Coastal Inspirational Ambassadors to join Gloria Gaynor at Carolina Opry
by Mazzei
Ever since the Coastal Inspirational Ambassadors (CIA) surprised singer Gloria Gaynor with a flash mob performance of her hit “I Will Survive” at the Women in Philanthropy and Leadership (WIPL) conference earlier this year, the gospel choir and disco queen have become fast friends. In fact, the CIA will perform with Gaynor at the Carolina Opry on Sunday, Aug. 30, singing four gospel favorites.
It all started a few weeks prior to the WIPL conference held in February, when Gaynor first visited the Coastal Carolina University campus. She met with the gospel group at a practice at Lackey Chapel and was impressed with their “authentic voices.”
To surprise her, the choir sat among the other guests at the WIPL conference and at the end of Gaynor’s introduction, they jumped up and began to dance and to sing “I Will Survive.”
Gaynor joined in with the choir, and from then on a relationship was formed. Gaynor donated the proceeds of her CD sales at the WIPL conference to the choir. She also made another donation to help with a CIA tour and then decided to return to Myrtle Beach to sing with them.
Domonic Prince, CIA student director, and Eia Richardson, CIA student president, say that surprising Gaynor was “the most nerve-racking moment of the year, but the most fun and a great experience.”
Prince says Gaynor was “overjoyed and shocked, but in love with the performance.”
“She (Gaynor) is really humble and sweet, almost like an auntie type,” said Prince.
At the Carolina Opry show in August, Gaynor and the CIA will be joined by the Socastee Singers and will perform three gospel songs, “Please Let Me Show You,” “Talking about Jesus” and “Only You Can Do.” They will be concluding the performance with Gaynor’s hit song, “I Will Survive.”
“She [Gaynor] told us to be about what you sing about,” says Richardson.
Bertha Fladger, assistant in the Office of Multicultural Student Services and adviser to the CIA, says it was an “awesome experience” for the choir.
“One student told me that to be able to sing with Gloria Gaynor was a blessing and an opportunity,” says Fladger. “I think it makes some music majors more serious and more committed to what they are singing and will encourage more students to join the choir.”
“Meeting Gloria has shown us that doors can open, and this was a great encouragement that opportunities are out there,” Prince says.
“We feel special and still in shock every time we practice with her,” adds Richardson. “We are grateful that she thought of us to help her in this new stage of her music.”
The Coastal Inspirational Ambassadors group has about 60 members, 25 of whom will perform with Gaynor. David Manigo has been the choir director for 13 years. Tickets for the performance are between $49 and $60.
For tickets, call the Carolina Opry at 800-843-6779 or purchase online at thecarolinaopry.com.
