Gospel Choir: A Celebration of Black History Through Music

*In-Person tickets have sold out for this event. Livestream tickets still available

Ticket Prices:
In-Person: $30 Adult, $20 Senior, $15 Student 
Livestream: $10

Please note that all prices are inclusive of tax and applicable service fees and facility fees. All purchases made online or over the phone are subject to an additional one time order fee. Service fees and order fees will not apply for purchases made in person

Darren Hamilton, director

With Visiting Artist and Featured Soloist, Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin (Berklee College of Music)

This event is sponsored in part by the Jackman Humanities Institute Program for the Arts.

PROGRAM

SET 1

Expect The Great

Composed by Darien Dennis, Kenneth Shelton and Jonathan Nelson
Recorded by Jonathan Nelson & Purpose

Wade In The Water

African American Spiritual
Recorded by The Fisk Jubilee Singers
Jessica Dawdy, Megan O’Donnell, Marina Tanaka, soloists

Lord, Help Me To Hold Out

Composed by Harrison Johnson | Arrangement by Rev. James Cleveland
Recorded by Harrison Johnson and the Los Angeles Community Choir (1969) | Rev. James Cleveland (1973)
Jake Manucdoc, Anna Smith, soloists

God Is Standing By

Composed by Johnnie Taylor
Recorded by Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers
Noah Amodeo (soloist), Jake Manucdoc, Rocco Marciano, Max Yeung, quartet

God Is Standing By

Composed by Johnnie Taylor
Recorded by George Nooks
Kendra Spencer-Cole, Fatima Qaraan, soloists

I Love The Lord

Composed by Richard Smallwood
Recorded by The Richard Smallwood Singers (1982) | Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir (1996)
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, guest soloist | Tanya Charles, guest violinist

Do Not Pass Me By (Pass Me Not)

Composed by Fanny Crosby | Arranged by Douglas Miller, MC Hammer (rap verses), N.I.F.T.Y (original rap verse)
Recorded by Douglas Miller and the True Way Choir C.O.G.I.C. (1982) | MC Hammer (1991)
N.I.F.T.Y., guest rapper | Megan O’Donnell, soloist

Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin

Visiting Guest Artist, Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA, USA)

Courtenay Frazer, keyboard accompanist

Come Sunday

Composed by Duke Ellington

I Want Jesus To Walk With Me

African American Spiritual

Alabaster Box

Composed by Janice Sjostrand

If I Can Help Somebody

Composed by Alma Androzzo

INTERMISSION - 20 MINUTES

SET 2

Standing In The Need Of Prayer

African American Spiritual
Recorded by The Gaither Vocal Band
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, guest soloist
The Bishop Strachan School x Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School Gospel Choir

He’s Able

Composed by Kirk Franklin
Recorded by Kirk Franklin and the Family
Noah Amodeo, Laura Storey, Isabella Man, soloists
The Bishop Strachan School x Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School Gospel Choir x University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir

Do You See Them?

Composed by Aaron Manswell and Darren Hamilton
Recorded by University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir
Tanya Charles, guest violinist

The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow

Composed by Thomas A. Dorsey
Recorded by Thomas A. Dorsey and Marion Williams
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, guest soloist

The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow

Composed by Thomas A. Dorsey | Arranged by Hezekiah Walker and B. Jeffrey Grant-Clark
Recorded by New Jerusalem Baptist Church Choir (1987) | Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir (1987)
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, guest soloist

The Best Is Yet To Come

Composed by Donald Lawrence
Recorded by Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers
N.I.F.T.Y, guest rapper, Tanya Charles, guest violinist

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY OF MUSIC GOSPEL CHOIR

Dr. Darren Hamilton, conductor
Desaraé Dee, professional gospel accompanist
Natalie Stewart, teaching assistant

Sopranos 
Diane Baek 
Giuliana Barrow Lattanzio 
Emily Bilbao Sanchez 
Karen Chandler 
Jessica Dawdy 
Alex Forsyth 
Marina Kelbas 
Emma Li 
Irene Li 
Megan O’Donnell 
Joyce Okojie 
Laura Storey 
Marina Tanaka 
Christine Zhang 

Altos 
Justine Coroza 
Julia Hincapie 
Heather Hurst 
Korin Inoue 
Ai Ishida 
Ariana Kantouri 
Eunchae Lee 
Isabella Man 
Zimra Obimdike 
Deandra Osayande 
Lisa Ryder 
Anna Smith 
Kendra Spencer-Cole 
Matilda Wilson 
Yao Xiong 

Tenors 
Mya Davidson 
David Harrison 
Judy Jin 
Laila McFarlane 
Julian Munro 
Asal Naimi Ghahroodi 
Esther Neethirajah 
Fatima Qaraan 
Johnny Rabbito 
Alex Siddhantakar 
JJ Viviers 
Natalie Yu 
Simon Yu 

