When the contemporary-classical vocal group Veritas sang at a conference in Houston early this year, they impressed a future presidential candidate who was also on the conference agenda.
But it still was a surprise when the campaign manager for Dr. Ben Carson called in April with a request: would they sing on May 4 when Carson announced his candidacy for president of the United States?
“It was unreal,” said Scott Lawrence ’10, one of four University of Mobile graduates in the five-member group. “It was a pretty incredible opportunity.”
Scott said the announcement was being streamed live and more than a million people were expected to be watching it, and over 2,000 people were at the Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts where Carson made it official. There were over 40 media outlets covering the event, and several carried the musical performance.
Veritas sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “An American Anthology,” a trilogy of patriotic songs on their latest self-titled album.
It’s an album that Lawrence has been told is a favorite of Carson and his wife.
“He told us our CD was on ‘repeat’ in his car,” Scott said.
While this was their first performance on the political stage, it may not be their last.
“The very first time we met him, he smiled and said ‘if we make it to the White House, you guys will definitely be singing at the inauguration,” Scott said.
Veritas also includes Andrew Goodwin ’10, James Berrian ’10, Jordan Johnson ’11 and Jeff Anderson. For more information about this group that got its start at the University of Mobile, visit veritasfive.com.
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