The Victoria Soul Gospel Choir is people of all ages and backgrounds who love to sing high-energy, clap-your-hands, get-up-and-dance Soul Gospel Music.

The choir, under the direction of Checo Tohomaso, mixes together the sounds of Soul, Gospel, R&B, Calypso, and Reggae in 5-part harmony. Their animated delivery results in audiences that can’t resist joining in with hand clapping, toe tapping, singing, and dancing.

Born in Florida and raised in Hawaii and Japan, Checo has entertained with many notable performers throughout his career, including Motown legends Marvin Gaye, Lionel Ritchie, and The Commodores. He toured the world performing extensively until Expo ’86 brought Checo to Vancouver where he lives today.

This choir will Activate Your Soul!!

Find out more at www.VictoriaSoulGospel.ca

"Come on Victoria!" urges director Checo Tohomaso at a recent Victoria Soul Gospel Choir practice. "Listen to your hearts," he exhorts while teaching how to clap and move to those spirited African harmonies that are the basis of roots American music and the genres that evolved from it. Audiences are welcome to sing along with this choir's engaging repertoire that draws from blues, jazz, gospel, old time, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.

Everyone loves to sing with Checo, whose amazing range allows him to demonstrate individual choral parts during practices at the Selkirk Montessori School (6-8pm every other Tuesday).  His own roots are in traditional gospel. He brought that sensibility to Motown, where he performed with Marvin Gaye and The Commodores. Presently, he is director of both the Vancouver Outreach Community Soul Gospel Choir and the Victoria Soul Gospel Choir. Checo first came to Victoria at the invitation of Me-Kon Hayes and the Black History Awareness Society. Since that first season with only a dozen members, the choir has grown to over one hundred happy singers. The Garden City is now a singing city and, whether or not they are of the Christian faith, all members are grateful to Me-Kon and Checo for the opportunity to enjoy this inspirational art form.

Find out more at www.VictoriaSoulGospel.ca