Baritone/Basses 
Noah Amodeo 
Adam Babadi 
Andrew Cruikshank 
Jake Manucdoc 
Rocco Marciano 
Scott Reed 
Max Yeung

Concert Rhythm Section

Desaraé Dee, musical director, lead keys
Kimberly Brathwaite, auxiliary keys
Pascal Adesina, electric guitar
Ronjay Clarke, electric bass guitar
Sashane Brearcliffe-Clarke, drums

THE BISHOP STRACHAN SCHOOL CHOIR

Natalie DiNardo, vocal music teacher
Tara Burt, director of arts
Brendan Lea, principal

FATHER JOHN REDMOND CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL CHOIR

Dawn Pear, vocal music teacher
Frank Pincente, arts department head
John D’Onofrio, principal

PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES

The University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir was founded in 2019 by Dr. Darren Hamilton. It is a credit course offering, currently open to students in the Faculty of Music, the Toronto School of Theology, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Toronto. The ensemble explores and performs various forms of gospel music repertoire, ranging from African American spirituals to mainstream contemporary gospel music. Since its inception, the choir has performed for many Faculty of Music and Toronto School of Theology events. In 2024, the choir hosted and headlined its inaugural “A Celebration of Black History through Music” event and was featured in a documentary by award-winning producer, Alisa Siegel, that aired on three CBC radio programs, IDEAS, The Current with Matt Galloway, and Storylines. The choir also performed at the 2024 Toronto Jazz Festival’s “Gospel in the Grove” event. The choir has shared the stage with JUNO-nominated gospel recording artist, Patricia Shirley, JUNO Award-winning gospel recording artist, Sharon Riley, and has worked with award-winning Canadian instrumental fusion artist, composer and producer, Desarae Dee. In November 2025, the choir released its debut original recording, “Do You See Them?”, co-composed by Aaron Manswell (DMA, composition, 2026) and Dr. Darren Hamilton.

Dr. Darren Hamilton is an assistant professor of music education and the founding director of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir. His research interests lie in formal gospel music, popular music and hip-hop music education, in addition to anti-Black racism, equity, diversity and social justice in music education. He has served as a member of the JUNO-nominated Youth Outreach Mass Choir and the JUNO Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir (TMC), where he now serves as an assistant director. He has also guest conducted performances for the Oakville Choral Society, the Tyndale Community Choir, the University of Toronto Chamber Choir and the University of Toronto Tenor-Bass Choir. Dr. Darren Hamilton was the recipient of the 2022 JUNO Award for MusiCounts Teacher of the Year, recognising his commitment to equity and diversity, as well as his professional contributions to the field of music education.

Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin is a vocalist, composer, scholar, and educator with over 20 years of experience in performance, pedagogy, and cultural advocacy. She is Chair of the Ensemble Department at Berklee College of Music, creator of the Soul Ingredients® Methodology, and founder of the Soul Ingredients® Voice Studio. Her work centers on preserving and promoting African American music traditions through performance, scholarship, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Dr. Robinson-Martin developed Soul Ingredients®, a voice methodology that teaches singers to develop authentic musical expression in genres such as jazz, gospel, R&B, and blues. She is the author of So You Want to Sing Gospel, and a contributor to several academic texts on Black music and voice. As a performer, she blends soul, jazz, and gospel, earning praise for her emotionally resonant artistry. Her debut album All or Nothing, featuring Cyrus Chestnut and Don Braden, reflects her deep musical roots and interpretive range. We are pleased to have Dr. Robinson-Martin as visiting guest scholar, clinician, and performer for our February 2026 Black History Month activities.

Courtenay Frazer is an accomplished Canadian musician, arranger, and music director whose career spans over two decades of live performance, studio recording, and musical direction. Known for his soulful sound and versatility across genres, Courtenay has established himself as a dynamic force in live music, and as a professor teaching a range of students from music to creative arts, performance, and personal development. Courtenay has performed at many concert halls such as Massy Hall, Koerner Hall, and the Scotia Bank Arena, and at major events hosted by various TD Jazz Festivals, TD Blues Festivals, Centennial College, Mic Check Magazine, and Sickle Cell Campaigns, to name a few. In addition to his stage presence, Courtenay has worked extensively as a music director and arranger, notably with The Honourable Julius Alexander Isaac, the Vibe Awards, and leading high-profile house bands for Maestro Fresh Wes, and Jully Black. As a frequent contributor to workshops and educational initiatives, Courtenay serves as guest accompanist for Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin at “A Celebration of Black History through Music’.

