Keyera Gordon
Keyera Gordon
Noire Takes the Road: Expanding Past Spelman’s Gates
Noire Takes the Road: Expanding Past Spelman’s Gates
This past January, Noire, Spelman College’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, directed by Spelman professor Dr. Christina Butera, was invited to Pennsylvania State University’s annual MLK Day celebration. This event brings together vocal ensembles across Penn State’s campus, culminating in a concert that combines genres. The performance was preceded by a cross-state road trip that marked the ensemble’s first off-campus performance outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
“The road trip was like 13 hours,” senior vocalist Addis Tupper said. “It was really fun. I got to build bonds with my sisters. It was full of laughs, naps, and exploring new places — like Buc-ees.”
Noire, founded in 2017, has grown both in size and notability in the past nine years and is nearing its 10-year anniversary. This semester, the ensemble comprises over 30 members, including both vocalists and instrumentalists.
Britni Ruff was one of the founders of Noire while a student at Spelman College and currently serves as assistant director of Noire.
“It is surreal, almost. I feel immense pride,” Ruff said. “It feels like a reflection of my own growth. I remember being in this ensemble when there were only eight members, and now this huge choir! It fills me with joy.”
Ruff was also present on the Penn State road trip and sang with the ensemble at the performance.
“Our first trip out of town! For so many reasons, it felt very well-aligned, destined,” Ruff said. “For me and lots of the folks in the ensemble, it felt like an affirmation. People who aren’t our family or friends were thoroughly moved by us. I hope that trip was a beacon call to folks that Noire is here and we’re ready to get on the road, so contact us! Book us!” Ruff said.
When asked about potential plans for Noire’s approaching 10-year anniversary, Ruff screamed in disbelief.
“I would love to bring some of the alum of the ensemble back and build institutional memory,” Ruff said. “Inside of 10 years is almost a new generation.”
Ruff listed multiple future aspirations for the ensemble in celebration of its 10-year anniversary, including a new Noire original song and a spring break tour.
The setlist for the Penn State performance included multiple selections from Noire’s most recent Fall concert in November of 2025, “Interstellar.” Selected songs included but were not limited to “Day Dreaming” by Aretha Franklin, “Me and Your Mama” by Childish Gambino, and “Didn’t Cha Know” by Erykah Badu, spanning musical genres and eras.
The setlist also included a Noire original, “I Am A Woman,” a song that encapsulates the experience of a brown woman navigating the world and embracing her existence and beauty. Including lyrics such as “Power in my footsteps,” “Block all the hate surrounding me,” and “I live my truth,” the song holds a special place in the hearts of Noire members and is always a crowd favorite.
The ensemble is an artistic outlet for members to escape from their day-to-day academic expectations. For members, Noire is a safe space to bond and enjoy something that all singers and instrumentalists share: a genuine love for music.
Leilani Dacus is a junior domestic exchange student from Scripps College in California, making this her first semester in Noire.
“I feel like going to a PWI, it has been very important to have a space with black women just making music together,” Dacus said. “It’s not just singing the notes on the page but being able to create what’s on the page in the first place.”
In the past few semesters, Noire has had a steady increase in the number of off-campus invitations and performances, attesting to the ensemble’s talents and recent increase in exposure. This change has allowed new audiences and communities to experience all Noire has to offer.
Senior Hannah Baumgardner is the president of Noire. She has been in the ensemble since her freshman year at Spelman.
“I’m very proud of Noire. We’ve taken baby steps, but steps forward,” Baumgardner said. I really feel like I’m leaving a foundation. I feel immense pride. There is dedication, loyalty, and passion shared across the whole ensemble.”
The ensemble is now in the process of preparing for their Spring concert, for which the theme will soon be announced.
“I think that this semester’s performance is going to be the culmination of years of work and trial and error,” senior student music director Sophia Davis said.
“[The Spelman community] should be expecting a lot of energy, a range of genres and attitudes,” Davis said. “For a lot of us, it’s our last performance with Noire, and we want to make it count. So, we plan on bringing all of the hope, fear, and joy we’ve been building these past few years to the stage.”
