Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir *
Facility: SF County Jail--Men
Date: December 12, 2011
Host: Carolyn Gauthier
Essence story by Arlene Rudy:
I was the greeter downstairs in the lobby of the SF County Jail before the show, so I was able to talk to all the choir members and musicians as they came in for the performance. Several of the choir members told me that this was by far their favorite show for them to perform in, and they looked forward to it every year. One choir gal told me she wasn’t feeling particularly well, but she wouldn’t miss this night for anything! And a SF County Jail employee made a point to come over to me to tell me she has seen the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir perform before, and she was very excited about seeing them perform again this year.
There was a floury of movement and excitement in the air as the choir got into their positions in preparation for the first show to begin. I looked around at the audience and they initially looked a bit reserved (maybe even skeptical) as the singing began. But slowly I could see an obvious transformation over the men in the audience as the choir’s enthusiasm and songs washed over them. Many of the men began to relax and simply sat back and soaked in the glorious music.
One County Jail staff member was so touched by the music that she waved her arm in the air to the music as cried all the way through the entire performance. And she wasn’t the only person in tears; I saw several men wipe away a tear or two as the music touched them.
Terrence introduced one song in particular that he had written, and then two of the choir members came forward to sing the touching song and sang their hearts out. This particular song was particularly well received with hoots and hollers from the audience erupting into a standing ovation when the song concluded.
Clearly by the end of the first performance, the audience was fully engaged and very much wanting the performance to continue beyond the last number. The combination of Christmas songs and other touching songs sung by a very enthusiastic and very talented choir worked its magic on the audience as demonstrated by the standing ovation concluding the show.
==========
Bread and Roses
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-Roses/43261289939
Lisa Starbird
Bread & Roses
Program Assistant
415-945-7127 ext.104
Lstarbird@breadandroses.org
BREAD & ROSES!
http://www.breadandroses.org
"Hope and Healing Through Live Music"
Facility: SF County Jail--Men
Date: December 12, 2011
Host: Carolyn Gauthier
Essence story by Arlene Rudy:
I was the greeter downstairs in the lobby of the SF County Jail before the show, so I was able to talk to all the choir members and musicians as they came in for the performance. Several of the choir members told me that this was by far their favorite show for them to perform in, and they looked forward to it every year. One choir gal told me she wasn’t feeling particularly well, but she wouldn’t miss this night for anything! And a SF County Jail employee made a point to come over to me to tell me she has seen the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir perform before, and she was very excited about seeing them perform again this year.
There was a floury of movement and excitement in the air as the choir got into their positions in preparation for the first show to begin. I looked around at the audience and they initially looked a bit reserved (maybe even skeptical) as the singing began. But slowly I could see an obvious transformation over the men in the audience as the choir’s enthusiasm and songs washed over them. Many of the men began to relax and simply sat back and soaked in the glorious music.
One County Jail staff member was so touched by the music that she waved her arm in the air to the music as cried all the way through the entire performance. And she wasn’t the only person in tears; I saw several men wipe away a tear or two as the music touched them.
Terrence introduced one song in particular that he had written, and then two of the choir members came forward to sing the touching song and sang their hearts out. This particular song was particularly well received with hoots and hollers from the audience erupting into a standing ovation when the song concluded.
Clearly by the end of the first performance, the audience was fully engaged and very much wanting the performance to continue beyond the last number. The combination of Christmas songs and other touching songs sung by a very enthusiastic and very talented choir worked its magic on the audience as demonstrated by the standing ovation concluding the show.
==========
Bread and Roses
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-Roses/43261289939
Lisa Starbird
Bread & Roses
Program Assistant
415-945-7127 ext.104
Lstarbird@breadandroses.org
BREAD & ROSES!
http://www.breadandroses.org
"Hope and Healing Through Live Music"
RSS Feed