World leading choir aficionado Donald Lawrence is uniting the best musicians and groups from all across the globe in London, UK for a three day Music + Arts Global extravaganza on 27-29th April, featuring choir sessions, master classes and two unmissable concerts for audiences to enjoy.
With choir music featuring in every major event from Royal Weddings to the Oscars and the imminent Coronation, this ever popular art form continues to engage audiences across all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Multiple GRAMMY® Award winning choirmaster Donald Lawrence is reviving his mentor, the legendary late Edwin Hawkins’ annual Music & Arts Seminar as a bi-annual conference, Music + Arts Global. Edwin Hawkins is perhaps best remembered for his million-selling single ‘O Happy Day’ which featured in the popular Whoopi Goldberg film “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit”.
While Edwin Hawkins passed away in 2018, it was his deathbed wish that Donald Lawrence would keep his original Music & Arts Seminar vision alive – a vision that choir music as an art form holds the key to truly unite people. He said: “I want to see young people really benefit from the art… I don’t want it to be just another social affair… I’d like to eventually take the convention out of the states…just to keep it fresh.”
By bringing Music + Arts Global to the UK, Lawrence is doing just that, with his plan to expand upon the rich legacy of the Music & Arts Seminar which was birthed in 1979 by reimagining it for the 21st century as a bi-annual conference. A gathering for professional and aspiring singers and musicians to join classes in vocal technique & blending, discover new audio solutions e.g. VenueFlex/ChoirFlex, songwriting workshops, and how to incorporate spoken word, dance, fashion and theatre into a choir’s stage presentation. The goal is to equip and unite artists while celebrating choir music as an artform for the faithful and faithless alike. A highlight will be the Global Choir Session at 8 pm on Friday 28th April featuring choirs from all across Europe and the US; including Switzerland, Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Spain, California and Las Vegas. “The audience is really going to witness a rehearsal of a choir
made up of singers from all over Europe,” Lawrence says. The Global Choir Session will be hosted by the dynamic Volney Morgan of MOBO award winning group Volney Morgan & New Ye.
Music + Arts Global concludes with a big Saturday night concert with guest appearances by music veterans such as Anthony Brown (of Anthony Brown & group therAPy), William Murphy, Ted Winn, Vincent Bohanan, Rodney Posey, and Derrick Starks. Songwriter Jeffrey LaValley will share his inspirations for his song “Revelations 19:1.” which recently became a TikTok and viral hit after the Sunday Service Choir recorded it and made it popular with a new generation of fans in 2022.
Gospel music legend Donald Lawrence has 18 GRAMMY® Award nominations and wins to his name and has collaborated with R&B artists such as Stephanie Mills, Mary J. Blige, and En Vogue. Donald Lawrence has also worked with many US billboard and Grammy winning artists including Faith Evans, Lalah Hathaway and Bebe Winans.
Music + Arts Global will be supported by the UK’s finest choir talent including Bazil Meade MBE (the pioneering founder of the 40+ year old London Community Gospel Choir) and Ayce Oyerinde, who are handling on the ground promotions for Music + Arts Global through their London-based firm, GloFest International.
Music + Arts Global is taking place on 27-29th April at the Gaumont State Theatre (197-99 High Road, Kilburn, London NW6 7HY). Tickets are available to attend all three days, the Global Choir Session on Friday night is FREE registration as a gift to UK based choirs and all lovers of choir music. Tickets are also available for the spectacular Finale concert with Donald Lawrence & friends featuring special guests.
