About Gale Force Gospel Choir

Who we are and what to expect

We have around 40 singers in our choir. We sing in 4 or 5-part harmony: soprano, alto, tenor (male & female) and bass.

New faces are warmly welcomed. You are encouraged to try out the various voice parts to see which you like best. We never audition: if you can make it along the mobility ramp and through the door you can join in! Many of the songs are call and response style, with simple lyrics. We learn by ear and repetition. You don’t need to read music.

We're a friendly crowd who come from a variety of backgrounds and have a diverse range of beliefs. To find out more about singing with us have a look at the Join page.  

Why gospel?

We sing African-American gospel music, along with spiritual songs from African, Pacific Islands and Māori cultures.

We mainly sing Tony Backhouse's uplifting arrangements of gospel ‘a cappella’. Tony has a huge passion and respect for the gospel tradition and visits communities in the southern United States regularly. He says “I've been visiting black churches on and off for 25 years and the experience of being in the midst of such celebration, commitment and energy never fails to blow my mind."

We also sing songs collected, written or arranged by our musical directors. 

Gospel music is firmly rooted in a particular religious and cultural expression. It is our love of singing this energizing and exciting music that brings us together. You do not need to be religious or spiritual in any way to join us.