The Joy Gospel Singers will be teaming up with the Lucan Gospel Singers of Ireland to give a joint concert at St Lawrence Collegiate Parish Church, Vittoriosa. The concert, focusing on the theme ‘God is love’, will be held on Thursday, at 7.30pm. This is the Irish choir’s first visit to Malta.

This concert follows on the success of the Christmas concert, which the Joy Gospel Singers gave in front of a record audience at St Lawrence Church.

Led by music director Ian Brabazon, the Irish choir was formed in February 1998 and is based in Lucan, West Dublin. The choir is multi-denominational, with members coming from various religious backgrounds. The Lucan Gospel Singers have grown from strength to strength, and over the years have performed at festivals, parish centres, community halls, churches and at private functions. The choir recorded its first CD in November 1999.

In 1998 the Lucan Gospel Singers were requested to sing for the President of Ireland Mary McAleese in Aras An Uachtaran, during the President’s Christmas staff party. They appeared on Irish National Television in 2005, when the choir was invited by the Lord Mayor of Dublin to perform in O’Connell Street during the “Ceremony of Light”, which is the traditional switching-on of the Christmas street decorations in the Irish capital.

The 40-strong mixed adult Joy Gospel Singers was formed four years ago by Carmel and Michelle Abela. Carmel is the technical director, while Michelle is responsible for the musical arrangements and direction during performances.

The Lucan Gospel Singers’ connection with Malta goes back some six years, when Carmel and Michelle were living in Dublin. After attending one of their performances at Sunday Mass, Michelle decided to join the choir and was even asked to direct the Singers on a particular occasion.

The Joy Gospel Singers are based at Santa Lucia Parish Church, where they gave their first public performance in January 2003. They have since established themselves as one of the foremost choirs in Malta and are accompanied by a live mini-band.

The forthcoming Vittoriosa concert will include a number of songs performed separately by the two choirs, as well as other spirituals sang by the two choirs in unison.

The concert is being sponsored by Grand Harbour Marina, Vittoriosa, and the Embassy of Ireland in Malta. Entrance is free.