger’s King David as well as the contemporary Christian musical, Celebrate Life with special guest, Daniebelle Hall of Andre Crouch and the Disciples. In the spring of 1980, Horton was asked to serve as the Director of Music Drama. For the next two years he produced the musicals “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “The Music Man,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” “The Wizard of Oz” featured Brian Green who went on to star in two Broadway musicals – “Big River” and “Space Mites.”

Dr. Phillip Thomas served as director from 1980 to 1983. During his tenure the choir performed Vivaldi’s “Gloria” with orchestra, as well as a wide variety of musical styles from the then currently popular disco to hymn anthems, to classical music.

Dr. David Horton was appointed as director of Campus Choir for a second tenure in 1983. Beginning with an enrollment of 58 students, the choir began a period of remarkable growth. Over the next few years the choir grew to an enrollment of 150 students. Dr. Horton realized that the choir was becoming larger than he could efficiently handle, so the decision was made to require auditions and to limit the size of the choir. At about the same time, the choir began to travel to churches in the surrounding area to sing.

Another influence at this same time was the creation of Choral Union with the purpose of performing the great oratorios. The first performance of Choral Union was conducted by Horton, and the music chosen was Handel’s Messiah accompanied by members of the Chattanooga Symphony. Since Choral Union was formed to allow all the music majors to perform the great oratorios and other choral masterpieces, this meant that Campus Choir was no longer needed for that repertory. Because of the need to redefine the purpose of Campus Choir, worship music and ministry became the primary focus of the Lee University Campus Choir.

While the focus of our ministry is and always will be the Lee University campus, the choir has had the wonderful opportunity of ministering throughout the United States and in other countries. Campus Choir and Power Unlimited (a small ensemble from the choir) have had the opportunity to sing at some of the leading churches in America, such as: the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New Your City with Pastor Jim Cymbala; Central Baptist in Hixon, TN, with Pastor Ron Phillips, Christ Church in Nashville, TN, with Pastor L.N. Hardwick; Free Chapel in Gainesville, GA, with Pastor Jentzen Franklin; Times Square Church with Pastor David Wilkerson. (Having listed these large and well-known churches, it is important to note that Campus Choir values the opportunity to sing and minister in the smallest churches as eagerly as the largest.

Power Unlimited, whose members are selected from the choir, was formed for the express purpose of combining music and missions. In 1990 Power Unlimited became the first Christian musical group to minister in the Eastern Bloc countries of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Romania. The videotape that was produced on that trip has been seen around the world. Power Unlimited made a second trip to those same countries in 1991, teaming up with international evangelist Perry Stone for a series of crusades. In 1992 Power Unlimited traveled to the Island of Trinidad for a series of concerts and a music seminar.

In 1993 Campus Choir made its first missionary journey to Greece and Bulgaria where they performed with Radio and Television Orchestra of Bulgaria in a concert in the National Palace with soloist Phil Driscoll. The concert was, at the request of the overseer, Pavel Ignatov, a combination of classical and gospel music. The same trip featured an outdoor concert on National Culture day for an audience of 15,000 to 20,000 people. Following the concert, the choir and the leadership of the Church of God in Bulgaria had dinner with Juan Carlos, the King of Spain and Sophia his wife, The Queen of Greece. Subsequent mission trips have included Jamaica, Israel, Ireland, Wales, England, the Navaho Reservation in New Mexico, Ecuador, the Caribbean islands, Guatemala, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The choir has recorded a number of musical albums, including their first gospel album, Premier Edition. In 1984 we were given the opportunity to record a new Christmas project written by Lanny Wolfe, Sing Noel. Our first album with a companion video album was Let the Church Rise, with guest artist Judy Jacobs. Gabriel’s Song, A Christmas Musical written by David Horton and Michael Frazier was our most ambitious project to that point. It featured guest soloist Alvin Slaughter as the angel Gabriel. While recording Gabriel’s Song, Alvin Slaughter asked the choir to help him record his first album with Integrity Music, Revive Us Again. Short after that recording we had the opportunity to be a part of the choir for Ron Kenoly’s recording, Sing Out with One Voice. Tree of Light for Brentwood Music, God’s Glorious Church for Royal Tapestry followed in short order. JOY! has been one of our most popular albums and it continues to sell well to this day. Other albums and projects include Jubilee; the Year of God’s Favor with Spirit Sound Music, and Times of Refreshing with SpiritSound Music. And a recording is by Power Unlimited, Through the Fire. Then the choir recorded the project The Comforter Has Come, which combined the extraordinary arranging talents of Lee University graduate Bradley Knight. A live video recording of this project, performed at the North Cleveland Church of God, was done to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Azuza Street Revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, under Pastor Jim Phillips’ direction, Campus Choir recorded Can’t Stop Praisin’, Exceedingly Abundantly, and Relentless Worship. All three are powerful anointed projects that demonstrate the “flat out” worship of Campus Choir.
Campus Choir and Power Unlimited have had the opportunity to perform with such outstanding gospel musicians as Steve Brock, the Crabb Family, Dino, Michael English, Joy Gardiner, Lari Goss, Natalie Grant, Danniebelle Hall, Larnell Harris, Mark Harris of 4Him, Judy Jacobs, Ron Kenoly, Babbie Mason, Donnie McClurken, Gary McSpadden, Gary Oliver, Alvin Slaughter, The Talley’s, the Lanny Wolfe Trio, and Vicki Yohi.

