Gospel concert sings R7,000 tune in proceeds |09 July 2005

The concert, held recently at the St Paul’s Cathedral, was organised by the SBS and the Choral and Music Society of Seychelles. Entrance to the show was free of charge but contributions toward the project were welcomed via a collection tray at the end of the performance.

One of the organisers, Flavie Jackson, told Nation that although the proceeds may not have been “excessive,” it was a good start in terms of its first fundraising venture of this kind.

And if the organisers weren’t 100 percent satisfied with the contributions, “we were 100 percent satisfied with the performance,” she said. “The ambience was terrific.”

The show featured a handful of performances from different choirs, including a youth choir from the Roman Catholic church and songs by guest choirs from the Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal churches, as well as from the Anglican church.

The Choral and Music Society of Seychelles under the direction of David Andre also performed.

The SBS is undertaking the first translation of the bible’s Old Testament into Seychelles Creole. Ms Jackson said the project is expected to take another five to eight years to complete the first draft.

However, the SBS has no funds of its own apart from the proceeds of bible sales in local currency. The bibles are provided by the United Bible Society based in South Africa, but Ms Jackson said the SBS is not able to get much in the way of hard cash.

Asked whether more concerts would follow, she indicated that the SBS did not want to stage the shows too often, but that another performance could come by the end of the year.

The next show might involve the National Choir depending on its level of interest, and Ms Jackson said there was also talk of having an annual show “to give people something to look forward to.”