News release
The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, a performing arts organization established in 1986, is launching a new community choir in Southern California and is inviting local singers to participate.
OIGC invites singers and music lovers to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Valencia on Saturday, Oct. 11, for Voices United, an afternoon workshop followed by an evening concert. The concert aims to uplift its audience and establish participation in the planned community choir, anticipated to launch in early 2026, according to a news release from the organization.
The mission of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir is to “inspire joy and unity among all people through Black gospel and spiritual music traditions,” the release said.
The Mass choir workshop runs 2-5 p.m., led by Emmy Award-winning Artistic Director Terrance Kelly, the release said. Designed for experienced singers and those who simply love the sound of gospel music, this workshop welcomes all voices. Participants will strengthen vocal techniques and explore gospel soloing and stage presence.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have learned two songs, which they will perform that evening at the 7 p.m. gospel concert as the opening act for the OIGC Ensemble.
“For many people, Black gospel music is not just an art form, it is an identity. It is a cultural legacy rooted in resilience, joy, and community,” Kelly said in the release. “This workshop and concert is a way to share that legacy. People from all walks of life come together to deepen their understanding of this music and our connection with it and one another, and to celebrate its impact on our lives, no matter your background.”
The workshop is designed for all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned performers. It will be the inaugural event to kick off the new LA-based Gospel Community Choir modeled after the long-standing, non-auditioned Oakland Interfaith Community Choir, now in its 13th year with nearly 300 singers.
To emphasize and celebrate diversity and musical interconnection, the concert will be joined by an Arabic youth choir: The Mawtini Choir is a children’s ensemble of singers and musicians ages 7-17 who learn Arabic traditional and folk songs, along with their cultural and linguistic heritage, the release said.
Registration is open now. For more details and to register, visit www.oigc.org/voicesunited. The concert is free, and workshop tickets are $20-$40 on a sliding scale. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is located at 24901 Orchard Village Road, Valencia.
