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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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:

1. 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;
2. To exemplify through interfaith, multiracial and multi-cultural membership the principles of equality, justice, peace, unity and cooperation; 
   
3. 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)

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