Bringing Harmony

CONTACT: Halimah Collingwood, 822-4444

Touching lives, bringing harmony

Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir Presents 20th Annual Prayer Breakfast and Gospel Concert

Twenty years ago this month, Los Angeles exploded in riots after a jury acquitted the four white police officers who were caught on videotape beating black motorist Rodney King. Members of this community found themselves grappling with despair and searching for ways to heal racial and other divisions and to foster peace.

As fate would have it, the renowned Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir was scheduled to perform at Humboldt State University the weekend after the riots. Inspired by the choir and its director, Terrance Kelly, a group of twelve local singers decided to form the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir (AIGC).

“Terrance said that if people of different religions, ethnicities and ways of life can get together and agree to disagree, to live in harmony, that can be a model for the world,” said AIGC founding member Halimah Collingwood.

She describes the Arcata group’s interfaith philosophy: “It means being able to bring your own joy, your own peace, your own love, and share that with people from all walks of life. And isn’t that what we all want to do in the world? The great thing is that it brings together people who are open-hearted.”

This Sunday, May 1, the community will be able to experience that inclusive spirit firsthand when the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir presents the 20th annual Prayer Breakfast and Gospel Concert. Held at the Arcata Community Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the event starts with a gourmet continental breakfast, followed at 10 a.m. by the joyous and soulful singing of the 65-member choir.

Other than the music itself, there is no formal prayer at the event.

“The term ‘Prayer Breakfast’ makes some people think it’s a religious event,” said Jim Hubbard, who has directed the choir since 2009. “It isn’t that at all. It’s really a spiritual sharing experience of however you as the participant want to experience it.”

To celebrate this 20th annual Prayer Breakfast, past soloists and musicians with the choir will perform as special guests. These include former director Karen Dumont, Rose Armin-Hoiland, James Harris, and Inger Jorgensen.

The choir will perform a variety of musical styles: some straight-ahead gospel songs, two original songs by past choir members, and gospel versions of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

“The choir has touched a lot of people’s lives,” Collingwood said. “Not just the hundreds of people who have sung in the choir since we started, but also the people who come to the Prayer Breakfast year after year. It’s a rejuvenating experience—it heals people. It touches people.”

Tickets for the Community Prayer Breakfast and Gospel Concert are $15 general and $12 for students and seniors. Children under five are free. Tickets are available at People’s Records on the Arcata plaza, The Works in Eureka, or at the door.

There will also be a silent auction and Dutch raffle of local goods and services.

For more information, visit www.arcatainterfaithgospelchoir.com or call 822-4444.