The Harlem Gospel Choir Returns to Columbus, 1/26

An evening with the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir is an experience of foot-stomping, hand-clapping blues, jazz, and gospel. A renowned assembly of gospel singers and musicians from the churches of Harlem, New York, the Choir is one of the pre-eminent congregations of spiritual voices in the world today.

CAPA, in association with the King Arts Complex, presents the Harlem Gospel Choir at 8pm on Thursday, January 26, at the Capitol Theatre (77 S. High St.). Tickets are $25.50 and $30 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Students between the ages of 13-19 may purchase $5 PNC All Access tickets while available.

This Spectrum Series performance is made possible through the generous support of CAPA season sponsor American Airlines and series sponsor David and Mo Meuse.

The illustrious Harlem Gospel Choir was founded by Allen Bailey in 1986 after he was inspired by a celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the renowned Cotton Club in Harlem.

Today, the Choir is a gathering of the finest singers and musicians from a variety of African-American churches in Harlem, New York, that travels the globe sharing the joy of faith through music, and whenever possible, raises funds for children’s charities. They have performed for Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II, as well as with such celebrated artists as Bono, Sinead O’Connor, Simple Minds, Live, Robin Gibb, Kim Wilde, Lyle Lovett, Diana Ross, Harry Belafonte, Brooks and Dunn, Ashford & Simpson, Jimmy Cliff, and the Chieftains.

The choir has been featured on TV many times including “Top Chef,” “The Colbert Report,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “Good Day New York,” and “The Early Show.” In 2003, the choir’s success led to it being granted a private audience with His Holiness Pope John Paul II in recognition of its work for charity around the world. In 2008, the Choir performed for 60,000 people at Yankee Stadium for Pope Benedict XVI.

Although the Harlem Gospel Choir has more than 40 members, it tours with a compact format of nine singers (three sopranos, three tenors, and three altos) and two musicians (keys and drums) which allow them to travel the world and adapt to any size venue.

With each performance, the Choir strives to bring people and nations together with songs of hope and inspiration such as “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Amazing Grace,” “O Happy Day,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “We are the World.”

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