Ches Christian, also known by the stage name, N.I.F.T.Y., is a dynamic faith-based hip-hop artist and storyteller whose music blends soulful R&B melodies with powerful messages of hope, healing, and purpose. He is a passionate educator, recording artist, and community leader who brings over two decades of experience to the classroom—and beyond. As Canada’s first-ever Rap Performance Professor at Centennial College, Ches has paved the way for hip-hop to be recognized and respected in academic spaces. His teaching isn’t just about beats and bars—it’s about helping students find their voice, build confidence, and use music to create real change. Known for his emotionally honest lyrics and unforgettable performances, N.I.F.T.Y. uses real-life struggles and faith-based stories to inspire transformation and spark conversations that matter. N.I.F.T.Y. is more than a name — it’s an acronym for “Nothing’s Impossible For The Youth”, a statement of belief and a movement built to empower the next generation. With an energetic yet conversational performance style, N.I.F.T.Y.’s mission is simple: to inject positivity into the culture and remind people that their story isn’t over.

Tanya Charles has captivated audiences across North and South America, as well as the Caribbean, with her exceptional musical talent. Tanya is currently the concertmaster of Ensemble Obiora, a Montreal-based ensemble she has proudly led since its founding in 2021. As the soloist with this ensemble, she is proud to have performed the Canadian premiere of Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 1, conducted by Samy Rachid, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, in October 2023. In addition to her role with Ensemble Obiora, Tanya is also a violinist and the Outreach Coordinator for the Toronto-based Odin Quartet. Her diverse musical background reflects a broad range of artistic collaborations and performances across various ensembles including the Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet Orchestra of Canada, various musical theatre shows with Mirvish Productions and the Shaw Festival, as well as Toronto’s Viva Mexico Mariachi. Tanya is deeply committed to music education, serving as a dedicated educator, string adjudicator, and clinician both locally and internationally. Tanya is based in Toronto, where she shares her expertise as a faculty member at both the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and the Oscar Peterson Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Please tag our accounts on your social media posts (i.e., photos, videos, etc.) from this event: 

University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir - Facebook Page 

@uoftfacultyofmusicgospelchoir - Instagram Handle 

University of Toronto Faculty of Music - Facebook Page 

@uoftmusic - Instagram Handle 

University of Toronto Faculty of Music - Facebook Page 

UofT Jazz – Facebook Page

@uoftjazz – Instagram Handle 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Assistant Event Coordinator | Stage Manager: Ivan Lo 
Assistant Stage Manager: Natalie Stewart 
Front of House Coordinator, Faculty of Music: Cory Bertrand  
Front of House Assistant, Faculty of Music | Stage Runner: Rasa Ghaedi  

Interim Dean, Faculty of Music: Professor Ryan McClelland 
Director, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Music: Hillary Barron 
Executive Assistant to the Dean, Faculty of Music: Elizabeth Fernandes 
Events Office, Faculty of Music: Alejandro Cespedes Pazos 
Concert Office Supervisor, Faculty of Music: Eric Chow 
Advancement and Alumni Relations Office, Faculty of Music: Brittney Cathcart 
Division of University Advancement, University of Toronto: Giselle Arsenault and Anna Kadir 
Communications Officer, Jackman Humanities Institute, University of Toronto: Sonja Johnston 
Performance Office Administrator, Faculty of Music: Michelle Kitsis 
Student Services Administrator, Faculty of Music: Andrea Nussey Atherley 
Associate Dean, Performance, Faculty of Music: Professor Jeffrey McFadden 
Jazz Area Head, Faculty of Music: Jim Lewis 
Marketing & Publicity | Event Photographer, Faculty of Music: Duc Tam Nguyen 
Jazz Social Media and Website Communications, Faculty of Music: Jenna Pinard 
Emmanuel College | Toronto School of Theology: Pamela McCarroll, Swee Hong Lim, Shawn Houston, Elizabeth Neilly, Andrew Aitchison 
The Bishop Strachan School: Brendan Lea, principal 
Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School: John D’Onofrio, principal 
Lyric Theatre | Meridian Arts Centre | TO Live: Alex Whitehead, Holly Merkur-Dance, Jennifer Norman, Chris Carlton, Haley Watson, Catrina Byers, and Lauren Finateri
Live Stream Technicians, Faculty of Music: Brandon Wells and Pouria Zarei 
Additional Photography and Videography: Adam and Keisha Favours, Honeypear Productions

SPONSORS

University of Toronto Faculty of Music 
Jackman Humanities Institute 
The Bishop Strachan School 
Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School 

Enjoying the concert? Support community-oriented music education at the Faculty of Music by visiting the link included below to donate. Your gift helps create more opportunities for students and communities across Toronto. Thank you! If you have any questions, please contact donate.music@utoronto.ca

https://uoft.me/music-engagement-fund

Notice of photography and videography

Photography, audio and video recording may occur throughout this event. Therefore, by attending, you hereby authorize the University of Toronto to take your photograph, video and/or record your voice and grant the university all rights to these sounds, still or moving images in any medium for educational, promotional, marketing, advertising or other such purposes that support the mission of the university. If you do not consent to this, please speak with a university representative upon your arrival.