The Joy Gospel Singers will once again team up with the Lucan Gospel Choir of Ireland for an anniversary joint concert at St Lawrence Collegiate parish church, Vittoriosa, tomorrow.
Under the direction of Ian Brabazon, the Irish choir was formed in February 1998 and is based in Lucan, West Dublin. With its present 75 members, it is currently one of the largest Gospel choirs in the country.
The Joy Gospel Singers are well established in the local cultural scene. Founded in 2002 in the parish of Santa Luċija by their musical director Michelle Abela, the choir has participated in numerous concerts and Masses as well as fundraising events both locally and abroad.
The Lucan Gospel Choir’s connection with Malta goes back some 16 years ago, when Abela, at the time living in Dublin, attended one of their performances during Sunday Mass. She decided to join the choir and was even asked to direct the singers on a particular occasion. After the first joint concert in Malta in 2007, the two choirs performed jointly again in Ireland in 2008.
The Vittoriosa concert will include a number of songs performed separately by the two choirs, as well as other spirituals sang by the two choirs in unison. The repertoire will include a special piece to be performed by both choirs, which was commissioned specifically for the Malta concert by the Irish Lifesaving Foundation. It was composed by doctor Martin O’Leary, who will be travelling with the Irish choir to Malta for the occasion.
The piece is being dedicated to those engaged in the lifesaving activities in the Mediterranean undertaken by the Irish Navy and their Maltese counterparts, who work tirelessly to save lives at sea.
On the Lucan’s return to Ireland, the piece will be performed once again at the Irish Naval Base in Cork. The Irish Lifesaving Foundation uses the concept of the Good Samaritan to offer help to all those in need.
The concert is sponsored by the Irish Embassy in Malta.
■ The concert is being held at the St Lawrence Collegiate parish church in Vittoriosa tomorrow at 7.30pm. Entrance is free. For more information, call 9945 3440.