Single notes creating a common ground of symphony and friendship.
Welcome to the website of the Freedom Gospel Choir(s). We know the URL says “freedomgospelchoir”, but actually, there’s two choirs. That’s right. Two. One in Duncan, and the other in Victoria. (In our defense, there was only one choir when we built the website.)
Both choirs are conducted by Ann Antonides and accompanied by the incomparable Tanya Gillespie.
The Duncan Choir was founded in 2013, and is composed of singers from all over the Cowichan Valley – Mill Bay to Saltair in British Columbia, Canada and in our wonderful capital Victoria.
The Victoria Choir itself was started two years later in 2015, after some people from there came to Duncan for a concert. They were so excited at what they heard that they asked Ann to start a choir south of the Malahat.
Excited, you say? By a choir concert? You bet! We are excited about making music together. Come to one of our concerts, and you’ll know why!
Our singers come from all ages and walks of life, and there’s varying degrees of musical training. What we have in common in a love of spirituals, African rhythms, southern gospel, and folk music. Ask anyone in either group and they’ll tell you they’ve been profoundly blessed and energized through the joy and hope that is intrinsic to gospel music.
The choirs perform at local events and churches in both the Cowichan Valley and the Greater Victoria area, usually each presenting two concerts per year in the spring. We have also been known to get together for joint concerts on occasion. That’s an amazing experience! 80+ voice on stage! (Click here to see when the next concerts are scheduled.)
Since our humble beginnings in 2013, we have hosted over 10 concerts, with each concert itself being performed at least 4 times in both our Duncan and Victoria location. That is over 40 concerts! We have also performed at various churches, been invited to sing at the Jazz Festival in Nanaimo, BC more than once and had the pleasure of joining other choirs in fundraising events in the valley. It has been great!
You should also know that the Duncan Choir is sponsored by St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Duncan, where the choir rehearses every Tuesday night from September through May. (And we certainly appreciate their sponsorship and help.)
The Victoria Freedom Gospel Choir is independent of any sponsorship. The Victoria rehearsals are every Monday evening, again from September through May, at the First Church of the Nazarene at 4277 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC.
Interested in joining us? Fire an email off to Ann at annantonides@gmail.com or give her a call at (709)709-2740
Check us out and friend us on Facebook for up to date notices and reminders!
