A GGCC First!!!

On Saturday a group of intrepid GGCC members gathered for a secret mission!!! The venue, Clifton College Chapel. The mission, to perform a Flash Mob at the wedding of Alice Bebb, former GGCC member. The only people who knew we were singing in the wedding were the Bride, Alice, her parents and one of the staff at the school so we had to come in disguise...as wedding guests and look like we were supposed to be there.

We had arranged a pre-wedding secret rehearsal in the chapel. We all found our Flash Mob positions for 'Great Is He', cunningly scattered around the chapel. Then also had a sneaky rehearsal of our second song 'Beautiful One' before any guests arrived.

Rehearsing 'Beautiful One'

We then needed to make a quick exit and head for our next secret location...the dining hall! We ate our provisions, Em, Ruth and Heather quickly learned their words and then it was time to assume positions and wait for our cue.

Em, waiting subtly(!) for service to start, fellow GGCC agents in their positions around her

The service started. Alice entered looking just beautiful and then we were on. Ruth stood up and started us off and then in twos and threes we all joined in from all over the chapel. It was amazing..no one expected it and it sounded beautiful too. Our first ever Flash Mob was a huge success and we all had a lot of fun. The feedback Em has had since has been great too, a lot of people were very moved by it, it was quite a talking point!

Our second song later in the service went really well, Em, Heather and Ruth just about remembered their words and the choir did a great job.

Then it was time for the Bride and Groom to leave, Alice and her new hubby Paul looked very happy and it was a joy for us to be able to be part of their special day. We wish them every happiness for their new life together.

Well done GGCC...another first! Thanks to all who came, you were brilliant!

It's all about Community

The City Academy Bristol put on a brilliant Community Fun Afternoon on Saturday. It was free to get in and free to get out...well almost, they did want you to donate some money towards the fund to keep Felix Road Playground in Easton open!

There was quite a lot of live music and dance acts and GGCC was asked to come and...sing of course! We all arrived in the glorious sunshine and headed outside for a quick warm up before heading back stage.

Em's just spotted the sweets back stage!!!

While waiting we were introduced to one of the hosts for the stage events, a young man named Alex Beresford who is a weather presenter on TV and I soon discovered that Kim from Easton GGCC is a super fan and was going all weak at the knees!!!

Anyhow, we all soon had to focus on the ask in hand, were on for our slot. It was a big stage and but the choir (about 20 of us) made a big sound and lovely harmonies. Our classics 'Great Is He', 'Soon and Very Soon' and 'Hold On' went down a treat. I loved leading them and was so proud! For some singing, they've only just joined GGCC so had never sung all the songs til that day!!!

Many of us stayed to enjoy the rest of the afternoon as there was loads of great stuff happening along with delicious food on offer. All in all, a great Saturday afternoon out.

Sweet Harmony!

Three cats...together as one, sweet harmony!

Three weeks, Three choirs, Three parts, alto, soprano and men...together as one and we were hearing some sweet harmonies!

We've just completed week three of the new term, where has that time gone already?!!

I think on Tuesday we broke a record for the most songs taught in one rehearsal as we not only taught new choir songs to the Thornbury gang but taught them some of the classic GGCC anthems ready for Saturday. Heather and I really felt like we'd had a workout, as I'm sure the choir did! But they were brilliant, picked up the harmonies quickly.

The Thornbury choir continues to grow in number, new people still joining and now we've settled on which side the altos sit and which side the sopranos sit (!) we're starting to feel that we really are a choir and we do sound good! We are very thankful too for the wonderful refreshments provided before and after each rehearsal.

Shirehampton GGCC are also making sweet music! I was reflecting with one of the original members on how much we had achieved that evening, in terms of learning new words and harmonies and how when we first started people wouldn't have picked it up as fast, we have really come along way as a choir in terms of ability to hear our parts, learn them and then hold them when the others join in. Something to really be proud of. It's been great to see new members joining the Shire crew as well and how well they have been welcomed into the choir family.

Easton GGCC, well they may be the smallest choir in number but they can easily keep up with the bigger choirs! When there are only three or four of you singing a part if you make a mistake it is much more obvious which could put a lot of people off...not our Easton gang! No, they work on through little mistakes, have a laugh and have another go! Again we have had some new members this term and like the Shire choir, they have been welcomed in really well.

I am so privileged to be able to work with all these choirs. Even if I turn up feeling tired, the moment we start, the energy, enthusiasm and commitment become contagious and I leave the session on a high!

Thornbury GGCC raises the roof!

Last night, we had the first ever rehearsal of the Thornbury GGCC choir. What a great start we got off to! There were at least 70 who came. A lot of familiar GGCC faces but lots of new ones too.

Em & Heather were a bit unsure how it would all go but right from the start the sound of singing and singing in three part harmony raised the roof. Although for many the style of learning without words or music was alien, everyone embraced the challenge and worked really hard. We had a great time and are really looking forward to next week!

Here's a pic Em took of Heather leading, not the most exciting shot ever but you might get the general idea!!!

Two Weeks To Go!

So, schools were back today, the Summer holidays are over.

But the positive side is that Gospel Generation Community Choir starts again in two weeks!!!

What's more...we have a new choir starting in Thornbury! Here are all the details:

The Shirehampton GGCC choir starts on Wed 18th September, 6.30pm-7.45pm @ Shirehampton Baptist Church, Station Rd, Shirehampton.

The Easton GGCC starts on Thursday 19th September, 11am-12.15pm @ House of Praise Church, 2 Tudor Rd, Easton.

So, we look forward to seeing everyone again and maybe some new faces too!

Shirehampton Baptist Church, Our Last Summer Gig!

So on Sunday evening, 23rd June, a good number of the GGCC family gathered again to sing in the evening service at Shirehampton Baptist Church. It had been nearly two months since we were last together so we maybe felt a bit rusty at the start of our warm up but in no time at all the confidence was back!

We had a great time sharing some of our favourite songs with the congregation and they did a grand job joining in with some of the songs.

Thank you to Shirehampton Baptist for having us and making us so welcome. Thank you to all who came from GGCC too, quite literally we couldn't do it without you!!!

Gospel Choir at Summerhill Infants, Term 1 ends in style!

So, it's now school half term...we had a beautiful bank holiday weekend but now the rain is back! But just before half term started we had the very first performance of the Summerhill Infants Gospel Choir!

Em getting the choir into place while parents watch on

Explaining to the Mums, Dads and carers they were about to sing too!

For six weeks a group of 20 eager children from years 1 & 2 have been meeting after school on a Friday for an hour, taught by Emma and Marsha (Marsha is in Easton GGCC). In that time they managed to learn four songs, complete with actions and a lot of fun was had along the way! We wanted to show the parents and carers what we had been up to so had a short performance last Friday and even though is was the end of term, the children were tired (and so were the Mums and Dads!), we were given a real treat. They all sang so well, especially the duets and trio! There were quite a few nerves but they all had a go and sang beautifully. Several parents came and told us how much they enjoyed it. Everyone received a certificate and some sweets to take home with them.

We are planning term 2 of the choir which will resume the first Friday back. Em & Marsha need to find some new songs to teach now! Any ideas?!!