Gospel singing at Vittoriosa

The Joy Gospel Singers will give a Christmas concert at St Lawrence collegiate parish church, Vittoriosa, on Friday at 7.30 p.m.

Accompanied by live music, the concert will include some of the most popular Christmas carols and spirituals.

The Joy Gospel Singers follow in the traditional Gospel music, so popular among many Afro-American communities, especially in the deep south of the North American continent. The singers enhance their musical rendering by expressive body movements and solo pieces.

The 40-strong mixed adult choir was formed four years ago by Carmel and Michelle Abela, on their return from Ireland, where Carmel was doing post-graduate studies.

Mr Abela is the technical director, responsible for the sound coordinates. Ms Abela, the musical director, is a physiotherapist and a music teacher by profession. She is responsible for the musical arrangements as well as directing during performances.

The singers had their first public performance at the Sta Lucija parish church in January 2003. The group gradually established itself as one of the choirs of the parish, enjoying the enthusiastic support of the parish priest, Fr Etienne Caruana.

Last year the singers performed at St John's Co-Cathedral during a celebration organised by the Malta Bible Society on the occasion of the launching of the Maltese edition of the Bible in Braille.

In November, the Joy Gospel Singers were invited by the Malta Cultural Institute to sing during their monthly concert at the Casino Maltese.