Brownstein: Montreal Gospel Choir raises the roof and lifts the weight

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The energy and enthusiasm levels of the 60-member Montreal Gospel Choir are so high this evening, it’s a wonder the fabled red roof of the ornate downtown Church of St. John the Evangelist hasn’t been lifted and sent hurtling skyward.

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The choir is rehearsing Kirk Franklin’s ever-uplifting Gonna Be a Lovely Day — a take on Bill Withers’s Lovely Day — in preparation for his first live concerts in two years. There will be shows at 2, 4 and 7 pm Saturday at St. John the Evangelist, better known as the Red Roof Church.

“And it’s going to be a lovely day indeed,” assures choir member Christine Walsh.

Do not doubt.

Indomitable Montreal Gospel Choir founder Çarol Bernard, also the leader of the award-winning Jireh Gospel Choir, is a force of nature. And the choir is as determined as she is.

Two years of pandemic-related cancellations took a toll, but the recent death of beloved 36-year-old choir member and nutritionist Einrika Siguineau due to COVID-19 really hit hard. Twenty-five members of the choir sang at her funeral.

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Grief aside, there will be no stopping this troupe Saturday when it lets loose with a repertoire of everything from African-flavoured chorales to American gospel to more contemporary R&B and hip-hop. And what would any gospel concert be without a rousing rendition of the staple Oh Happy Day?

“That rehearsal was fire!” enthuses Bernard during a break. “Our goal is simple: to get audiences up and dancing, and to bring back some joy and hope and goosebumps through the power of our music. Everyone is so pumped for the concerts after having to deal with doing mostly limited rehearsals on Zoom and the passing of Einrika.”

Bernard’s Jireh Gospel Choir, joined by members of the Montreal Gospel Choir, did a Christmas concert in 2021 at Salle Pierre-Mercure, but Saturday’s shows will be the first for the Montreal Gospel Choir on its own in two years.

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No matter what your religious beliefs are (or are not), this choir is guaranteed to leave most in an exalted state, and dancing.

Started 11 years ago, the choir features a franco/anglo mix of Montrealers and a variety of ethnicities and religious backgrounds. They are as comfortable performing on a metro platform as they are in the big rooms and churches. Bernard makes sure egos are left checked at the front door.

“I don’t like the word ‘religion.’ I prefer to say that I follow a Jewish carpenter,” cracks longtime choir member Judy Lashley, who has degrees in journalism and, yes, theology. “I thought the two went together well: being a journalist, which is a professional skeptic, and theology.

“I think we all need something to hold on to right about now. And we are going to give it our all and just rock this house on Saturday. And those in attendance will say, ‘Man, I felt something.’ ”

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“We may all come from such different backgrounds, but we are really a community — a community with such an incredible passion for music,” says Jean-Daniel Painson, who has been a member for nine years.

Faith is paramount to Bernard.

“Lives have been changed by gospel music,” she says. “That’s my motivation. That’s my fuel. Ours is a diverse choir made up of people, some of whom are believers while others may be questioning. And they believe in people whether they are believers or not. That’s why we don’t wear gowns. This is a choir for 2022. Love these humans!

“We’re from all over the place. We are family at the core. But make no mistake: I’m a taskmaster with the music.”

Born in Montreal to Jamaican parents, Bernard earned degrees in mathematics and computer science from McGill University and in music from the Université de Montréal. In a past life, she held a senior management position at CN Rail, but years back she gave it all up to devote herself full time to music.

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Now there is no stopping this runaway train.

“The main reason we are doing this concert is that Carol Bernard would not stop,” says choir member Walsh. “All through COVID, when we couldn’t get together, we rehearsed online. There’s just no stopping her.”

One of Bernard’s greatest inspirations is legendary American gospel singer Franklin, with whom the Jireh choir once performed at the Bell Center. “Her messaging from her is so good and bang-on,” Bernard says.

Jireh has also worked with Bobby McFerrin and the OSM, and will make his third headlining visit to the Montreal International Jazz Festival with a concert on the main outdoor stage July 3. Jireh and the Montreal Gospel Choir will team up for another Christmas concert Dec. 10 at Salle Pierre-Mercure.

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But for now, Bernard’s focus is on Saturday.

“We can’t ignore what’s been going on in the world, with COVID and war. There’s a weight out there. Hopefully our music will lift some of that weight for a few hours.”

AT A GLANCE

The Montreal Gospel Choir performs Saturday, May 7 at 2, 4 and 7 pm at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, 137 President-Kennedy Ave. The 4 and 7 pm shows are sold out; tickets for the 2 pm show cost $25, available at montrealgospel.com.

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