- Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
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The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (OIGC) is located in Oakland, California, USA. It was founded in 1986 as an outgrowth of a gospel music workshop, and became an independent organization in 1991. The choir has since toured globally, produced multiple CDs and appeared in films and on television. The choir's repertoire is diverse[1], and OIGC has collaborated with a variety of pop artists from different genres, including gospel, jazz, and hip-hop.
Contents
Mission statement
The principal purpose of the OIGC is to employ Black gospel music to express the power of spirit and bring a message of faith, hope, love and joy to the country and to the world, to exemplify through interfaith, multiracial and multi-cultural membership the principles of equality, justice, peace, unity and cooperation and to serve as a model for what is possible among all people.
Members
The choir consists of 60 vocalists, and is currently led by its co-founder, Terrance Kelly (b. 1962), son of acclaimed Bay-Area based gospel singer/composer/choir director Faye Kelly (1935-1981) and jazz/gospel pianist and long-time Laney College professor Ed Kelly (1935-2005). Terrance Kelly won an Emmy in 1995 for his arrangement of a PSA played on local television station KGO[2]
Many of OIGC's current singers are not African American, [3] and the Choir supports and incorporates expressions from non-Christian faiths, including Judaism and Buddhism, into their performances [4].
See also
The choir has inspired other choirs, such as the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir[1], to form.
This choir also has a youth portion.
Recordings
Self-Produced
The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir—Live!, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, 1991.
We’ve Come a Mighty Long Way, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, 1995.
Great Day: A Cappella Negro Spirituals, Oakland interfaith Gospel Choir, 2003.
Rejoice! Christmas with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Oakland interfaith Gospel Choir, 1999.Appears on:
Hammer, Too Legit To Quit, Emd/Capitol, 1991.
Tramaine Hawkins, Tramaine—Live, Sparrow Records, 1990.
Linda Ronstadt, Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, Wea/Elektra Entertainment, 1989.Notes
- ^ Kaliss, Jeff. "Bring on that Gospel Joy" (Interview with Terrance Kelly) San Francisco Classical Voice http://www.sfcv.org/events-calendar/artist-spotlight/bring-on-that-gospel-joy Accessed 15 Dec 2010
- ^ NCPB Pressroom for KQED Public Broadcasting "Heritage Months News and Events: 2005 Black History Month Honorees" http://www.kqed.org/press/newsevents/heritage/14.jsp Accessed 15 Dec 2010.
- ^ 2. Jane, Gross. “Gospel Choir Blends Music and Equality.” New York Times, Section 1; Pg 28, Column 1; National Desk. 25 December 1989.
- ^ 3.Neva, Chonin. “The healing sound of music; Gospel Choir has crowd stomping and swaying.” The San Francisco Chronicle, Daily Datebook; Pg. D1. 3 December 2001.
External links
Categories:- American choirs
- Culture of Oakland, California
- Music of the San Francisco Bay Area
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