The Rainbow Gospel Choir was there! At the 10th International Church Congress in Hanover
It’s been a week since the singers of the gospel choir went to Hanover. Immediately after arrival we go to the city center of Hanover, where stages and tents have been set up on all the large squares. The city lives from the music, from the sound of the bands and the singing of the different choirs. Around 40 choirs offered impressive and stirring programs at 16 locations. We too were drawn from one stage to the next to sing along, clap or simply listen.
In the evening, the Rainbow Gospel Choir will perform as part of the “Long Night of the Churches” in the Lukaskirche with a successful program.
The choir started with an a cappella version of “The Storm is Goes Over” and ended up getting standing ovations and an encore with “Amen-Amen-Amen”. This performance was a successful start to the choir weekend.
On Saturday, the Mass Choir rehearsals began early with thousands of voices. Here, under the direction of prominent speakers, singers and choir directors known in gospel, such as Nina Luna Eriksen (DK), Hans-Christian Jochimsen (DK), Joakim Arenius (S) Chris Lass (GB/GER), Miriam Schäfer (GER) and Volney Morgan (GB) rehearsed, practiced, sang. The mood was lively and very moving.
First of all, the individual voices (like soprano, alto, tenor and bass) were rehearsed in order to bring the song together into a whole sound pattern at the end.
The gospel thrives on its diversity. Gospel music has many facets. It is loud, emotional singing enriched with different embellishments. A tremendous expressiveness is the essential characteristic of the singing. This was particularly evident at the “big gospel celebration”, the evening concert on Saturday evening. The songs were both soulful and dynamic. They were charismatic and passionate. For example, when Miriam Schäfer sang her ‘Immanuel’, tears flowed with emotion. Chris Lass was so infectious with his liveliness that no one stayed in their place. Each speaker was able to enthrall the audience in their own way. The lyrics in the songs are about praise, thanksgiving and the hope that comes from believing in God.
As part of the Gospel Church Day, the actors were also able to take part in various workshops. Among other things, there was the opportunity to practice solo singing or voice training. African gospel was offered, but also body and vocal percussion to harmonize voice, body and singing. Gospel music is more than singing. Gospel is also movement, dance and rhythm. Gospel music moves the whole person.
Sunday began with an impressive service in the Swiss Life Hall. It was designed by Regional Bishop Ralf Meister, OKRin Dr. Julia Helmke, the Gospel Choir Hannover and all artists.
Afterwards, all gospel-loving singers will meet again for the Mass Choir performance. You get goosebumps when so many singers sing at the same time. This successful gospel church day ended around 4 p.m.
For the Rainbow Gospel Choir with the return trip to Herzebrock. But after the Gospelkirchentag is well known before the GKT. This will take place in September 2024 in Essen.
Finally, we would like to invite you to our choir concert with the CVJM trombone choir on Sunday, October 16th, 2022 at 5 p.m. in the evangelical Kreuzkirche Herzebrock. With this we would like to bring a bit of joy from Hanover to Herzebrock.
In addition, we are always happy when we can get people excited about our choir and someone who is interested in trying out our choir rehearsals every Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the parish hall of the Evangelical Church of the Cross in Herzebrock.