Langley’s own Gail Suderman, who was up for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award this week, is conducting the 90-voice Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir this weekend.
Suderman, who is the director of voice and choral studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, is also artistic director for this choir and will be leading them at Soul Gospel II – the second such concert of its kind at the Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver on Saturday.
“Last season, we unveiled the first Soul Gospel event, and it was a tremendous success!” Suderman exclaimed.
“Both gospel and soul music draw the listener in with fervent call and response, improvisation, and powerful vocals. This year, with a program steeped in the rich traditions of these beloved genres… audiences will find it impossible to resist singing and dancing along,” she added.
Not only does Suderman lead the members, but she sings along – “her warm and robust voice ringing out over the choir’s potent sound,” said promoter Hanah Van Borek.
“Gail does all this from her piano bench (that’s right – she’s also the accompanist), pounding the keys with huge passion you can feel from the back of the room.”
From past to present
Suderman will be drawing on both her classical and academic musical studies, as well as her natural abilities as a musician, and her long-time love of many styles of contemporary music – including gospel, R&B, jazz, and pop music.
She began her formal music education at age five, studying piano.
Her piano teacher of note was Georgina Williams, who guided Suderman through many years of study, focusing both on solo performing as well as accompanying.
Very early on, it was evident that she possessed collaborative skills as a pianist. And, at the early age of eight, she started accompanying the Sunday school choir.
Over the next few years, Suderman “graduated” to accompanying the adult church choir (beginning at age 12), as well as solo singers and instrumentalists.
From a young age, this music prof pursued a two-path musical life, studying classical piano and learning all she could about gospel music, listening to and performing the music of Andrae and Sandra Crouch, Danniebelle Hall, the Hawkins family, and many others.
During her teenage years, Suderman introduced many people to the gospel music of the day, as well as using her classical training extensively, accompanying instrumentalists and singers, and winning awards for both solo piano and accompanying.
It was while accompanying singers in recital and for festivals that she realized her love of the voice.
Wanting to study voice herself, Suderman was accepted into several post-secondary voice programs, deciding to attend the University of Victoria as a voice performance major, studying with Jean Letourneau and Bernard Turgeon.
She received a number of scholarships and awards, including the president’s scholarship for undergraduate studies, won the concerto competition, and was awarded a teaching assistantship in conducting and a fellowship for graduate studies in voice performance, graduating with honours.
After several years of singing professionally in opera and oratorio, Suderman began her teaching career, developing an award-winning choral and voice program at Gladstone Secondary in Vancouver.
During her time teaching high school music, she was featured in the Vancouver Sun by music columnist Lloyd Dykk as one of the top music educators in British Columbia.
Her musical career has continued to include both classical music and contemporary music. And, as mentioned earlier, she is currently a music director at KPU in Langley and artistic director of Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir for a dozen years.
She is described as a “powerhouse” who founded and has led Good Noise for 13 years to perform with such stars as Barbara Streisand, David Foster, Josh Groban, Holly Cole, and many other acclaimed artists.
She also has a successful private voice studio, her roster of students ranging from award-winning classical singers to R&B, rock, pop, and musical theatre professionals.
Suderman gives frequent choral and vocal workshops for high school music teachers, community and church choirs, directs weekend gospel music workshops, and is in demand as a performer, voice teacher, guest conductor, workshop clinician, as well as voice and choral adjudicator.
In 2017, she was nominated for YMCA Women of Distinction Award in the arts, culture, and design category. Ultimately, she was not a winner, but it’s still a big week for the Langley instructor.
Saturday’s lineup
On Saturday, audiences can watch Suderman command the stage during the Soul Gospel II.
She’s not alone. She’s backed by the Good Noise choir, which is renowned for its upbeat and inspiring annual concert season – garnering many sold out performances. In addition, they have recorded two successful CDs – both of which have been nominated for Covenant Awards (Canadian Gospel Music Awards), Van Borek said.
Good Noise has also appeared on numerous high-profile television shows on CBC, Bravo, Knowledge Network, Global TV, and most recently in a nationally televised concert on Vision TV.
And, the 90-voice choir has singers from across the Lower Mainland, from the North Shore to Abbotsford and every town in between, and members of the choir come from a diversity of faith traditions (or none at all) sharing a common love of singing gospel and popular music.
Also on agenda Saturday, is rising soul star Warren Dean Flandez.
The guest artist is fresh off his 2017 JUNO nomination for contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year.
Flandez’s “silky smooth style and funky beats will thrill audiences with soul favourites,” Van Borek said. He’ll be performing the likes of Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and more, along with his own original work – and all of that will be backed by Good Noise.
“The sold-out success of last year’s Soul Gospel concert proved that Vancouver is hungry for the electrifying performance style of Good Noise, and this second instalment is the beginning of an infectious new musical tradition,” she said.
There will be two concerts on Saturday, June 3 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. in the Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard St., in Vancouver) where the choir is currently the choir-in-residence.
Ticket prices vary. It is $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, and $10 for children 12 years and younger.
Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006.
