The CCJO All‑Star Gospel Choir is a premier vocal ensemble founded by Adrian Michael Cunningham at the invitation of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. Created for the CCJO’s groundbreaking production "We Gotta Shout", the choir was formed through an unprecedented collaboration between Cincinnati’s gospel community and one of the region's leading jazz groups.

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To build the ensemble, Cunningham hand‑selected top vocalists from 14 different Cincinnati churches, creating a unified choir with extraordinary vocal strength, stylistic versatility, and spiritual authenticity. The choir’s debut performance drew an audience of 600 people, marking the largest crowd in CCJO history and establishing the ensemble as a transformative force in the orchestra’s programming.

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The overwhelming success of the initial production led to a highly anticipated encore performance of "We Gotta Shout", once again featuring the All‑Star Gospel Choir as the emotional and musical centerpiece. The choir later returned for a powerful presentation of "Amazing Grace", honoring the legendary collaboration between Aretha Franklin. This performance again delivered one of the largest audiences in CCJO history, further solidifying the choir’s reputation for excellence.

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Known for its powerful harmonies, dynamic stage presence, and authentic gospel expression, the CCJO All‑Star Gospel Choir continues to elevate CCJO productions with performances that are musically sophisticated, culturally rich, and spiritually uplifting. The ensemble stands as a testament to the strength of Cincinnati’s gospel community and the visionary leadership that brought it together.