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Langley woman directs popular gospel concert

Gail Suderman’s Good Noise gospel choir’s first three shows are sold-out.
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Langley’s Gail Suderman is the artistic director and founder of the Good Noise gospel choir. Courtesy Leigh Righton Photography

A Langley local is delivering the sound of Christmas to Vancouver with an upcoming concert called Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas next week.

Gail Suderman is the artistic director and founder of the Good Noise Vancouver gospel choir and is the director of voice and choral studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Suderman said the concert, which is in its 15th season, was sold out in “record time.”

“We’ve actually added a fourth, because the first three sold out in record time.”

Since the scheduled dates on Dec. 14 and 15 sold out quickly, another date was added for Dec. 17, and tickets are still available.

“We often hear from our audiences that the Good Noise Gospel Christmas concerts have become part of their holiday traditions, and that friends and family will plan their trips to Vancouver around our annual concert,” added Suderman.

The 90-voice Good Noise choir begins preparing for the Christmas show in September, and rehearses once a week.

Suderman said the show is suitable for all ages.

“It’s got great energy and rhythm,” added Suderman.

According to Suderman, a gospel choir has a lot more “energy” than a traditional choir.

“There is an expectation of a freedom, to show the energy of the music while you’re singing.”

The 15th annual show will be joined by Canadian jazz singer Maureen Washington who will perform her own renditions of holiday classics.

The audience can expect to hear familiar songs such as O Holy Night, Walk In the Light, Everybody Knows it’s Christmas, Joy To The World, and more.

Suderman got involved with music when she started learning piano when she was five years old.

From there, she went on to play and sing in school band programs, followed with a career in music.

“Music has always been a big part of my life growing up, and extending into a career of teaching and performing. I do believe music makes a difference in peoples’ lives. Music is everywhere,” said Suderman.

Over the years, the Good Noise gospel choir has performed alongside artists such as Barbra Streisand, Holly Cole, and David Foster, and is currently the choir-in-residence at downtown Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral.

The Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas has tickets available for the Dec. 17 show at 7:30 p.m. at St John’s Shaughnessy, 1490 Nanton Ave., Vancouver.

Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors, $10 for children 12 and under and are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com or by phone at 1-800-838-3006.