Personally, I am still floating from the energy and blessing I received on Saturday night! The thoughts and joyous comments have been flowing in. Here are some to keep you going through the rest of the week, or even, the rest of the month!
~Isa
OIGC Board  The HEALING POWER of music! -----Original Message-----
From: Peter N
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 12:34 PM
Hello Nancy,
I just wanted to thank you for your assistance in helping me to plan this outing to the concert. The few friends that I took with me all had a marvelous time including myself. It was probably one of the best gospel concerts put on so far since the number of times that I have been going to it for the past decade or so. Vocolot was quite spectacular with how they lured the audience into such high spirited clapping energy. They should definately return to the concert again. Other favorites of mine are Wings of Glory, Suite for Peace, and that Arcata Choir from up in the Eureka area that I heard a couple of times in past concerts. The OIGC youth and adults choirs of course are a legand onto themselves.
My friends definately want to return again to next years concert, and I will also be there as I always have been. Hopefully I will still remain on the email and regular mail lists, and will be in touch again for next years concert. Take Care.
Peter
Santa Clara, San Jose South Bay Area
 Terrance Kelly with members of Wings of Glory - gospel choir from Petaluma, CA Thoughts from our OIGC "Newbies" "I thought the experience for me was AWESOME. I wish I could have sang with you all in the robes, but it's ok next time... had a lot of energy I love you all. We are family. Much love" - Quincy T.
"I had a great time this weekend! I enjoyed the challenge of learning Linda's compositions and hope we get the chance to bring them to an even wider audience. I'm honored that she chose us to help bring her beautiful creations to life! I was touched by the Imams' words of love and inclusion, and I'm struck by the idea that we were singing Jewish music in an Islamic house of worship. How cool is that!" - Bernadette M.
Thoughts from our OIGC seasoned members
(why we stay in the choir for so long!)
"TERRANCE'S BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT SHONE THRU THE ROOM TO THE DIVERSE AUDIENCE." - Barbara D.
"The best was singing with Vocolot!" - Debra S.
"And I realize that the heart of my life has been a deep longing for union- all peoples together within my own life- and that, at moments, it comes true. An interfaith choir, (yes gospel) singing Hebrew words and rythms, me singing with the altos in the midst of it... looking out at such a variety of faces, all listening, some moving, even standing and here we are.
Was it easy for a bunch of differently oriented folks to learn the music, to lend ourselves to this glorious experiment? It wasn't easy, but most incredible things aren't. These moments are what inspire my life, keep me trying, keep me young... most of all, keep me hoping for a world I have imagined since I was a child...
It is so hard to recognize you're doing something important while you're doing it. This time, it was simultaneous. I want more!" - Cheryl EJ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 23, 2012
“Faiths In Harmony” Concert features Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Collaboration with Vocolot
Annual Spring Free Concert
 Oakland, California--Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (OIGC) has announced that their Annual Spring Free Concert will take place on Saturday, April 14, at 7:30 pm at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern CA, 1433 Madison Street in Oakland (14th & Madison).
OIGC and Jewish Folk Ensemble Vocolot have been busy rehearsing several selections of new work that will be premiered at this concert. Coming on the heels of Easter and Passover, this concert celebrates the similarities and the differences of these two musical traditions and serves to carry out the shared mission of both groups to inspire people through song and cultural exchange. “We’re having fun and learning a lot (by working together)”, says OIGC Artistic Director Terrance Kelly. We’re thrilled to be celebrating Spring with this truly interfaith cultural event,” says Kelly. “We welcome all music lovers to attend and experience the mix of Middle Eastern sounds with the sounds of Gospel - the root of American music.” He and Vocolot leader Linda Hirschhorn have collaborated on compositions that will make their world premiere at the concert. Joining the program will be a number of Bay Area gospel guest ensembles. “Come join us; listen, celebrate and sing along!” says Director Kelly.
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir is an award-winning, 55-voice, interfaith, multiracial, multicultural group of individuals united in their love of Black gospel music. The sheer joy and exuberance of spirit kindled by this music in singers and audiences alike delivers a powerful message and proves that people of diverse backgrounds can indeed come together and create beauty, unity, and hope for the future.
For more information, please call 510-839-4361, or visit www.oigc.org.
“The mission of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choirs is to inspire joy and unity among all people through black gospel and spiritual music traditions.”
WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION BY:
· Performing Black Gospel & Spirituals with a diverse group of people
· Creating and maintaining a culture of inclusion
· Modeling and inspiring unity by the diversity of our membership and our joyful performance
· Providing young people with positive youth development opportunities rooted in Spiritual and Gospel music education
· Delivering a musical experience to institutionalized and under-served audiences, including performances at prisons, shelters and schools
· Serving the general public with free and low cost performances
· Performing at public, artistic, faith, and commercial events
· Assisting other non-profit organizations in their outreach efforts
· Bringing together a culturally and ethnically diverse audience at self-produced outreach events
· Collaborating in cross-cultural musical projects
· Inspiring and educating the public about the cultural, historical and political context of Spirituals and Gospel Music
· Engaging in special projects, including the bi-annual music workshop, recordings and tours
· Touching hearts and minds through our performances
VISION STATEMENT
OIGC sees a world where all people, regardless of social biases, will tap into their own power of spirit and joy, be comfortable with each others’ differences, and celebrate those differences in harmony.
WE VALUE...
· the power of the human spirit and its ability to transcend limitations and biases
· the building and sustaining of a diverse and inclusive community which embraces all people
· personal and organizational responsibility for modeling integrity, respect and peace
· our role as a positive example within the interfaith community
· the black gospel and spiritual music traditions
· music as a tool to educate and strengthen community
WE BELIEVE...
· that song has the power to transform lives
· that song has the power to unite people across difference
· that a culture of inclusion challenges each of us to be a positive agent of change
· that in striving to be a culture of inclusion we serve as a model of a greater vision for the world
· in the value of service to the community and the world
· that everyone has a unique voice, and every voice is important
· that when communities take active responsibility for the struggles, as well as the successes of all its people, communities are more likely to thrive
SAVE-THE-DATE, invite your family, friends, and neighbors!
To our Friends and Family: We at Ruby Bridges Elementary School are a very diverse group of people, there are over 27 different languages spoken at our school! Located on the west end of Alameda, we are a Title 1 School, which means that the majority of our students are living at the poverty level.
We Love Our School! Our school is named after a brave young girl who was one of the first to integrate public schools in the south at the beginning of the civil rights movement. Ms. Bridges loves us and calls us her “little bag of M&M’s” because we are all different beautiful colors, working together every day to make the world a better place.
5th Graders' Science Camp The 5th graders at Ruby Bridges will be attending Science Camp at Mission Springs Outdoor Education in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We will spend 3 days there learning and experiencing nature and science with each other. Many of us have never been away from our families and many have never spent time in the wilderness.
A Life Changing Opportunity This is a life changing opportunity for us all! This experience will also help us understand our part in the community and our part in the world. By spending time in the wilderness, we will be learning to work together as a community. We will be learning to trust each other, help and encourage each other in the face of challenges, and celebrate each other’s successes while practicing lifelong skills to help us overcome fears and find strength in ourselves.
Show Your Support
It will cost each student $210.00 to attend science camp. There will be 70 of us going this year, and it is our hope that every student can have this amazing experience free of charge. To raise money for this wonderful cause, please join us for an uplifting, spirit filled event this Saturday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year!
The Concert WHO: Acts include Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir, First Baptist Church Soul Sistahs Praise Team, Daughters of Grace and Ruby Bridges Elementary School 5th grade students WHERE: First Baptist Church of Alameda - 1515 Santa Clara Ave. Alameda WHEN: Saturday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. HOW: $15 General Admission - Tickets are available at the door. Additional donations are accepted at the event, or can be mailed to Ruby Bridges Science Camp Fund at 351 Jack London Ave. Alameda, CA. 94501.Please contact Heather Figueroa at hfigueroa@alameda.k12.ca.us or 510-748-4006 ex 5304 if you have further questions or comments. Hope to see you there!
It's a new year! What are some of your resolutions? Join a choir? Do your share to contribute to world peace? You can do both by getting involved with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. The mission of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir 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 the world;
- To exemplify through interfaith, multiracial and multi-cultural membership the principles of equality, justice, peace, unity and cooperation;
- To serve as a model for what is possible among all peoples.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? If you would like to audition as a singing member of the choir, auditions this year are on Saturday, February 4th by appointment only. Request your audition appointment HERE. There you can also find Frequently Asked Questions about the audition process as well as information about Introductory Membership. There are also non-musical ways to support the mission of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. There is always, of course, the opportunity to donate, but also consider joining the Choir's Board of Directors to support OIGC's mission of sharing love, joy, and peace. We currently have several openings for community members. If you have the time and commitment to be on a working board. We want to talk to you! Please contact our office for more information, and an application. (admin@oigc.org - 510.839.4361) WHAT ARE YOUR RESOLUTIONS FOR THE YEAR? (comment below)
Here's an email from one of the Youth Choir parents:
Print out and bring this flyer with you today and tomorrow, and OIGC get's 20% of your tab! how cool is that?
 | oigc_cpkfundraiser.doc | | File Size: | 2488 kb | | File Type: | doc |
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