The Promise returns from its California tour
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
The Promise has returned from its 19-day tour of California, USA, with invitations to reappear in concert, on television and at an evangelistic series.
The Promise. Credit: Kent Marcus.
The Avondale College of Higher Education vocal ensemble’s tour (September 22-October 10) included performances at four Seventh-day Adventist high schools, the last of which—Loma Linda Academy—gave a five-minute standing ovation.
Broadcasts of each of the ensemble’s four performances at Loma Linda University Seventh-day Adventist Church on the first Saturday of the tour led to an invitation from LLBN to perform during a live recording of the nonprofit community television network’s weekly show Christian Connections.
Performances during the worship service and a concert at Moreno Valley United Methodist Church followed on Sunday. The standing ovation after the concert may not have been a complete surprise—the audience included members of the Moreno Valley Master Chorale, which The Promise’s former director Dr Robb Dennis conducted for five years.
The Promise received a similar response to its mixed repertoire concert in Paulin Hall at Robb’s alma mater Pacific Union College the next weekend. Song selection changed again—from highlights of Les Miserables and Rent to “Ubi Caritas” and “Adoramus Te”—for a performance in the country’s third largest Episcopal cathedral, Grace Cathedral, in San Francisco on the following Monday.
A masterclasses with the La Sierra University Chamber Singers generated an enthusiastic response on The Promise’s Facebook—Tyretel Iancu liked his own post to prove “how much I liked you guys!” More significant: a masterclass with Los Angeles-based a cappella ensemble Sixth Wave—The Promise sing baritone Greg Jasperse’s jazz arrangements of “Abide With Me” and “Amazing Grace.”
The tour ended with a recording at The Carter Report, a ministry of Avondale alumnus Pr John Carter. The performance earned an open invitation to return and an invitation to sing at an evangelistic series John is presenting in Papua New Guinea next year. Writes John on The Promise Facebook: “We pray God will continue to bless your music and bring many to the saving grace that is through Jesus Christ.”
Second debut for seasoned performers
Wednesday, September 28, 2011The Promise
Psalter Music
Clansi Rogers
Coming five years after its self-titled debut, The Promise’s latest album, Faithful, is in many ways a second debut. But while it is in the nature of the vocal ensemble to change members from year to year as students graduate, some things have not changed: Dr Robb Dennis is still director; and The Promise maintains the style and feel that have served it well since forming in 2005.
Like the 2006 album, Faithful is a mix of a cappella, accompanied and solo tracks. As in performance, the album varies from the quiet and reflective, such as “Prayer of the Children,” to the energetic foot-stomping of “Great God A’mighty.”
Picking a favourite track is a subjective matter, but the standout is “Find Us Faithful.”
And closing the album with an arrangement by The Idea of North, Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary vocal quartet, is brave. The Promise pulls it off though, and listening to its rendition of “An Irish Blessing” begs the question, “Where is The Promise’s own arrangements?” This is perhaps worth exploring as The Promise continues its ongoing development.
Clansi is an alumna of Avondale College of Higher Education who reviewed The Promise’s self-titled debut album in 2006.
Tags: Commentary, The Promise
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