Video recording include: Let the Church Rise with guest artist Judy Jacobs; Mission Bulgaria: Live from Sophia, Bulgaria (Yes, this is the one); Gabriel’s Song: A Christmas Musical with guest artist Alvin Slaughter; Sing Out: With One Voice recorded with Ron Kenoly for Integrity Music; Praise, Worship, and GLORY recorded live at Central Baptist.

From 1997 to 2002 Campus Choir ministered at a series of Church of God youth events called WINTERFEST. Campus Choir members will never forget that first Winterfest in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They were all so excited. Many of the choir members had attended Winterfests many times and found it almost hard to believe that they would be on stage singing to so many young people. They had prayed for God to give a real breakthrough; in point-of-fact, four of the last six rehearsals had turned into prayer meetings. It was the second of two performances that night. The last song was Lead Me, Lord, and as Campus Choir sang the last a cappella section, the young people began to run to the altar. In a matter of a few minutes the entire audience was kneeling and praying all over the auditorium. God had given a breakthrough that cannot be described. Do it again, Lord! In 2006, Campus Choir was once again invited to sing at the Smokey Mountain Winterfest in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Over the last several years Campus Choir and Power Unlimited have had the opportunity to appear on Celebration on the Daystar Network with Marcus and Joni Lamb, Praise the Lord with Dr. Paul Crouch and International Evangelist, Perry Stone on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), and Camp meeting Live with David and Barbara Cerullo the Inspiration Network (INSP).

Dr. Horton’s wife, Virginia, has been central to this ministry over the past 25 years performing on recording projects, working with students both in sectionals and on an individual basis and has been a constant supporter of the ministry of Campus Choir. She truly is the first lady of vocal music at Lee University.

On May 8, 2006 while on tour with Campus Choir to the Bahamas, Dr. David Horton, direct of Campus Choir for the past 25 years was called home by the Savior to his eternal reward. The last performance by Campus Choir for the 2005/2006 School year was Dr. Horton’s memorial service, held Saturday, May 13th at the North Cleveland Church of God. Tributes were made by students, faculty, colleagues, and friends. Central to this tribute was the singing of the choir of The Comforter Has Come, Lord You’re Holy, and Total Praise. Dr. Horton’s legacy of teaching others how to utilize music in Praise and worship and that of living a life solely dedicated to ministry will forever go forward in the lives of all the students he mentored in his many years as director of Campus Choir.

In July 2006, Dr. Mark Bailey was appointed director of Campus Choir by Paul Conn, President of Lee University. Dr. Conn wrote in the official announcement of this appointment that,

Dr. Bailey’s ministry and career parallels Dr. Horton’s in many important respects. Like Dr. Horton, Dr. Bailey did his doctoral work in music education, and both had extensive experience with church choirs. Dr. Bailey has a wonderful vision for heartfelt worship in music. He understands what it means to listen to the voice of God, and his primary focus has always been to use music to lead people to God’s throne in worship.

In May 2007, Pastor Jim Phillips was appointed by Dr. Conn as director of Campus Choir. As Music Pastor at Princeton Pike Church of God for 30 years, Pastor Jim developed a reputation as being a powerful worshipper with the God-given gift of leading those involved in his ministry, along with the congregation, into God’s presence in a powerful way. The anointing on his life has also been developed and displayed in writing and arranging.

During Pastor Jim’s first semester with Campus Choir, the choir celebrated their 50th reunion. During a worship service in that reunion, God established that He had orchestrated and directed the appointment of this director. Virginia “Mama” Horton gave a powerful WORD from the Lord and her personal endorsement of Pastor Jim and Johnna as the new directors of Campus Choir stating that the Lord had told her he was sending Joshua to carry the torch after Moses was gone.

Pastor Jim and Johnna’s desire, along with the past and present members of Campus Choir, was to perpetuate the legacy and calling and anointing that God placed on this group through the powerful leadership of Dr. David and Virginia Horton.

During Pastor Jim’s time with Campus Choir, the choir traveled on two medical missionary trips to Ecuador and one to Guatemala, a mission trip to the Caribbean islands, Ireland, Scotland and England, a summer tour on the North East Coast, a mission trip to the British Virgin Islands, and to Thailand and Indonesia where they were guests for Empower21Asia.

The Fall of 2020 brought much challenge around our world with the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, during this time the next shift occurred in the leadership of Campus Choir. A new faculty member to Lee University, but not one new to worshipful and passionate worship choirs, Dr. Luke Gambill was installed as the next director of Campus Choir. After close to 20 years full-time creating worship choir resources for the church and also as an arranger and choir director, Dr. Gambill, a 3rd generation COG “preachers’ kid,” has brought his years of experience and musical excellence to Campus Choir. During his first semester, during the pandemic when we could not travel, a three-song EP was recorded in Nashville and on campus, and an acapella Christmas arrangement was both recorded and a video filmed. To date, this acapella video had been viewed approximately 17,000+ times, was featured on Chattanooga’s Channel 9, as well as its audio and the EP all available through the major streaming and download services. Even through the challenges, it has been apparent that God is far from through with Campus Choir. Our rich story in worshipful song continues!

Dates Coming Soon!

• Austin Arnold
• Chandler Beaver
• Cole Hardman
• Hasani Hunt
• Josh Johnson
• Josh King

• Jeremiah Allen
• Brianna Anderson
• Alyssa Ballinger
• Christian Brannock
• Emma Elliot
• Bella Gang
• Maddie Hodges
• JD Judd
• Caroline Marshall
• Peyton Slover
• Brett Waters