About Us

A Legacy of Faith, Music, and Scholarship

In May 2003, during a rehearsal of the Memorial Men Ensemble at Memorial AME Zion Church, 549 Clarissa Street (under the musical direction of Bro. Wardell Lewis, our Minister of Music), we received a visit from our senior pastor, Rev. Errol Hunt. It wasn't unusual for Rev. Hunt to join us—in fact, he rehearsed and participated in many of our singing engagements. However, on this day, he was bubbling with a vision that had been confronting him for some time.

He said, "I think we can get 100 men from various churches in the Rochester area and form a community male chorus." His enthusiasm was contagious, and we all became excited as the discussion continued. The initial step was to invite brothers from other churches to join us. Brothers from Mt. Zion Progressive Church on Reynolds and Sam McCree Way were the first group to join. Brothers from Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church followed. Bro. Thomas Green and Bro. Julius Dicks came aboard to work alongside Bro. Wardell Lewis as the musical director.

In the fall of 2003, we were ready for our first concert at Memorial AME Zion Church. The second concert in 2004 was held at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, and in 2005, we presented our third concert at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. In 2006, a Board of Directors was formed, composed of at least one member from each participating church.

After much discussion, the board adopted a name suggested by Brother Julius Dicks: we became the Voices of Thunder Citywide Gospel Choir (VOT). Among other resolutions adopted at the first board meeting was the naming of our scholarship fund. In recognition of two well-known educators—Earnest Rush and Will Postell, who were known for their ability to motivate young men—the fund was named the Rush/Postell Scholarship Fund. 

On October 24, 2006, VOT was incorporated by the NYS Department of State, Division of Corporations, under Section 402 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. The VOT issued our first group of scholarship awards to 11 graduating young men in 2008. With the help of Bro. Oscar Holloway, Deacon at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and tax attorney at Xerox Corporation, VOT received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service under 501(c)(3). This status was made retroactive to October 24, 2006.

Over the last 25 years, VOT has had more than 100 brothers participate in at least one concert. We have mourned the loss of eight brothers who were called home to be with the Lord: Bro. Abe Marion, Uncle Norman, Al Reed, Oscar Davis, Norvell "Pop" Payne, OB Wynn, Alan Cain, and our brother, who was known for his ability to electrify audiences with "When He Calls Me I Will Answer," Bro. James Peterson.

We are also humbly grateful to the many supporters we have gained since 2003, including an anonymous donor who has contributed $1,000 annually to the Rush/Postell Scholarship Fund. This fund has enabled us to award over $70,100 in scholarships to some 80 young men who have pursued undergraduate education at accredited colleges and universities.

Our Leaders