NATCHEZ — Natchez native Tremaine Lance Ford will have the honor of making history through song in Washington, D.C., Sunday.

Ford, a 2008 Natchez High School graduate, will lend his tenor to the “105 voices of history” as a member of the third-annual national choir representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

HBCUs are those colleges and universities founded before 1964 whose educational mission has historically been to educate black Americans.

Nonprofit organization Partners Achieving Success chose Ford, the son of Charles and Gwendolyn Ford, from Tougaloo College to join voices with representatives from the 104 other historically black colleges or universities across the county.

A sold-out crowd of more than 2,000 will hear the choir at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with Grammy-winning host Shirley Ceasar.

Ford has been practicing with other choir members in the region three times a month from April to July at Jackson State University in Jackson or Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

He said he has enjoyed working with the other representatives and singing a variety of different, strong voices.

Aside from the confidence boost Ford received for being chosen for the honor, he will also make his first trip to the nation’s capital.

“I’m proud, it’s a big honor. It’s going to be a nice experience,” Ford said.

Ford directs the choir at Tougaloo College in Jackson, but his choral experience stretches back to his hometown.

At Natchez High, Ford was a member of the Madrigal Singers, men’s glee club, NHS octet and the quartet.

His former teacher, Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, said Ford has a wonderful voice and a personality to match.

“Anybody who needed someone to sing — even now (from Jackson) — he’ll go,” Arceneaux-Mathis said.

“He’s a community-spirited person and has a good heart,” she said.

Growing up with a musical family is part of Ford’s love of music. Another part of why he continues to sing is to continue the tradition his late brother started.

Ford’s older brother, Jarred Cortez Ford, a singer, too, died in a car accident in 2005 at age 18, and Ford said he wanted to continue the singing legacy his brother started.

“My brother was my role model, (singing for others) was the kind of thing he did,” Ford said.

Ford also attends the Holy Family Catholic Church and sings in the choir.

He sings at numerous other churches, events and weddings in Natchez and volunteers at the Stewpot and with the Registered Nurses of Mississippi Association.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Ford hopes to attend dental school at UMC before practicing dentistry in Natchez.

Ford flew to Baltimore Wednesday and for the event.

Ford thanked his supporters for their prayers, contributions and donations.