It will be a celebration of both the Christmas season and the human spirit when the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir, led by Kwantlen Polytechnic University music instructor Gail Suderman, takes to the stage for Making Spirits Bright — A Good Noise Gospel Christmas.
The chorus, which draws its members from across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley — from North Vancouver to Abbotsford — will give three performances of the concert next weekend, in Richmond and Vancouver.
The 90-voice choir currently has three members who call Langley home, but many past members have lived in the community, said Suderman, who teaches classical voice, opera and choral music at the Langley Kwantlen campus.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Vancouver-based community chorus, Good Noise captures all the elements of a typical gospel choir, including plenty of movement and clapping.
While the soloists are given the most latitude, all of the singers are encouraged to reveal themselves in authentic expressions of joy during performances, Suderman explained.
“One of the comments I frequently receive … is that members of the choir are having so much fun and are so ‘into’ singing,” she said.
Suderman often hears that it is this enthusiasm that draws people to Good Noise concerts.
And that energy isn’t confined to the stage. Anyone sitting in the audience is encouraged to join in with the clapping — even singing along, if they know the words.
“We often get a spontaneous response from members of the audience when they just can’t help themselves and jump to their feet and dance to the music.”
One of the most memorable examples for Suderman happened a couple of years ago, when a group of seniors from a local residence attended a show.
“Some arrived with walkers and canes, along with those who had a spring in their step.
“By the end of the concert, that group was leading the charge — up out of their seats and dancing and clapping along to the music. Their enthusiasm was infectious.”
The upcoming Christmas concert series also promises to offer a “high-energy, joyous take on holiday classics,” where audiences will be able to detect significant influences of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, jazz, blues and hip hop as well as traditional church music.
“We sing a combination of music that comes from current gospel artists . . . (and) reach back a ways in gospel music history, incorporating spirituals and older gospel songs for the Christmas season.”
Even though it is a community choir, Suderman’s goal has been to have the chorus work and perform at a professional level.
“They work hard, but do so with incredible enthusiasm and joy,” she said.
It’s effort that has paid off, garnering attention from producers of both live concerts and television specials.
Good Noise has been invited to perform alongside the likes of Barbra Streisand, David Foster and Josh Groban.
Last December, they joined Nova Scotia-born jazz singer Holly Cole for a CBC special Holiday Festival on Ice filmed at the Langley Events Centre.
The choir’s special guest for this year’s Christmas concerts will be Daniel Lapp, a renowned fiddler, jazz trumpeter and singer.
Making Spirits Bright A Good Noise Gospel Christmas will take place in three shows, beginning on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. both evenings at Christ Church Cathedral, Burrard and Georgia and on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at Fraserview MB Church 11295 Mellis Dr. Richmond.
Admission: Adults $25, Students and seniors $20 and Children 12 and under $10
Tickets: brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006; for group tickets and ticket info, email tickets@goodnoisevgc.com
