About Us

Oxford Gospel Choir, now in its fifth year, is a community choir with an
'all welcome' code and a repertoire of 'uplifting' gospel music. The choir
consists of huge variety of friendly and social Oxford based singers of all
beliefs and ages, who really embrace the community and friendly emphasis to the choir. We sing a variety of styles from popular chart songs to African spirituals and everything in-between! There is also a professional choir which also rehearse on Tuesday evenings (before the community choir) and we perform at weddings, other special occasions and corporate events etc.

We usually meet on Tuesdays at Magdalen College Auditorium in Longwall Street, Oxford (Just before/after Magdalen Bridge) at 7.30 - 9.30pm (keep an eye on the website for occasional alternate venues). All are welcome!

Recent performances have included:
1. Christmas and Summer Concerts at The Theatre at Headington
2. Cowley Road Carnival
3. Ready Steady Cook Christmas Special (as seen above)
4. Christmas events for Bacardi, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford University etc
Our future plans include a huge summer concert at St Aldates Church on June 7th (with an audience capacity of 1200 and a professional funk band), Cowley Road Carnival and plenty of professional and other small community events throughout the year.

The History of OGC

Verity Brewer set up Oxford Gospel Choir in 2003. It was set up to be a community choir, with an “all welcome” code and a repertoire of ‘uplifting gospel’.

Verity led us brilliantly until the summer of 2004 when she moved down to Brighton.

Ruth Martin then took over the choir with Rachel Waters becoming Musical Director, Jules Francis becoming Secretary and Tina Reiner taking over from Rhian Hughes as Treasurer.

In the summer of 2005 Ruth Martin left to do missionary work overseas and the role of the choir director was taken on by Jules Francis and two new musical directors, Henry and Lydia George were added to the mix. During 2006 the choir tripled to over 50 + members! Sadly, Lydia and Henry moved back to London in summer 2006, but they still stay in close contact with the choir and are taking on the role of the trustees as our choir reaches its charity status.

As the choir continued to grow, we welcomed on board Laura Capillaire, Fiona Wilson and Lizzie Brown as assistant conductors for a successful Christmas concert in 2006. Talented local pianist Paul Packer completed the current line-up in January 2007.

The choir continue to perform regular concerts at Christmas and in the summer with the professional aid of Paul Walton and Jae Esplin and their sound and lighting skills. Keep an eye out for our upcoming Summer concert on the 7th June at St Aldates

Listen to the choir singing Wade in the Water.

Performance venues so far have included:

• A choir member’s front room (Our first performance!)
• An old peoples home,
• Homes for adults with learning difficulties,
• A joint concert with the Bonn Gospel Choir in St Michaels at The Northgate Church in Corn market (Oxford) and the prestigious Jacqueline Due Pre Music Building celebrating the link with Bonn and Oxford in May 2004
• Singing live on BBC Radio Oxford for several occasions
• Singing with the London Community Gospel Choir at the Cowley Road Carnival, June 2005
• Thanksgiving Concert at Exeter College
• Christmas Service at Magdalen Road Free Church
• BBC Choir Of The Year Competition
• Our own Christmas Concert December 2005 and 2006
• 'Make A Difference Day' Oxford 2006
• Charity Concert in July 2006 where we raised over £3000 for local charities and released our first album (see merchandise for more details)
• Commonwealth Christmas Service, St Martin In The Fields, Trafalger Square