"I don't know why you came here, but I came to praise the Lord," sang the Regis College Gospel Choir on Sunday at Gospel Extravaganza, Voices of Praise Gospel Choir's annual show. The groups-also joined by Boston College's Voices of Imani-did just that for over two hours that afternoon, singing passionately and involving their audience in the performance.

The show started as Voices of Praise emerged from the back of the Hassenfeld Conference Center and onto a small, raised stage to the piano accompaniment of their choir director, Ben Kayes. From the very first note, the entire room was filled with a soulful emotion.

The Regis College Gospel Choir followed Voices of Soul. They proved the most enthusiastic group of the afternoon, shouting "halleujah" during their songs and circling around the room.

Next came Boston College's Voices of Imani, which means "faith" in Swahili. Their name was particularly apt considering their highly emotional and soulful songs.

The afternoon's themes stressed the power of faith and how humans can survive turmoil with the help of God. Speaking between the show's two acts, the Rev. Dr. Alice Brown-Collins, a campus Protestant chaplain, made reference to figurative storms and how one can weather them through faith.

Several soloists' vocals expressed particular devotion and beauty. Voices of Praise's Jean Johnson '07 was especially strong, closing her eyes and moving her whole body as she sang. Her powerful voice even held its own amid the strong harmonies of the rest of the group, emanating from the stage with the same volume as all 12 of her peers combined.

Throughout the afternoon, all three choirs swayed and clapped together during their individual sets, and each group seemed united by the sheer humanity of their songs.

It was hard to stay seated, regardless of faith, without being swept up by fervent emotions. The show sought to bring together people of different ethnicities and backgrounds-if the audience's response was any indication, they succeeded.

The entire crowd was singing, standing and clapping by the end of the show.

As the final notes escaped from the small stage, it seemed as though the entire room felt a newfound emotion and gratitude for being alive.