The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

AN EVENING OF GOSPEL

Clyde Mitchell, Conductor

Dr Terry Winter, Host

Wes Janzen, Choral Director/Music Advisor

Dee Daniels, Vocalist

Checo Tohomaso, Vocalist

Trinity Western University Interchurch Gospel Choir

Crystal Hicks, Mezzo-Soprano

Kimberley Janzen, Soprano

Lonnie Delisle, Tenor

THE GOOD SOUND OF GOSPEL: AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE

By Roxanne Davies

As we head into the Easter season, an evening of gospel and spiritual music seemed entirely appropriate for a Tuesday night at the Orpheum. The Gospels, based on the Biblical stories told by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John refer to the good news or godspell stories that tell the history of Jesus' s life on earth.

When the gospel teachings are put to music, they have the ability to put great feeling within the context of simple Christian faith. The Orpheum, with its majestic architectural design, seemed a fitting place to enjoy this kind of music, and conductor Clyde Mitchell, addressing the audience, unusually small for the large concert hall, seemed enthusiastic about the evening's fare.

Television personality, Dr Terry Winter, provided commentary for the evening and his sonorous tones were familiar to many who watch Sunday morning religious programs. Clyde Mitchell, who recently survived a mutiny within the ranks of the VSO, was perhaps counting his blessings and seemed to indulge his theatricality as he conducted a smaller VSO for the evening. But what may have been lacking in orchestral sound was more than made up for by the Trinity Western University Choir.

This 160-voice choir, soft and unfocussed at first, gradually developed into a gigantic wall of sound that simply engulfed the listeners. The range and depth of the singing was extraordinary. Strong, sure and unwavering in faith and in the way they hit the notes, this multi-denominational choir sang a variety of songs such as "Your load will be made lighter" and "'Great is thy faithfulness". The building crescendo, modulated and controlled in the song "Steal away home to Jesus" was beautiful. When I listen to choirs such as this, I gauge my response by the goosebump factor, and I experienced quite a few during the evening.

Soprano Kimberley Janzen, who began singing gospel music at the age of five in a church in Newfoundland, not only sang well but also provided sign language at the same time. But the highlight of the evening for me was hearing and especially seeing Dee Daniels, a majestic and gorgeous vocalist, who has now provided the standard against which all future singers will be measured for my favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace". Her voice has the body and range of a young Mahalia Jackson, and dare I say, is even better than that esteemed singer.

When Daniels began singing there was tremendous anticipation, since so many knew the grandeur of her voice. When a cell phone started beeping somewhere in the audience, I, like many of the audience, no doubt, experienced the same rather un-christian thought about ringing the neck of that hapless person. Nevertheless, despite the annoyance, Daniels was simply divine. She also sang a beautiful rendition of that classic spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child." Goosebumps galore.

The Vancouver Outreach Choir, led by Checo Tohomaso, provided the musical interlude after intermission. Tohomaso, who once sang with Marvin Gaye, Lionel Ritchie and the Commodores, has a unique stage presence, hopping and bopping while he plays his synthesizer and inspires his local talent to reach great heights. The casually dressed choir performed a rousing version of "Oh Happy Days".

The third theme of the gospels is about heaven, and judging by the audience response to the repertoire, they all took a little bit of that away with them after an evening of uplifting music presented by these talented and inspiring performers.