KC Chapel Choir launches 'Songs of Praise'

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

There were two things that Bishop Percival Gibson, first headmaster of Kingston College (KC), wanted at his educational institution: a chapel and a choir. He wanted a choir because he wanted music to touch the souls of the members. He wanted young Jamaican boys to acquire the shape of the beauty within the human spirit, The Right Reverend E. Don Taylor, a former teacher at KC, told the congregation at the Kingston Parish Church.

Approximately 60 years later, the boys from North Street continue the vision of their founder. On Sunday, the Kingston College Chapel Choir launched the school's first CD, titled Songs of Praise. Prior to the launch, the choir had released three LPs.

According to choir master Audley Davidson, a chapel choir is not the same as an ordinary school choir, the difference lies in the type of songs as well as where the two groups perform.

A chapel choir performs primarily at church and sings gospel songs. When they perform at concerts they often "do church music". Therefore, it was only appropriate that the launch of the KC Chapel Choir's CD began with a church service.

Both, aptly so, were held at the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle, Kingston Parish Church, in the heart of downtown Kingston, near enough to the North Street-based institution.

The walls of the church were adorned with purple décor, and the 8 a.m. service got off to a prompt start. The programme was typical for a morning service; the singing of hymns and reading of scriptures from the Bible, embedded in the rituals of the Anglican Church. And while there was no mention of the chapel choir's CD launch in the programme, their presence was quite evident. The choir participated, and at times led the singing of hymns, presented an item in song and were spoken about in the speeches.

In a rather informative, uplifting and at times humorous sermon, Rev Taylor, with anecdotal reference to Bishop Gibson, spoke of the significance of music in general and the music of the Anglicans, performed by the choir, in particular, to his development and that of present and past choristers of KC.

"I have seen transformation in the lives of those who sat in the choir," he said.

"Music is one of those things that enables people to endure, because music moves us from the realm of time and space of the ordinary human lives to the extraordinary power of God," said the KC old boy who, like many from the North Street institution, said he has purple running through his veins.

Also speaking at the church service was Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National Building Society (JN). He spoke of his company's six years of involvement with the KC Chapel Choir and how pleased he was with the launch of the CD.

He also lauded the Kingston Parish Church for their strong ministry in the community.

Later, in the beautifully decorated church hall, Jarrett commended all the persons involved with the creation of the CD and said his company would work to ensure that the work of the choir was exposed to as large a number of persons as is possible.

Fantastic performance

The launch got off immediately after the church service. Just before, the chapel choir, wearing purple vests, gave a taste of some of the songs featured on the CD.

In addition to Jarrett, there were remarks form the KC Chapel management committee and an address from Everton Burrell, KC's acting principal.

"The Kingston College Chapel Choir has given us tremendous reason to feel that we are more than just a school that produces academic excellence, but one that can provide our students with an appreciation of the kinder and more pleasant side of the human experience," said Principal Burrell.

He continued, "Data has shown that an early introduction to choral singing is a building block for lifelong learning and social success."

The KC Chapel Choir closed the formal part of the launch with a fantastic performance of four selections from their 20-track CD.

The selections included track 15, Noel Dexter's O Praise Ye the Lord, track 17, Schubert's Sing to the Lord and Audley Davidson's classical arrangement of Peter Tosh's Jah is My Keeper.