An upcoming concert scheduled for White Rock Baptist Church represents a coup for the White Rock South Surrey Hospice Society.
The much-admired – but infrequently seen – Universal Gospel Choir will headline a special fundraising concert for the organization Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the church (1657 - 140 St.) and tickets are already on sale for what promises to be a memorable event for the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
The Vancouver-based group has won praise wherever it has performed its wide-ranging repertoire, said organizer and fundraiser Anita Colley, but its schedule of performances is limited.
“They only do about six to eight performances a year,” she said. “We were hoping to get them for 2012, but they had a cancellation in May of this year – and May also happens to be Hospice Month.”
Not only will the concert, underwritten by Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, be a showpiece for the for the society, she said – it also happens to be the day before Mother’s Day, making it an ideal family-friendly treat.
The 60-voice choir’s wide-ranging repertoire includes authentically-delivered songs from not only African-American, but also Cuban, African, European, Jewish, Asian and First Nations’ musical traditions.
And that makes it widely accessible, Colley said, for anyone who enjoys the uplifting power of music – particularly sacred and social conscience songs presented in an upbeat and joyful manner.
The choir also has another link to hospice – in addition to doing concerts for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, Kathryn Nicholson, music director since 2007, is also a hospice counsellor and musical therapist.
An energetic leader with decades of experience conducting choirs across Canada, her unique skill set allows her to establish a deep connection with each song’s message, resulting in spirited performances that resonate with audiences.
The choir itself – which recently celebrated 25 years of transcending cultural boundaries with messages of healing and hope – is nothing if not ground-breaking.
It’s a multi-faith, multicultural choir which draws on many traditions and has an alumni list of hundreds of singers, providing a valuable training ground for such performers as Leora Cashe, Christine Best, Dawn Pemberton and most of the members of The Shirleys.
Venues have ranged from everything from the dusty streets of Cuba to the Chan Centre, the CBC Vancouver studios, and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, while the choir has shared the stage with such artists as Dee Daniels, Ian Tyson, Marcus Mosely, Linda Tillery, Jane Mortifee, Long John Baldry and the Canadian Tenors.
“There’s already been tons of interest in this concert, and people have been calling for tickets,” Colley said.
“Most of the choir’s concerts are in the city and for them to travel out this way is rare. For people who don’t want to drive to the city – and that includes most of us – it’s an ideal opportunity to see them.”
Tickets ($25) are available from 604-531-7484 or purchase online at www.whiterockhospice.org