Information about the Choir
Feel free to use the following bio information:
The
VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir
are focused on a new and
improved, fresh and authentic sound after 15 years as a community choir.
The choir was founded by music director, Checo Tohomaso, with the goal of
uniting people of different cultures and beliefs to deliver a message of love,
joy, peace, hope and healing through their common passion: singing.
We sing six-part harmony and our 130 members include men and women of all ages,
ethnicities and religions. Delivering a high-energy, positive vibe, our dynamic
choir mixes together the sounds of Soul, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Hawaiian, Calypso,
and Reggae. Our animated delivery results in an audience that can’t resist
joining in by toe tapping, foot stomping, jumping, singing, dancing and hand
clapping!
We are honoured to have been asked to perform at community events such as the
CIBC Run for the Cure, Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay, and back up distinguished
performers such as Celine Dion at GM Place, Maya Angelou at the Orpheum as well
as being the first Soul Gospel choir to be invited to accompany the Vancouver
Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum.
Performing in venues all over the lower mainland for audiences that often number
more than one thousand, the 130-member VOC Soul Gospel Choir has "changed lives"
with its energetic, soulful performances. This community choir is guaranteed to
have you clap your hands and stomp your feet, dance in the aisles, and bring a
smile to your face!
Information about Checo Tohomaso
Feel free to use the following bio information:
Music Director, Checo Tohomaso, brings a wealth of musical experience to the
Vancouver Outreach Community Sweet Soul Gospel Choir (VOC). Born in Florida, and
raised in Hawaii as well as Okinawa Japan, he has entertained with many notable
performers throughout his career. Checo was honoured to play keyboards,
percussion and sing background vocals for the last European tour of Motown
legend, Marvin Gaye. As a keyboard player and background vocalist for the Green
Machine, the band providing the sound for The Commodores and Lionel Ritchie, he
continued to tour the world extensively until Expo '86 brought Checo to
Vancouver.
Checo’s musical journey began in early childhood where his first performances
were as a member of a church choir. The son of an African-American Christian
mother and Peruvian/African-American Jewish father, Checo grew up surrounded by
different styles of ethnic music. When asked how his passion for Gospel music
began, Checo points out “ninety per cent of American Soul, R&B, and Jazz singers
have their musical foundation singing Gospel music in the church and I was
heavily influenced by those artists at a very early age”.
Following Expo ’86, Checo toured the Canadian school system exposing youth to
ethnic and soul music. In addition, he worked extensively with the First
Nations population to provide positive motivation, from the perspective of a
person of colour, and deliver messages of staying in school, staying off drugs,
and racial tolerance.
Checo’s current focus is to communicate the positive, healing qualities of soul
music to as many people as possible. He notes, “at home, everyone sings Gospel
and the spirit and culture are strong. People in Vancouver are longing for real
music and my goal is to bring it!”
In order to achieve his goal of "bringing soul to the city", Checo also
coaches soul, R&B, gospel and light jazz-style vocals, and teaches both
keyboards and bass to students from across the lower mainland.
Additional information and photos
If you require additional information or photos for use in publications,
please contact us at
Media
Info Request. ( if this hyperlink doesn't work for you type "info at VOCSoulGospelChoir . com"
using the @ sign and no spaces)
