LIKE THIS! Gospel Choir has been in existence for exactly fifteen years this weekend and that was celebrated on Saturday with its own show on the largest stage in Lowlands. With guest artists Claude, Berget Lewis, Shirma Rouse and Typhoon, the 24-member choir gets the festival public dancing early in the day.
“It was fantastic how the audience got bigger and bigger. A whole group did its own dance steps, so cool to see all of that happening from the stage,” says singer Tiffany Vicario after the show.
In 2010, choir founded in the Amsterdam Bijlmer won the EO program Korenslag . In it the choir sang, among others, Rain Down On Me van Kane, a song that the members still perform today. The repertoire also consists of a reggae version of Shackles (Praise You) by Mary Mary and some songs from Kirk Franklin. With Typhoon the choir sings his songs and ala day and with Claude Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot) and Songfestival number C’est La Vie .
“It should have just been that way,” says one of the founders of the choir Donna Lewis about the coincidence of the Lowlands performance with the fifteen year anniversary of Zo! Gospel Choir. The choir gave an anniversary concert in AFAS Live earlier this year. The singers were then asked for North Sea Jazz and therefore Lowlands.
LIKE THIS! Gospel Choir performs at Lowlands
Although the choir already has the necessary experience with a large audience, there is tension just before entering the Lowlands stage. “I noticed it to everyone,” says Vicario. “The one was a bit quieter than normal, while the other suddenly talks a lot. But everyone thought it was exciting in a good way. We were really looking forward to it.”
The ritual they do together for every performance is a prayer. Gospel originated in the slavery past and has its origins in the Christian faith. But that does not mean that every member of the choir has to be religious in advance. “For us it is important that you respect faith,” explains Lewis. “We are open to everyone and have respect for each other. That is what faith should be about: love for everyone.”
Prayer is currently extra important for the choir, because one of the members is in the hospital. The last song of the show, Total Praise , is dedicated to her. “That is her favorite song. In mind we were with her at that time. We are really a family together.”
To be perfectly attuned to each other in all those performances such as choir, there must of course be rehearsal. And that happens at Zo! Gospel Choir always on Tuesday. “On a Tuesday evening you do nothing but the choir,” Vicario says laughing. “That has been the case from the start,” adds Lewis.
Donna Lewis founded the choir together with Gordon Cruden. In addition, she received help from her sister Berget, who still performs with the choir, also at Lowlands. Shirma Rouse was also there early and is still on stage with the choir. “Every Tuesday they can, they are there too. They remain involved,” says Donna Lewis. Vicario: “They are like a mothers of the choir.”
If new singers or singers like this! Wanting to add gospel Choir precedes a whole process. “Previously it was easier to say: get a nice one. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to just step in,” says Lewis. Vicario: “They are so many songs to learn, that’s not normal.”
“That is why we are now doing a training program for new members. In September we will start a new batch again,” says Lewis. And if it is up to her, the members eventually also get original material from the choir. “We once made three own songs and I would like that more. Not to score hits, but especially to contribute to our own identity.”
LIKE THIS! Gospel Choir Celebrates its fifteenth anniversary this weekend, and that was celebrated on Saturday with its own show on the biggest stage of Lowlands. With Guest Artists Claude, Berget Lewis, Shirma Rouse and Typhoon, the 24-member Choir Gets The Festival Audience Dancing Early in the Day.
“It was Fantastic How the Audience Kept Growing. A Whole Group was Doing Their Own Dance Moves, So Cool To See It All From The Stage,” Says Singer Tiffany Vicario After The Show.
In 2010, The Choir, Founded in The Amsterdam Bijlmer, the Eo Program Korenslag won. In it, The Choir Sang, Among Other Things, Rain Down On Me by Kane, A Song That The Members Still Peroday. The repertoire also includes a reggae version of shackles (praise you) by Mary Mary and some Songs by Kirk Franklin. With Typhoon, The Choir Sings His Songs Heaven falls and ala Day , and with Claude Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot) and Eurovision Song C’est la vie .
“It just had to be that way,” Says one of the founders of the Choir, Donna Lewis, About the Coincidence of the Lowlands Performance with the Fifteenteth Anniversary or something! Gospel Choir. The Choir Gave An Anniversary Concert in AFAS Live Earlier This Year. After that, The Singers Were Asked For North Sea Jazz and Thus Lowlands.
LIKE THIS! Gospel Choir Performs at Lowlands
Althegh the Choir Already Has Some Experience with a Large Audience, there is Still Some Tension Just before the Lowlands Stage. “I Noticed It in Everyone,” Says Vicario. “One was just a bit quieter than normal, while the other sauddenly talks a lot. But Everyone was excited in a good way. We were really look forward to it.”
The ritual they do together before each performance is a prayer. Gospel originated in the slavery fits and has its origins in the Christian Faith. But that Doessn’t Mean That Every Member of the Choir Has To Be Religious in Advance. “For us it is important that you respect the faith,” Explains Lewis. “We are open to everything and have respect for each other. That is what faith should be about: love for everyone.”
The Prayer is Currently Extra Important For The Choir, Because One of the Members is in The Hospital. The Last Song of the Show, Total Praise , is dedicated to her. “That’s her favorite song. We were thinking of her at that moment. We are really a family with each other.”
To be perfectly attuned to each other as a choir at all those performances, there must of course be rehearsals. And that always happens at that! Gospel Choir on Tuesday. “On a Tesday Evening You Don’t Do Anything Other than the Choir,” Says Vicario Laughing. “That’s leg the case from the start,” Adds Lewis.
Donna Lewis Founded the Choir Together with Gordon Cruden. She Received Help From Her Sister Berget, Who Still Performs with the Choir, Including at Lowlands. Shirma Rouse was also there early and is still on stage with the choir. “Every Tuesday that they can, they are there. They. They Remain Involved,” Says Donna Lewis. Vicario: “They are like Mothers of the Choir.”
If new singers want to join the so! Gospel Choir, there is a whole process Involved. “Before it was Easier to Say: Come and Join us. But it is Becoming Increasingly Difficult to Just Step,” Says Lewis. Vicario: “There are so many songs to learn, it’s not normal.”
“That’s why we now have a training program for new members. We’re starting a new class again in September,” Says Lewis. And if it’s up to her, the members will possible anyway as well to sing original material from the choir. “We Once Made Three Of Our Own Songs and I would like to do that More Often. Not to score hits per se, but special to contribute to our own identity.”