Gospel choir for church

maz99

Hi all, really need some advice on gospel choirs. Have priced a few and they are very expensive (1500+). Has anyone had a gospel for less than that they could recommend?? Really have my heart set on having a gospel choir of good quality but maybe not that expensive. I'm in the midlands...please help!!

Clare_Culchie

Hey Mazz,

If it's not too late, there are plenty of gospel choirs in the midlands, a quick search for them on Facebook will bring up their contact details. Here are some that come to mind in no particular order:
Portlaoise Gospel Choir
Tullamore Gospel Choir
Kilkenny Gospel Choir
Borrisokane Gospel Choir
Carmelite Church Moate Gospel Choir
Virginia Gospel Choir
Tipperary Gospel Choir

Some gospel choirs have a minimum number of singers that they will provide while still calling themselves a "gospel choir", and because of this the price becomes prohibitive, particularly if they have to travel any distance. If you know anyone in a gospel choir, ask them if they would mind getting a handful of singers together to perform. You only need a soprano, alto, tenor and bass and possibly one other as a lead, and keyboard accompaniment. You would get a very nice sound from six performers, particularly if they're all from the same choir and know the same arrangements.

It's not cheap, but there's a reason. The choir are among the first to arrive to the Church to set up and sound-check before the wedding, probably up to an hour before the scheduled start of the ceremony. The ceremony itself might last one to one-and-a-half hours. The choir would have rehearsed at least once prior to the wedding-day, particularly if they don't do it regularly. So, let's say the group of six has rehearsed and performed for a total of four hours, it works out as just over €40 per hour each (tax free). But you, on the other hand, are probably looking at it quite differently. Between the big songs and the Mass-parts, the group might only sing ten songs, so you're thinking "that's €100 per song". So perhaps you're not happy.

At the end of the day, the wedding is just about the bride and groom, if the singers are bad nobody will say it (even if they think it), and if they're good they'll probably let you know (even though they should have been paying more attention to you and less on what the choir/group sounded like).

wet-paint

Word.
The big lump sum does scare off a lot of people, but that amount goes to a lot more than just turning up and singing.
I'm in a wedding choir, and the most we'd charge would be sixteen hundred for a gig more than three hours away from Galway, where we're based. That means two hundred bones each for a group of eight.

We're getting paid to show up weekly and rehearse, as well as choosing, arranging, and learning songs, buying music, and travel to the gig an hour before it starts, set up, sound check, and then perform.
One wedding can be an all day affair for the choir.


You're paying for so much more than just showing up and reciting some songs.
If you're getting quotes of suspiciously low amounts, that could be a danger too. Less than a hundred euro per person in the choir, and you may not be getting a good one, so make sure to ask to hear them first.

lace

The reason prices are so high (as other posters have pointed out) is the sheer amount of work it takes on the part of the choir. If you're requesting specific songs they may have to learn them (so that's taking up time in 2 or 3 of their regular rehearsals) then there'll probably be a rehearsal/practice in the venue a day or two before. Then they'll also have to show up early, set up and sound check.

As an alternative, you could consider hiring a small choir (or part of a larger choir) of five to ten people. With the right voices, it's amazing how well Gospel songs can sound when sang by a small number.

If you're having a traditional Catholic wedding then it might be difficult to find gospel-style songs for the parts of the mass (bits that have to be sang at every wedding mass).