It’s Monday, November 11, and yes, we are rehearsing tonight! We will end Big Choir at 8:30.

The Montpelier Community Gospel Choir is a nondenominational community choir in Montpelier, Vermont (USA). Our members hail from all over the central Vermont area and from many different faith (and nonfaith) traditions. While professional singers are always welcome, the choir is composed mostly of people with no professional training. Anyone may join us; we ask only that they bring a love of this powerful music tradition and a willingness to open their hearts to what happens when we sing it.

The choir began in 1994 under the direction of the late Rev. Fred Shapiro and the late Andy Shapiro. From its beginnings as a loose-knit group of about 20 people, the choir has grown over the years to its present size of over 60 members.

The choir combines soul, jazz, blues, and original and traditional gospel music to produce an exuberant sound. We sing to share with each other and with the community the joy, hope, and inspiration of gospel music. We sing because we have to, because we love it, and because we are changed by it.

The Montpelier Community Gospel Choir is directed by John Harrison.