Uniting the world… one song at a time.
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Published: Thursday, December 13, 2007
PREVIEW
Who: One Human Family Gospel Choir
When: Sunday, 4 p.m.
Where: Cowichan Centre Theatre, Duncan
Tickets: $15, $12, $10 at the box office
For more information: 250-748-7529
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When gospel singer and arranger Eric Dozier came to Vancouver Island for a Baha’i workshop a few years ago, he had no idea he would end up staying here.
“It was the right timing,” says Dozier, 38, as he sets up a keyboard at the front of the Victoria Truth Centre Chapel. “I was living in New York, touring with the Harlem Gospel Choir, and I needed to take a break.”
That “break” led Dozier to set up three choirs on the Island, all part of the One Human Family Gospel Choirs. Dozier and a few friends started the groups nearly a decade ago in his home state, Tennessee.
There are now 10 choirs, from South Carolina to Washington state, with four in B.C.
All three Island choirs will gather in Duncan on Sunday afternoon to perform with special guest singers and a band.
“It will be a true gospel experience,” Dozier says.
The concert will be recorded for an upcoming CD.
“They start with a workshop, but we all sing the same repertoire, so anyone can drop in on any choir.”
The idea behind the choirs, for Dozier and his friends, was to use music to promote racial unity, gender equality and other areas of social justice important to them.
“Growing up in the States, you see how some people tend to be marginalized,” Dozier says. “We wanted to bring that awareness into a spiritual, healing environment.”
Dozier grew up singing in church. His father played piano, and his mother directed the choir. He was a Baptist minister himself before becoming a Baha’i 13 years ago.
He says singing gospel songs inspired by racial disparity in the United States still fits for Canadian choristers.
“In the States, inequality is more of a black and white problem. But every society has impoverished people, homeless and inequalities we can all see and name,” says Dozier, who is also a successful solo performer. “What we offer here is to use music as a buffer to heal.”
Dozier writes several songs for the choirs and arranges spirituals like This Little Light of Mine, Go Down Moses, Keep Your Eye on the Prize and a civil-rights medley.
Kary Michaels is a self-described “choir junkie” who has been in Dozier’s group for two years.
“I love the social justice aspect,” says Michaels, a government worker. “It’s a very spiritual choir and a great stress relief.”
As choristers trickle in and join Dozier on a warm-up hymn, they hug and greet each other. A young couple brings in their toddler and new babe-in-arms.
Michaels says Victoria is definitely a choir-happy town, but she’s not sure why. “It must be that feeling of community,” she says. “And it just feels good to sing.”
spetrescu@tc.canwest.com
