Gospel music is in the house B次元官网网址� the house of God that is.

The Amazing Gospel Experience 2013, is a workshop and concert spearheaded by Tennessee-born musician Eric Dozier and North Carolina jazz and gospel vocalist Kim Pacheco. It returns to Victoria with a larger-than-life concert choir featuring 125 singing, clapping and dancing musicians filling the air with the sights and sounds of southern and contemporary gospel music.

B次元官网网址淲hat is fascinating for me, is itB次元官网网址檚 people from all walks of life. There are agnostics, and people who are involved in other spiritual practices. It is simply the full-body experience of singing the gospel music that (people) are looking for,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay United Church musical minister Gordon Miller. B次元官网网址淭here is an appetite for the musical genre.B次元官网网址�

Under the tutelage of the two mentors who travel and deliver the workshops internationally, the sold out three-day clinic features a lineup of vocalists from Seattle, Saskatchewan and the Lower Mainland, all of whom congregate at the Oak Bay church for the finale Sunday, Feb. 10.

B次元官网网址淜im and Eric are both steeped in the tradition of passing on the singing just by listening and participating,B次元官网网址� Miller said. B次元官网网址淭he gospel sound is singing with full body, full spirit and full engagement. That sometimes doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen when you are stuck to a hymn book.B次元官网网址�

Both Dozier and Pacheco are no strangers to the island. Dozier, a former resident of Duncan, founded the One Human Family Gospel Choir there and Pacheco returns for her eighth appearance with past visits highlighted by performances at HermannB次元官网网址檚 Jazz Club, the Victoria Conservatory of Music and numerous previous workshops B次元官网网址� an avenue she is excited to revisit to share the tradition of her gospel roots.

B次元官网网址淭he process of getting there is a huge challenge because people are often thinking how can I possibly learn eight or nine or 10 songs, with no written music to look at,B次元官网网址� Pacheco said. B次元官网网址淭he ultimate outcome is a full-body experience. B次元官网网址� 125 people all moving, clapping their hands, breathing B次元官网网址� it is not an individual singing. It is a mass, moving, breathing, singing and engaging together.B次元官网网址�

Pacheco said the music isnB次元官网网址檛 just for Christians, and hopes celebrating the music leaves race and religion behind and brings awareness to the origins of traditional songs like Hold on just a little while longer.

B次元官网网址淚t was one of those songs that was indigenous to slave days,B次元官网网址� Pacheco said. B次元官网网址淭hat told you freedom was coming soon, it wonB次元官网网址檛 be long, all you had to do is hold on, pray on, wail on and everything is going to be alright.B次元官网网址�

The spirit of that song, among many others, will be on display when the massive choir arrives at the church as individuals and perform on the choir loft as one.

B次元官网网址淵ou wonB次元官网网址檛 be sorry, it will be the best $10 you ever spent,B次元官网网址� Pacheco said. B次元官网网址淐ome to be a spectator in this thing B次元官网网址� by the end I promise you B次元官网网址� you will be a participant.B次元官网网址�

The Amazing Gospel Experience Choir performs at Oak Bay United churchB次元官网网址檚 free regular service Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. and the choirB次元官网网址檚 full concert is at the same location at 3 p.m. Admission is $10.

Pacheco also performs a solo show at HermannB次元官网网址檚 Jazz Club on Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.