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Community Service:
The Choir is a frequent guest in churches throughout Northern California, and is a popular headliner at events benefiting community organizations and their clients. Community service partners have included:
- Alzheimer’s Association Canon Kip Episcopal Homeless Shelter Harrison House Center for Elder’s Independence The 100 Club Oakland Firefighters’ Random Acts Bread and Roses San Quentin Prison A Season for Non-Violence Jelani House Seneca House Delancey Street Clausson House
Performance History
Their exquisite vocal harmonies and stirring gospel repertoire have led to performances with:
- Tramaine Hawkins Take 6 The Clark Sisters Walter Hawkins Timothy Wright The Dixie Hummingbirds Clarence Fountain & The Five Blind Boys of Alabama Linda Ronstadt Peter Gabriel Jon Hendricks Pharaoh Sanders Stan Getz John Denver Marlena Shaw Jeffrey Osborne
Festivals
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey Blues Festival Russian River Blues Festival San Francisco Jazz Festival Oakland’s Festival at the Lake 40th Annual Atlanta Arts Festival 1997 International Music Festival - Sydney Australia
Performance Highlights
- Concert of Sacred Music with the Duke Ellington Orchestra Oakland Coliseum Concert for Nelson Mandela 1994 Grace Cathedral Mass and sermon by South Africa’s Bishop Tutu. State of the World Forum, performing for Mikhail Gorbachev and many other global peace workers 1997 Australia Tour 1998 World Games Opening Festivities - Portland, Oregon 2000 Israel Tour
Awards
- 2003 First Annual Sweet's Historic Ballroom Musical Soul of Oakland Award 2003 California Music Awards Special Recognition for Excellence in the Performance of Gospel Music and the Preservation of its Heritage 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997 Gospel Academy Award for “Best Community Choir of the Year" 2003, 1997 Gospel Academy Award to Terrance Kelly for “Outstanding Director of the Year†2001 Bay Area Religious Announcers’ Guild Certificate of Appreciation 1998 Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Arts Organization of the Year Award 1997 Gold Award for promotion of cultural understanding through music, International Music Festival 1995 Emmy to Terrance Kelly for his choral arrangement of the Choir’s KGO-TV public service announcement In 1989 and 1990, the Choir received awards for “Best Performance of the Evening†at the Gospel Academy Awards The Choir has also received awards and recognition from city, state and federal agencies, the J.C.Penney Awards Program and the Clorox Foundation Community Commitment Awards Program
Recordings
- Great Day — A Cappella Negro Spirituals, recorded in 2002 at Fantasy Studios and Emeryville Recording Company Rejoice! Christmas With The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, recorded in 1999 at Fantasy Studios and Emeryville Recording Company We’ve Come a Mighty Long Way, recorded live at First Congregational Church of Oakland in 1995 The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir—Live! recorded at Calvin Simmons Theatre in 1989 The Choir has performed on three Grammy Award-winning albums: Linda Ronstadt’s Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, Hammer’s Too Legit To Quit, and Tramaine Hawkins’ Tramaine—Live. The Choir has also recorded with the renowned Kronos Quartet, and in June, 2001, with Carlos Santana The Choir hascontributed tracks to compilation albums benefitting community service organizations, such as the Bread & Roses Tribute to Mimi Farina and Radio Station KAT 103’s (Nebraska) Christmas for the Children
Television and Film
- CBS-TV’s Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt KGO-TV’s 1994 Holiday Season Special and Profiles in Excellence KPIX-TV’s Sunday by the Bay and After Dark KRON-TV’s For People Who Care Awards and Christmas holiday shows Black Film Makers Hall of Fame KTVU-TV’s Mornings on Two The Choir is the subject of Skip Brown’s award-winning documentary film, This is Our Story, This is Our Song, which has been broadcast on KGO-TV and KQED-TV Soundtrack of Emmy Award-winning children’s video, The Nutty Nutcracker, which was released on video and broadcast in late 1999 2001 the Choir’s performance at the California Music Awards with rising R&B star, Ledisi, was broadcast on network television
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