A Gaither Homecoming-style concert celebrating the history of gospel music

Gospel Homecoming is a Gaither Homecoming-style concert celebrating the history of gospel music.

Featuring: Paul Woodward and the Gospel Big Band, The Promise and Avondale Jazz Ensemble.

Hosts: Avondale Conservatorium Director Aleta King and vocalist Sandra Entermann.

The concert is part of Avondale College of Higher Education’s Homecoming, the largest Avondale Alumni event of the year.

Biographies

The Gospel Big Band performs gospel standards in 1930s big band style. The 20-piece band includes trumpets, trombones and saxophones anchored by a standard rhythm section (piano, bass guitar, electric guitar and drums). However, the band also features flutes and clarinets, which help give it a distinctive sound.

Paul Woodward formed the Gospel Big Band in 2012. During his teaching career—as Head of Music and Performing Arts at Lilydale Adventist Academy (now Edinburgh College) in Melbourne for almost 30 years—“Woody” led his bands and choirs on tours to all states of Australia and to New Zealand. A trombonist, he is a prolific arranger, writing all of the arrangements for his bands to accompany his choirs and many of the arrangements for the Gospel Big Band.

Former students, current and former staff members and members of the community have joined Woodward’s retirement project. The band is like a family, with many of the members related by birth or marriage—there are husband and wives, a father and sons, siblings and cousins.

The Promise is an Avondale College of Higher Education vocal ensemble dedicated to excellence. Formed in 2005, the sextet represents the long and significant history of music at Avondale. Its repertoire ranges from the classics to contemporary gospel and jazz. The Promise tours extensively and has recorded five albums. And as one of the finalists in ABC Classic FM’s Vocal Romp competition, The Promise performed as support for German a cappella ensemble Amarcord. It has also performed with multi-instrumentalist Adrian Cunningham and James and John Morrison and collaborated with Australian vocal ensemble The Song Company. Avondale Conservatorium Director Aleta King is the ensemble’s Artistic Director.

Avondale Jazz Ensemble began in 2012 and within a year performed as support for the Adrian Cunningham Quartet. It recorded its debut album, Jesus: HIStory, with Avondale College of Higher Education vocal ensemble The Promise in 2013. The jazz ensemble performed Director David Pudney’s original compositions, which in a musical narrative reimagine the timeless stories of the Gospels, in collaboration with James and John Morrison in 2014.

Tickets

$20 (Single)
$30 (Double)
$50 (Family—two adults and any number of children aged 17 years and under)

PURCHASE TICKETS!