Universal Gospel Choir

The Universal Gospel Choir is a fifty-member non-denominational community choir based in Vancouver, BC. This exciting ensemble sings songs of healing, praise, prayer and peace from a wide variety of cultures. The choir is known for its passion, versatility, exciting soloists, and love of singing and performing. Its diverse and eclectic repertoire reflects African-American, African, Middle Eastern and Aboriginal influences. Peter O'Loughlin, who founded the choir in 1985, envisioned a group that would celebrate the beauty and common ground shared by spiritual traditions around the world. Although individual choir members have come and gone throughout the years, Peter's vision continues to live on at the heart of the choir.

The Universal Gospel Choir's current director, Brian Tate, has conducted community choirs for many years, and is acclaimed for both his sense of musicality and his rapport with audiences. An award-winning composer and arranger, his works are published and performed worldwide. A popular clinician, Brian frequently presents workshops for church, community, and school choirs. Read more.

The choir's resident band features three of Vancouver's finest musicians: Patrick Dubois on piano, Phil Belanger on drums and Danny Parker on bass. Patrick Dubois is also the resident accompanist for the choir, and sings in the bass section.

The choir's first album was released in 1990. In 1996 they added another, Grace Happens, which featured guest soloists Marcus Mosely and Leora Cashe. This CD was nominated for "Best World Music Album" at the 1997 Pacific Music Industry Association Awards. In 2002 the choir released The Universal Gospel Choir - Live, recorded at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. All of these recordings are available through the choir and can be found in our Store.

In addition to their large public concerts, the choir shares its healing music with those audiences who are unable to attend or afford public concerts. This has taken the form of small outreach concerts, which have become an integral part of the choir's mandate. In 1998, The Universal Gospel Choir formalized these events to become its Community Outreach Series - Sharing the Spirit. The choir also hosts an enormously popular "Sing-along" evening every March, where the audience and choir become one.