The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir returns with its 34th annual Gospel Celebration concert, taking place Sunday December 4, at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts.

The concert is always a beautiful kick start to the Holiday season with Gospel songs and a selection of Holiday favourites. This year’s performance, with special guest Dawn Tyler Watson, returns to Place des Arts. The concert, under the artistic direction of founder Dr. Trevor W. Payne C.M., will feature over 50 singers and musicians on stage, as well as a six-piece horn section. It’s a much-anticipated event for many Montrealers who look forward to this annual concert.

The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir’s roots run deep in the Montreal community. In 1974, the Montreal Black Community Youth Choir was founded by Trevor W. Payne, Daisy Peterson Sweeney (Oscar Peterson’s sister) and Union United Church’s then-minister, Frank B. Gabourel. In 1982, to celebrate the church’s 75th anniversary, the Choir held a joint concert with the Union United Church Senior Choir, featuring Ranee Lee, Oliver Jones and Charles Biddle, which launched the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir to its current status as one of the world’s finest gospel choirs.

The Choir has 11 albums as well as several Juno nominations and one Juno Award. It was the first gospel choir to win a Juno and the first international artist recorded on the Justin Time record label. The Choir supports many causes and organized a charity concert for the Saving Station Foundation this summer and performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival again, after officially closing the festival with a concert at Maison Symphonique in 2015.

The year prior, the Choir was part of the critically acclaimed, sold out, Opéra de Montréal presentation of Porgy and Bess. The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir has performed for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II three times, as well as Nelson Mandela. The Choir has recorded with such artists as Ray Charles, Céline Dion, Barry White and Michael Bolton.

Artistic Director and founder, Dr. Trevor W. Payne C.M. was invested into the Order of Canada in recognition of his work to introduce and promote gospel music to the Canadian community, for the Choir’s support of numerous charitable causes and for its outreach efforts to the community’s youth population. The Choir’s Gilead Jubilation Foundation has two missions: to seek out new, talented Gospel singers and to provide the support that allows the Choir to perform at fund-raising events for charitable organizations, at no cost to the charities. Dr. Payne was also honoured in October 2014 at a tribute.

The 34th Annual Christmas Concert will be at Place des Arts’ Théâtre Maisonneuve on Sunday, December 4 at 8:00 pm. To purchase tickets please visit: www.placedesarts.com or call the Place des Arts ticket office at 514 842-2112. Enjoy!