Noire’s Spring concert is soon to be announced, and it, along with other information about Noire, can be found on the ensemble’s Instagram page @spelmannoire.
This past January, Noire, Spelman College’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, directed by Spelman professor Dr. Christina Butera, was invited to Pennsylvania State University’s annual MLK Day celebration. This event brings together vocal ensembles across Penn State’s campus, culminating in a concert that combines genres. The performance was preceded by a cross-state road trip that marked the ensemble’s first off-campus performance outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
“The road trip was like 13 hours,” senior vocalist Addis Tupper said. “It was really fun. I got to build bonds with my sisters. It was full of laughs, naps, and exploring new places — like Buc-ees.”
Noire, founded in 2017, has grown both in size and notability in the past nine years and is nearing its 10-year anniversary. This semester, the ensemble comprises over 30 members, including both vocalists and instrumentalists.
Britni Ruff was one of the founders of Noire while a student at Spelman College and currently serves as assistant director of Noire.
“It is surreal, almost. I feel immense pride,” Ruff said. “It feels like a reflection of my own growth. I remember being in this ensemble when there were only eight members, and now this huge choir! It fills me with joy.”
Ruff was also present on the Penn State road trip and sang with the ensemble at the performance.
“Our first trip out of town! For so many reasons, it felt very well-aligned, destined,” Ruff said. “For me and lots of the folks in the ensemble, it felt like an affirmation. People who aren’t our family or friends were thoroughly moved by us. I hope that trip was a beacon call to folks that Noire is here and we’re ready to get on the road, so contact us! Book us!” Ruff said.
When asked about potential plans for Noire’s approaching 10-year anniversary, Ruff screamed in disbelief.
“I would love to bring some of the alum of the ensemble back and build institutional memory,” Ruff said. “Inside of 10 years is almost a new generation.”
Ruff listed multiple future aspirations for the ensemble in celebration of its 10-year anniversary, including a new Noire original song and a spring break tour.
The setlist for the Penn State performance included multiple selections from Noire’s most recent Fall concert in November of 2025, “Interstellar.” Selected songs included but were not limited to “Day Dreaming” by Aretha Franklin, “Me and Your Mama” by Childish Gambino, and “Didn’t Cha Know” by Erykah Badu, spanning musical genres and eras.
The setlist also included a Noire original, “I Am A Woman,” a song that encapsulates the experience of a brown woman navigating the world and embracing her existence and beauty. Including lyrics such as “Power in my footsteps,” “Block all the hate surrounding me,” and “I live my truth,” the song holds a special place in the hearts of Noire members and is always a crowd favorite.
The ensemble is an artistic outlet for members to escape from their day-to-day academic expectations. For members, Noire is a safe space to bond and enjoy something that all singers and instrumentalists share: a genuine love for music.
Leilani Dacus is a junior domestic exchange student from Scripps College in California, making this her first semester in Noire.
“I feel like going to a PWI, it has been very important to have a space with black women just making music together,” Dacus said. “It’s not just singing the notes on the page but being able to create what’s on the page in the first place.”
In the past few semesters, Noire has had a steady increase in the number of off-campus invitations and performances, attesting to the ensemble’s talents and recent increase in exposure. This change has allowed new audiences and communities to experience all Noire has to offer.
Senior Hannah Baumgardner is the president of Noire. She has been in the ensemble since her freshman year at Spelman.
“I’m very proud of Noire. We’ve taken baby steps, but steps forward,” Baumgardner said. I really feel like I’m leaving a foundation. I feel immense pride. There is dedication, loyalty, and passion shared across the whole ensemble.”
The ensemble is now in the process of preparing for their Spring concert, for which the theme will soon be announced.
“I think that this semester’s performance is going to be the culmination of years of work and trial and error,” senior student music director Sophia Davis said.
“[The Spelman community] should be expecting a lot of energy, a range of genres and attitudes,” Davis said. “For a lot of us, it’s our last performance with Noire, and we want to make it count. So, we plan on bringing all of the hope, fear, and joy we’ve been building these past few years to the stage.”
Noire’s Spring concert is soon to be announced, and it, along with other information about Noire, can be found on the ensemble’s Instagram page @spelmannoire.