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Amazing Gospel Choir – Who we are
A vocal group project conceived in 1998 was established in 2002 as the Amazing Gospel Choir, under the direction of Marica Fasolato.
The initial group of fifteen singers grew within a few months both in quantity and in music knowledge to become a choir of about forty people.
The choir aims to deepen the study of the songs and spirit of African-American Spirituals and Gospel music, paying particular attention to the translation and presentation of texts and their biblical meanings.
In May 2001 they made their debut in Este at the “Concert for Life” in the Basilica delle Grazie and at the “Atheste National Literary Prize” at Farinelli Theatre.
Since then the choir has continued to give concerts in Veneto and in several Italian cities as well as in Este’s twin towns, Leek in the UK and Bad Windsheim in Germany.
The choir has been collaborating with a variety of pop groups (Achtung Babies, U2’s official cover band; OI&B featuring Lisa Hunt, Zucchero’s official tribute band), and with the “Galzignano Brass Orchestra”.
On October 4th, 2009, they organized and participated in Haendel’s “Messiah” project, together with Leek Choral Society and the Choir and Orchestra of the Town of Piazzola sul Brenta, under the direction of Paolo Piana, in the beautiful Cathedral of Este.
On November 10th, 2012, together with the Children’s Choir of Cesare Pollini Conservatory of Padua and Mortalisatis Choir, they joined the performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, under the direction of Alessandro Kirschner, in the Palazzo del Turismo in Abano Terme.
On June 16th, 2013, they joined the “Viva Verdi” project, organized by the ASAC Association for Veneto Choirs, with an extraordinary concert held at Palazzo Moroni in Padua, under the direction of Conductor Giuliano Fracasso, and in November 2014 the choir joined a similar project on Beethoven’s music.
The choir produced recording demos and albums; they released a live demo (2008) and two CDs:
– Singing in the Light of God – Gospel, Spirituals and African music – 2011
– Sing we all Noel – Christmas carols, Gospel, Spirituals and African carols – 2012
The Amazing Gospel Choir has also participated in:
– the 2nd International Festival of Pop and Gospel Choirs in Stresa, October 23-25th, 2009, receiving 1st prize ex-aequo with Collis Chorus from Budoia
– the 44th edition of the “Città di Vittorio Veneto” National Choral Competition, May 29-30th, 2010, winning the Special Jury Prize, as notably interesting vocal and instrumental group
– the 6th Veneto Choirs Festival, held in Vicenza October 24th, 2011, attaining the Excellence award
– the 8th Veneto Choirs Festival, held in Venezia October 25th, 2014, attaining the Excellence award
– the 10th Veneto Choirs Festival, held in Vittorio Veneto October 27th, 2018, attaining the Honor award, special price for interpretation of the song “Run, Mary Run” (Ilaria Mandruzzato soloist)
The choir long enjoyed the precious and friendly collaboration of Marco Pastorello, a young percussionist who passed away prematurely in December 2013.
The choir collaborates with musicians Carlo Dalla Battista, Marco Pollice and Marco Andreose at the piano, percussionist Daniele Pinato and soprano Stefania Bellamio, who is also the choir’s voice coach.
The proceeds of the concerts are donated to charity projects, especially to a missionary project run by Father Giovanni Girardi, a Comboni missionary from Este working in South Sudan.
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President: Andrea Baldo
E-mail: info@amazingospelchoir.com
Web: www.amazingospelchoir.com
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