Toronto Mass Choir

Nicole Sinclair-Anderson

Satisfied (Live)

Hymns Alive (Live)

Londa Larmond

O That Will Be Glory (Live)

THE MUSIC
Gospel music has long been associated with American culture.  However, gospel music ‘alive and well’ in Canada and more influenced by Caribbean music and jazz music than its southern neighbour.  The iconic sound of the gospel choir is unparalleled and present in everything from music productions to car commercials. Powerful and moving and like the thunder of a pipe organ, it is undeniably provocative.  The music of the Toronto Mass Choir is no different, incorporating contemporary gospel, traditional gospel, jazz, reggae, calypso and other Caribbean music influences that leaves their audiences uplifted and inspired. 

With 10 studio and live recording projects to their credit, the Toronto Mass Choir‘s current members and alumni include some of the top recording artists in the Canadian gospel music scene today such as Aileen Lombardo, Marvia Providence, Dave Brown, Patricia Shirley and Johnny Nixon.  TMC’s combination of gospel lyrics with a variety of musical styles has resulted in a style unique in Canada.

Toronto Mass Choir is proud of the original gospel music repertoire they have created during their long recording career. Artistic Director, Karen Burke, Musical Director, Corey Butler and choir members such as Elvis Boddie and Kerroy Williams have written and arranged much of the music that they have recorded. 

Collaborations, guest musicians and soloists include a long list of Canadian artists and groups such as Larnell Lewis, Robi Botos, Amoy Levy, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Toronto Jazz Orchestra.

THEIR STORY 
Seeds of this traveling ministry were sown during the choir’s initial recording session in October 1988. A second live recording followed the choir’s debut album, Great Is Thy Glory, released in April 1990; God is our Hope (1994).The album Follow Him (1998) received a Juno nomination. 
 
Between 2002 and 2012, TMC released 5 more albums including the Juno award winning album, Instrument of Praise, which won for Best Urban/Contemporary Gospel of the Year in 2003. 

Other albums such as The Live Experience (2005) recorded with a 20 piece orchestra, Going Home (2007) a full Caribbean gospel album and A Christmas Gift (2010) also received awards from organizations such as the Gospel Music Association of Canada (GMAC). 

In 2012, as they entered their 25th performance season, Toronto Mass Choir released 25, a CD featuring highlights from over their recording. That same year, TMC was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gospel Music Association of Canada.

Karen Burke, a graduate of McMaster University, the Royal Conservatory of Music and a Professor of music at York University, is the director of the diversified group of singers and musicians along with her husband, Oswald Burke, who is their Executive Producer. 

Now 35-strong plus a five-piece band, the not for profit choir consists of adult members from various local churches across the GTA.
 
TMC’s travels abroad have taken them to several different countries including Poland, Romania, Italy and Barbados.
 
TMC has also been a special guest at countless church services, festivals, award shows and venues such as The Ottawa Bluesfest, Quebec’s La Festival de Musique Sacree de Saint-Roch, the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Canadian National Exhibition, the Jazz Sudbury Festival, the Stratford Summer Music Festival, Roy Thompson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Place with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Gospel Music Workshop of America conventions in Washington, DC, Atlanta and Detroit. The choir has also appeared with well-known Gospel singers such as Tramaine Hawkins, Alvin Slaughter and Take 6, Canadian recording giants such as Michael Burgess and Jane Bunnett and jazz legend, Jon Hendricks.  (4/14)

Made for Worship (Live)

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Satisfied (Live)

Song List

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