Crawford Memorial United Methodist is excited to announce it is hosting a performance by the award-winning Spirituals Ensemble of The Boston Arts Academy. This FREE concert is open to the public and will be held on October 25 at 2pm in Gifford Hall at 34 Dix Street in Winchester, MA.
While this event is free, please RSVP HERE so we know how many seats to set up.
Spirituals Ensemble
Founded in 2009, The Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble explores the evolution of the African-American sacred choral music tradition. This auditioned group of 30 sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Boston Arts Academy (BAA), the city’s only public arts high school, is directed by Music Department Chair, Michael Bradley. They have performed at numerous community events, including recently for the inauguration of Governor Maura Healy. Several members of past ensembles have majored in music in college and have received full scholarships at leading music colleges including Boston University, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, Oberlin and the Hartt School of Music. Other performances include the 50th Anniversary Concert of Sweet Honey In The Rock, the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Conference in March of 2024 and sharing the stage with James Taylor. They also released an album, Genesis, landing at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Albums Chart. This remarkable achievement marks the first time in the history of Boston Public Schools (BPS) that a music ensemble has charted on Billboard. A second album they recorded, The Kidz at North Station, was subsequently nominated for a Stellar Award in 2025, again making history as the first BPS ensemble to be nominated in the professional Gospel Music community. The Spirituals have competed and won several Grand champion titles in competitions across the country.
Director Bio
Michael W. Bradley has been an active educator in the arts community and K-12 education for over fifteen years and has become an experienced writer and director in the fields of Choral and Gospel music, respectively. Michael’s choirs have competed and won Grand Champion Awards in national competitions and have performed for Yo-Yo Ma, Damien Woetzel, and at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama. Michael graduated from Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in Music Education in 2012 and a Master’s in Public Administration at Belhaven University . Currently Michael is finishing his Master’s in Choral Conducting at Boston University where he studies with Dr. Daniel Parsley. Now in his twelfth year of teaching, Michael is the Co-Chair of the Music Department of Boston Arts Academy. Michael’s teaching responsibilities at BAA include Freshmen Vocal Technique, Junior and Senior Contemporary Vocal Technique, Lyric Choir, Men of Valor, Concert Choir, and the award-winning “Spirituals.” In 2024, The Spirituals released three albums, “Genesis,” a classical crossover album that reached #1 on the Classical and Classical Crossover Billboard Charts, “The Kidz At North Station,” a kids album that reached #1 on the Kids Album Billboard Charts and “American Dreamers,” a Spoken Word Album. The Spirituals have performed for the inauguration of Governor Maura Healy and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, the homegoing celebration of Civil Rights Activist, Melvin King, for the 50th Anniversary Concert of “Sweet Honey In The Rock”, the American Choral Directors Association 2024 Eastern Division Conference and shared the stage with six-time Grammy Award winning songwriter, James Taylor. Michael manages a Worship and Arts Consulting Firm, Motif Creative Services, whose sole purpose is to strengthen the administrative and liturgical practices and systems of Worship and Production teams of churches of all sizes. Although Michael has joyfully led and served in the Creative and Liturgical Artistic communities, his greatest joy is being married to his amazing wife, Daniella K. Bradley.