PowerUp 2019
A MESSAGE FROM KAREN
Welcome to the 15th Anniversary of PowerUp, Canada’s premiere Gospel music workshop! On behalf of Toronto Mass Choir and in cooperation with York University, we are so excited to offer this exciting experience just for you!
TMC is in awe to think of our humble beginnings in 2005 as a Friday night rehearsal and Saturday classes/concert, all taught by TMC members. Today, PowerUp has evolved into over 25 different workshops with a teaching faculty of 20 dedicated professionals, all experts in their field!
Toronto Mass Choir is also celebrating our 30th anniversary season (1988-2018) and so we are ‘doing it up big’ during PowerUp to celebrate with internationally renowned guest clinician, Dr. Raymond Wise and a LIVE recording of our finale concert!
PowerUp 2019 officially begins on THURSDAY NIGHT, Feb. 21 with an opening reception, ‘meet and greet’ and official 1st mass choir rehearsal of the Power Up Workshop Mass Choir. Come and meet many of our clinicians including our special guest clinician, Raymond Wise from Columbus, Ohio. New this year – since we are doing a live recording, in order to participate, you must register for this year’s recording choir and attend all FOUR rehearsals. These rehearsals do not overlap any course offerings that weekend, but we do need to know exactly how many people we will have singing in the live recording at the finale concert.
Our Sunday evening finale concert will be held at Bayview Glen Church, 300 Steeles Ave. E. in Thornhill (Bayview & Steeles) on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 pm. Encourage your friends and family to come and witness powerful performances by the PowerUp Workshop Mass Choir, the PowerUp Chorale, the PowerUp Youth Choir and special guests including Raymond Wise! NOTE: The PowerUp Workshop Mass Choir is wearing ALL BLACK that night! Additional concert tickets can be purchased on-line at: https.\\powerupconcert.eventbrite.ca or at the door.
The mission statement of TMC is “To create and perform Gospel music that will draw all people into the awesome presence of God”. If this mandate resonates with you, please consider partnering with us to help extend this legacy. Consider making a special one-time donation or becoming a monthly partner. Visit www.tmc.ca/donate and automatically receive a tax-deductible receipt for any donation over $20. Remember to also follow us on Instagram or Twitter @tmasschoir and ‘like’ our TMC Facebook page!
Thank you to those of you who are returning to PowerUp and bringing your friends – we love connecting with all of you! Let the celebrations begin!
Karen Burke
Artistic Director, Toronto Mass Choir
GUEST CLINICIAN
Dr. Raymond Wise
Raymond Wise serves as Professor of Practice, African American African Diaspora Studies Department, the Associate Director of the African American Arts Institute and Director of the African American Choral Ensemble at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. He earned Ph.D. and M.A. in Music Education from The Ohio State University (2002, 1996) and a B.F.A. in Music from Denison University, Granville, Ohio (1983). Studied in Opera, Art, and German at the Institute for European Studies in Vienna, Austria (1982) and African-American History, Music, and Dance at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California (1983).
Raymond's research and teaching interests includes the history and performance of African American Gospel and Sacred music. He is an ordained minster and regularly serves as a singer, pianist, composer, director, conductor, lecturer, and teacher for orchestras, opera companies, churches and choral festivals throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
15th Anniversary Celebration
New This Year:
- Gospel Community Panel Discussion
- Featured Clinician from Ohio - Dr. Raymond Wise
- 15th Anniversary "Kick Off" Meet & Greet - Come and meet your favorite clinicians and our guest clinician, Dr. Raymond Wise, Intro to Mass Choir Songs for Recording
- New Dance, Vocal and Gospel Music History Workshops
- "Live Recording" Finale Concert
About PowerUP
The Toronto Mass Choir is excited to offer a 4-day gospel music workshop for singers, instrumentalists, and gospel music enthusiasts of all skill levels. Top professionals in gospel music host workshops that give attendees a chance to improve their musicianship and learn about gospel music in a variety of settings and also participate in a mass choir. PowerUp is like none other in all of Canada!
Through a balanced offering of interactive activities and group coaching, you can:
- Develop your musical ear in vocal improvisation and harmonization workshops
- Learn how to build confidence in your solo vocal performance
- Learn tips and techniques for maintaining vocal health
- Learn the keyboard techniques and understand the chord structures that create that special “gospel sound”
- Learn to ‘Play by Ear’ on the keyboard
- Learn to play the steel pan
- Attend the Drummer’s Question & Answer Masterclass
…and much more!
Testimonials
Hear the experiences of some of the attendees at our 2018 PowerUp Gospel Music Workshop.
Photo and Recording Release
Attendees acknowledge that by attending any part of the conference they are agreeing that their picture/likeness may be taken/recorded and they release permission for that picture/likeness to be used by Toronto Mass Choir (TMC). They acknowledge that TMC may use said picture in print media or other forms of visual communication as it sees fit. They attest that they are not entitled to any form of monetary/financial compensation for the use of their likeness, have not been promised such, and recognize TMC need not provide compensation for this use or any other type of use of their picture/likeness.