Contemporary African American Gospel Music
with
Andrew Legg

Three days of workshops will introduce singers - of all levels and experience - to the incredibly exciting repertoire of contemporary African American gospel music which Andrew has been bringing home from the USA to Australia over the past 10 years. In fact, for this year’s Festival of Voices Andrew will have just returned from a major US tour, so his shopping basket will be full of new treasures just waiting to be unlocked and premiered by the Festival of Voices Gospel Choir in 2007.

The Festival Gospel Choir will rehearse and perform with the fabulous Southern Gospel Choir for the final unplugged acoustic concert, and all choir parts will be SATB.

Repertoire will range from the 1940’s soul gospel of James Cleveland (How I got Over), to the classical inspired works of Richard Smallwood (Calvary, Total Praise), to the outrageous hip hop sounds of Kirk Franklin (It’s Raining, Stomp) and Fred Hammond (I Press, Living Word), so all prospective choir participants, regardless of prior gospel music experience, should absolutely not miss this amazing opportunity to work with one of Australia’s most acclaimed international gospel musicians and perform some of the most inspirational and powerful music ever written. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

More about Andrew Legg & the Southern Gospel Choir

'Sound is one thing, but groove is everything’
- Andrew Legg '05

Andrew Legg trained as a classical pianist, composer and educator but is best known for his work in contemporary music, particularly gospel, soul and jazz. He is Head of Contemporary Music at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and Director of the Conservatorium Southern Gospel Choir. In recent years he has established an international reputation performing with some of the most respected gospel choirs and artists in the USA including Kirk Franklin, Marvin Weatherford and Xanielle Davis.

In 2000 Andrew formed the  Southern Gospel Choir. The choir is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant and exciting musical ensembles to arrive on the Tasmanian music scene in recent times.  Now in their seventh year, they hold a special place in the musical life of Tasmanians, performing to packed houses and critical acclaim.

The Southern Gospel Choir draws on the grooves and harmonic structures of jazz, funk, soul, house and hip-hop and yet maintains the heart and soul of traditional gospel through beautiful and powerful melodies and vocal arrangements, and the irrepressible, uncontainable joy that is gospel music.

Workshop sessions run from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 July (see schedule below) and culminate in a joyful candle-light concert.

Cost

$160 early bird (before 1 April)

$170 concession $180 full price(after 1 April)

Fee includes all workshop sessions and with Andrew Legg (music provided) and the concert, plus entry into any Vocal Taster Workshops on the weekend 7 & 8 July that do not conflict with your gospel workshops.