History
The VOICES OF HEAVEN GOSPEL CHOIR was created in pisa in 2006. It was the initiative of a group of students from the university of pisa who were united by their love for singing and their interest in the gospel genre
Origins
The director, Massimo Di Pietro, immediately sensed the potential of those who havemarried her art project and playing the most enthusiastic of his boys, in the 9 February 2006 he formed the choir, which today consists of no fewer than 30 people. A rich and diverseworkforce made up of not-students from all over Italian regions.
Goals
The Gospel Choir Voices Of Heaven (VOHGC) pursues with drive and determination of its objectives: the promotion of gospel music andand the commitment to making gospel a permanent fixture in our social framework.
During the concerts organized by the Cultural Voices of Heaven (non-profit association), the public become involved from an explosive atmosphere, is overwhelmed by the rhythms of Gospel music, and at the same time time helps to support humanitarian and voluntary initiatives at local, national and international level.
Main Events Organized
Numerous successes have made the initial formation of the ensemble of university students, an established choir. First in the city of Pisa, then the entire region of Tuscany and beyond.
The choir’s debut took place Dec. 9, 2006.
In 2007 the Church of San Francesco Pisa was fully booked for the ChristmasConcert in support of LILA (Italian League for Fighting AIDS). On this occasion the robes of the choir members were adorned with the lila pin.
the concert was repeated the following year, in 2008, with the second edition of the Christmas Concert For Africa to support the humanitarian efforts of the Shalom Movement.
2009 was the year of the tragic earthquake in Aquila. The singers and conductor Massimo Di Pietro (Abruzzo) were deeply affected by the news of the 308 victims. it was the motivation for the concert aquila back To Fly. A collection of gospel choirs performed for the occasion: four gospel choirs and also the gospel choir of L'Aquila TheMosaic Gospel Boat.
The proceeds were donated to the Italian Red Cross as a contribution to the construction of a clinic in SanGregorio (Aq),inaugurated and handed over to the citizens April 7, 2011.
in 2010 the choir realised a long term project;the Pisa Gospel Festival 2010 . it was held December 11 at Palazzo dei Congressi, pisa. VOHGC was pleased to present to the city Sunshine Gospel Choir (a gospel choir from Turin, which has a ten-year history in the italian gospel arena) and the JoyfulGospel Ensemble of Livorno.
Participation in other events
a Milestone in the artistic growth of the choir was the participation in both editions of the Halleluja Gospel Festival,held in Lucca and organized by the charismatic maestro Vijay Pierallini. this Extraordinary event has played host to many Italian choirs onstage, from every region of italy, and also the formidable American singer CherylPorter.
The many other experiences to remember...
In Carrara, in 2007 and 2008, exciting performances took place in the oncology ward of the hospital and again in 2010 at the national theater Animosi for Gospel for AIL (Italian Association Against Leukaemia).
in Pontedera 2009, promoting the association non più sola in support of cancer patients and in 2010 the event Pontedera in festa (pontedera party) organized by Simba (Italian Association of Bechet's disease and syndrome).
vohgc have also supported benefits for children In the 2009 concert Onlus Agata Smeralda for charities helping children abroad (Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, India), and for the benefit of the children of Rwanda through the event un paese in festa in Castelvecchio di compito (Lucca).
Also Worth mentioning is the lezioni concerto (lesson concert) held in Pisa in 2008 in the Church of San Francesco , in the elementary school Collodi and in 2010 in the Institute Isis A. volta di Piombino.
In 2010 vohgc took part in a flash mob in a shopping centre in Navacchio, pisa, to the amazement of the customers!
Since 2010, VOHGC has performed during wedding ceremonies and already hAs experience of Catholic , evangelical and civil ceremonies.
Reportoire
The reputation of VOHGC is also tied to a musical repertoire that has been meticulously researched.
The art director, Massimo Di Pietro, has been working for years to interpret the toccanti spiritual music dating back to the primordial origins of gospel music. the "a cappella" songs have become, over time, the pride of the ensemble.
There is no shortage of” traditional" gospel songs such as the timeless Oh Happy Day and the ever popular AmazingGrace.
The outcome is also enhanced when the choir sings accompanied by the soundtrack of Sister Act and Sister Act 2. equally mesmorising are the sounds of messa della savana from the lively Caribbean gospel.
Ample space is also given to the energetic and rhythmic songs by contemporary artists such as R.Smallwood, K. Carr, R. W.Singleton.
The choir also hold in their repertoire two songs that do not belong to the classical definition of gospel: somebody to love and bohemian rhapsody by queen.
not forgetting, finally, the Christmas repertoire to turn on the magic of the festive season in December.
Friends of the choir
over the years VOHGC have made many friends on the stage including: joyful Gospel Ensemble (Livorno), Joyful Singers (Carrara), Black&White (Prato), Prato Gospel Choir, Sunshine Gospel Choir (Torino).
Interesting facts!
The robes of VOHGC were donated in 2006.
In the past the choir has seen a varying number of members reaching as many as 45 singers including members of European nations (France, Germany, England)and non-EU countries (Cameroon, Liberia, Australia).
The first rehearsal was in the former church of St. Eufrasia in Via dei Mille in Pisa(Courtesy of the University of Pisa). Eufrasia is the patron saint of frenzy and it’s for this reason that, jokingly, the singers are usually called by the nickname of "Eufrasiani”.