The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir of Champaign-Urbana, directed by Noah Brown, Audrey Mock, and Terry Napper, was founded in 1985 by the MLK Advocacy for Justice Committee under the direction of Pastor Rev. Claude E. Shelby Sr. in preparations for the National Holiday program that started the next year. Mr. Willie T. Summerville was the first MLK Community Choir Director. The Choir has been singing in the MLK Holiday Service and Celebration every year since 1985 and the MLK Advocacy for Justice Committee has given numerous scholarships to seniors in local high schools who are entering four-year University courses.