City choir enjoys lessons from a master director

Published date25 May 2023
Publication titleSouthland Express
Stevens was fresh into her retirement from the director’s chair of Sunny Side Up Gospel Chorus

Choir director Sherry Elton said the Otago director helped the group develop its skills further, learn new songs and gave her tips to polish the choir.

‘‘Everything we are learning is from scratch because these songs are gospel from the southern American states — the freedom songs, songs of joy and songs of courage.

‘‘So we get that same uplifting feeling, because the world still needs love, courage and hope with all [its] troubles and strife.

‘There’s something about the joy of singing in a group that transmits to everybody,’’ Elton said.

As a choir, they believed their style was influenced by the gospel style of Kiwi singer/composer Tony Backhouse, who ran gospel choir workshops around the country.

Elton originally saw Backhouse at an Arrowtown workshop.

‘‘I just came away thinking gosh, this is how I need to sing. So I jumped in boots and all and started the group.’’

Community connection had played a big part in the group’s fun times with up to 26 people...

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