NATCHEZ &8212; Gospel, spiritual and Broadway will be among the music performed by the Alcorn State University Men&8217;s Chorus today at 12:05 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, corner of South Pearl and State streets.

Featured guests at the regular Together on Tuesdays program, the chorus, under the direction of Charles E. Wesley includes 22 music students at the university.

&8220;We organized about 10 years ago,&8221; said Wesley, assistant professor of music and choral and voice-related subjects.

&8220;There was a need for a small ensemble at the university, and at the time we had a good group of quality young male singers,&8221; he said. &8220;This was something a little different for the department.&8221;

Turnovers occur, of course, as students graduate or have to drop out because of other obligations. That does not affect the quality of the chorus, Wesley said.

&8220;Because of the quality of the others in the section, we always remain an excellent chorus,&8221; he said.

A teacher and coach who demands discipline, Wesley is known for his precise direction as he stands in front of the choral group.

&8220;Come in, sit down and sing,&8221; is what he tells his students to expect in choral preparations, he said.

The 22-member choral group he directs now is the largest ever, he said. They include students from freshman through senior status.

The program today will include one piece from &8220;Man of La Mancha,&8221; a spiritual, several gospel pieces and a surprise &8212; several sections from a grouping titled &8220;Landscapes.&8221;

Wesley has worked at Alcorn for nearly 30 years. A graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, he has done graduate work at Prairie View A&M, Indiana University, Florida State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.

He grew up in a home where &8220;there was always singing, not any formal training but always singing. It was a part of our life.&8221;

His purpose in presenting music to the public is to please people, he said. &8220;God gave me this gift to teach, and it&8217;s something I love and thoroughly enjoy doing. I share it with my students and hope they will share it with the audience.&8221;

The Together on Tuesday program includes a light lunch of soup and sandwiches served after the program. Both the program and lunch are free and open to all.