Saying thank you with a gospel concert

 If Henry Pinherio’s annual parties were marked by loud parties, a recent visit to the Divine Retreat Centre at Potta brought about a dramatic change in the way he viewed life. “It was a touching and life altering experience,” avers Henry, who was adamant to share this experience with the people of Goa in a free gospel concert, instead of hosting the usual party. The year has even more significance as he celebrates 25 fruitful years of Henry’s Music Café.  Open to the entire community, the Gospel Concert will feature three of Goa’s best known gospel bands: Faith, Braz Gonsalves along with Saved by Grace and Shepherd’s Voice. Alfwold Silveria (more popularly known as Alfie) besides being roped in for his guidance, will lead his group ‘Shepherd’s Voice’ in song and worship. “We will sing a number of popular praise and worship gospel numbers, some from the past, others more contemporary. We will begin with the slow and then rise to the faster foot-tapping numbers,” explains Alfie. “Gospel music is vibrant and exciting and offers an interesting challenge to Goan bands to play. The quality of the music at this concert will be of the highest calibre,” maintains Alfie who believes that despite the upbeat tempo of the music, the lyrics are meaningful nevertheless. “This is such a nice way to celebrate an anniversary rather than having a farcical party. If Goan bands were to take up playing gospel music, they would indeed enjoy the experience. We could emulate the likes of Don Moen, Paul Wilbur and Chris Tomlin,” he adds.  Playing for over a decade, Faith is one of Goa’s most established Gospel bands, who have a number of original songs to their credit. Ready to regale their audience with their own creations including two Konkani numbers ‘Jezu Somi’ and ‘Jezu’ as well as numbers from Hillsong, the seven-member band, in the words of its leader Glen Lord Rodrigues, “always strive to create an atmosphere where people can worship God.”  Coming on board at the behest of his daughter Sharon, Braz Gonsalves along with ‘Saved by Grace’ will offer their renditions of praise and worship in song as well. “Saved by Grace is a newly formed band, with most of the members from the Syndicate Band as well as other individuals,” explains band-member Sharon. Of the eight numbers that will be rendered by this group, two originals – ’We’ve come to praise you Lord’ and ‘You mean everything to me’ – have been written by Sharon and her mother Yvonne respectively. Gospel Concert is indeed strumming up a novel way of thanking the Lord!   (Gospel Concert will held at the Taleigao Community Centre, Taleigao on October 13, 2015 from 7pm onwards)