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Morgan Cross / B次元官网网址 contributor
Concert-goers bid farewell to Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 2017 Concert in the Park series this week, after enjoying performances by Impulse Response, Bijoux du Bayou, the Fintan OB次元官网网址橞rien Band and the Damian Graham Trio through July and August. One last group takes to the stage Thursday, Aug. 24, to share Motown, soul, R&B and gospel with a crowd of hundreds at Willows Beach Park.
Sponsored by Roberto Cecchini, the Victoria Soul Gospel Choir plans to sing modern gospel hits, Earth, Wind &Fire, Sly and the Family Stone and more.
The choir has rehearsed and performed for an upcoming 15 years under director Checo Tohomaso, who has sung alongside Marvin Gaye, Lionell Richie and the Commodores. In that time, the choir has visited a multitude of stages across Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, fuelled by its directorB次元官网网址檚 infectious enthusiasm.
Executive director Gord Warrenchuk said the choir often raises the house lights in traditional performance venues to engage more with the audience; something which the outdoor concerts, aided by bright natural light and a casual setting, make easy.
B次元官网网址淭his will be a great performance,B次元官网网址� Warrenchuk said of Aug. 24B次元官网网址檚 park concert. B次元官网网址淭he last two had good crowds of maybe a thousand people.B次元官网网址�
For the past two years, the choir has opened the Concert in the Park Series. This will be its first closing performance, boosted by several brand new choir singers who have rehearsed and caught on with the repertoire. Warrenchuk expects the same substantial turnout as in previous years.
A sample of the Victoria Soul Gospel ChoirB次元官网网址檚 music can be heard at victoriasoulgospel.ca. The non-auditioned choir invites any interested in singing to join rehearsal every other Tuesday under TohomasoB次元官网网址檚 direction. The next group rehearsal runs 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 12.
