Portmore Chorale heads to US - Performance at summer concert series impressive

Last Sunday, the 28-year-old Portmore Chorale ended its summer concert series, dubbed 'Live a Life of Praise', on a high. The audience at the standing-room-only Church of the Holy Spirit (Anglican) in Cumberland screamed in delight after almost every presentation, and would not leave without an encore, which the Chorale was only too happy to provide.

The evening's programme was emceed by the affable and humorous Karen Hewett-Kennedy, principal of the Portmore Community College, who started off the show with an impromptu waltz with Father Michael Elliott, the priest for the host church. The first triad ended with the theme song for this season, Live a Life of Praise, while the second triad ended with Crown Him With Many Crowns, a choral arrangement of a popular hymn, which also included audience participation.

The chorale returned for the second half in their folk attire and presented gospel favourites such as You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban), Giving My Best (Brooklyn Tabernacle choir), and O Happy Day.

The audience got into a dancing mood when the chorale presented its folk and revival medley, which included Jamaican favourites like Mi Caffee, Dip and Fall Back, and Someday I'll Go Where Jesus Is.

The Chorale was led by its animated conductor Delroy Williams, with Karen Henry and Denise Williams accompanying on piano.

Other members of the musical ensemble included Lewis Campbell on guitar and Odean Taylor on drums. The group was choreographed by Robertha Daley.

Guest performers for the night were the Portmore Missionary Church Dancers, dancing duet, Sharon Gordon and daughter, from the Portmore United Church, and Jasmine French, a member of the Portmore Chorale's soprano line, who delivered a soul-stirring rendition of His Eye Is On The Sparrow.

The Portmore Chorale will now take its music ministry to the United States for the first time, and will be performing in Decatur and Loganville, Atlanta, Georgia, from August 2-4.