Voxology Makes a Joyful Noise

Belmont's viral gospel ensemble bridges cultures, builds sisterhood through music

In a room full of fellow vocalists, Naari Kenebrew remembers the moment that crystallized what makes Belmont's Voxology ensemble so special. After being announced as a Christmas at Belmont soloist last year, she looked around to find every single one of her ensemble mates beaming with genuine joy for her success. 

"I was astounded by the amount of support," said Kenebrew, now a junior commercial voice major. "The fact that every girl was able to put competition aside and cheer for me really touched me. It showed me how much they loved me as much as I loved them." 

This spirit of sisterhood and celebration is the heartbeat of Voxology, Belmont's all-women's gospel and R&B ensemble that has captured attention with more than 30,000 Instagram followers. Their viral performances showcase not just musical excellence, but an infectious joy that's impossible to miss. 

"The communal portion of the group is fundamentally important," explained Brian Seay, who has directed Voxology since fall 2022. "When you have 42 students who have true chemistry and bond behind the stage, that's what connects and resonates with listeners." 

That connection will be on full display at this year's Christmas at Belmont, where Voxology will premiere an original composition written specifically for the ensemble by Seay and collaborators, including his wife and former Voxology director Andriana Haygood Seay. 

"It's a very fun, catchy, happy song that combines both gospel and R&B," Seay said. "The message is profound about the love of God, the love of Christ and how the love we experience during Christmas is actually the love that was given to us." 

Finding their Voice 

The ensemble's meteoric rise on social media began with a modest goal. "When I first started, I told the group, 'Let's just try to get 500 followers,'" Seay recalled, laughing.  

What started as weekly classroom performance clips soon caught fire online, with one video garnering more than 20 million views. Yet, viral success hasn't changed their fundamental approach. 

"The day after it went viral, we had a talk in class," Kenebrew remembered. "Mr. Seay was like, 'Do not let this go to your head. We still have a job to do.' We don't really think we're as big as we might be to other people because we still have that humbleness about us." 

For senior commercial voice major Shelby Folger, now in her third year with Voxology, the ensemble's impact runs deeper than performance opportunities or online fame. "We've cultivated such an environment of uplifting and supporting each other," she said. "We don't take on challenges by ourselves. It's really like a family." 

Creative Collaboration 

Meeting three times a week as a formal class, the ensemble approaches their craft with both rigor and creativity. Students learn everything by rote, a method based on imitation and repetition, with Seay challenging them as both students and professional musicians. The group even takes on creative arrangements, with students developing their own vocal arrangements and charts for R&B performances. 

"Having that creative freedom really gave a lot of people a chance to have creative control," Kenebrew said. "It's really helped me gain more confidence in my own voice." 

This supportive culture is intentionally fostered by Seay, who views character development as essential to the group’s growth and purpose as its musical excellence. "Talent is important, but I believe character is first –– how you treat people, how you communicate with people, how you empathize with people," he said. 

Bridging Cultures 

The ensemble also serves as a powerful space for cultural appreciation and understanding. While predominantly featuring Caucasian performers, Voxology's repertoire is almost exclusively composed by Black artists. Seay uses this as an opportunity to educate students about the rich history and context of gospel and R&B music. 

"It flips the whole spectrum of how the world views certain things," Seay reflected. "I think it's a beautiful, wonderful thing." 

This cultural exchange has deeply impacted members like Folger, who grew up with traditional hymnal church music. "This has opened my perspective of what praise and worship is and can be," she reflected. "But Mr. Seay lets you figure that out for yourself." 

Connecting with Audiences 

The ensemble's approach to performance goes beyond simply delivering music. "We don't want to just sing at them. We want them to engage with us too," Kenebrew explained. This participatory spirit creates an infectious energy that spreads through their audiences, whether in person or online. 

"Not everybody looks the same when they're worshiping," she added. "We all come from different backgrounds. But I think people see how we interact with each other on stage, and they want to get in on that. It's inviting." 

For the performers, the goal is simple –– spread joy and God's love through their music. "We just want everyone to be uplifted after we're done," said Kenebrew. "I hope everyone's smiling at the end of our song." 

As Voxology prepares for its Christmas at Belmont appearance, the ensemble continues to embody Belmont's values of belonging and excellence. "Everybody has a voice, everybody can bring something to the table," Seay affirmed. "God has given us all a gift."