CONCERT PROGRAM

For those joining from home via livestream:

MUSIC DIRECTOR’S WELCOME (coming soon)

From Jonathan Singleton, Music Director

PERFORMER BIOS

Musical Director: Jonathan Singleton

Jonathan Singleton is a passionate leader and compelling communicator of Gospel music in Boston. He directs the Mystic Chorale Gospel concerts with grace and a deep appreciation of the history and meaning of the repertoire.

Born in Philadelphia, Penn., Jonathan began his musical career at the age of six when a student teacher offered him clarinet lessons which sparked his lifelong passion for music. At 10, he began teaching himself piano while continuing formal clarinet studies, and played both instruments through high school and college. Big changes were in store when he came to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music where the piano became his principal instrument. His involvement in choral music began by singing with and briefly directing the Kuumba Singers of Harvard. He went on to direct several other church and university choirs.

Jonathan is currently an assistant professor at Berklee, teaching in the Ensemble and Piano departments and directing the Berklee Summer Gospel Week. He serves as musical director for saxophonist Andre Ward, and is the minister of music at the historic Twelfth Baptist Church of Roxbury. He is the piano/keyboard player for the gospel/roots band, Meeting Across the Water, and the dance band Downtime.

Featured Guest Artist: Renese King

Since her “debut” solo performance of the Lord’s Prayer at the age of two, accompanied by the percussive clanking and hissing of ancient heating ducts in a basement church school room, Renese King’s array of musical talents has taken her from spiritual and gospel singing at the church podium to timpani playing on the Carnegie Hall stage. Her soulful and moving voice has garnered her numerous featured and guest solo appearances with the Boston Pops, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Boston Pops gospel chorus, and many other ensembles across the nation.

Most recently gracing the soundtrack of Harriet Tubman, Visions of Freedom, now streaming on PBS, her voice is a feature on the soundtracks of three Emmy, Peabody, and Sundance award- winning PBS documentary films: Freedom Riders (2011), Freedom Summer (2014), and Tell Them We Are Rising (2018). Singing “Hallelujah I’m A Travelin’,” she leads a chorus of freedom riders in spontaneous expression of solidarity in the Oprah Winfrey television special “The Freedom Riders Reunite 50 years Later.”

A “Gospel/Inspirational Artist of the Year” Boston Music Award recipient, she is a pianist at the Waymark SDA Church in Dorchester, music director of the New England Gospel Ensemble, a Berklee College of Music alumna and remains committed to sharing the unifying and uplifting message at the heart of gospel music.

Gordon O’Connell, guitar

Gordon O’Connell is a versatile composer, guitarist, arranger, and recording artist. His latest album, Today is the Tomorrow, features original arrangements for both classical and electric guitar that highlights Gordon’s versatility across genres, blending jazz, R&B, and cinematic influences. His debut album, A Collection of Lives, showcased his original compositions and instrumental prowess.

Gordon performs nationwide with renowned smooth jazz artist Andre Ward and has held long-standing solo guitar engagements at prestigious venues such as the Revere Boston Common Hotel and the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel. Since 2006, he has been a featured instrumental soloist and accompanist with the 250-voice Mystic Chorale in their annual Mystic Gospel Concert, directed by Jonathan Singleton.

Gordon’s formal education includes classical guitar studies with Robert Paul Sullivan at the New England Conservatory and composition at Berklee College of Music, where he was awarded the Laurindo Almeida Award for Excellence in Performance. He also studied jazz improvisation under the legendary pianist Charlie Banacos. In recent years, Gordon has performed internationally, including solo guitar concerts in Tel Aviv, Israel, and collaborations with prominent Israeli saxophonist Shlomi Goldberg. Learn more about Gordon here.

Austin Marks, keyboard

Austin Marks is a devoted man of faith, a father of three, and a highly accomplished musician, educator and composer. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. Currently, Austin serves as the director of worship and arts at Grace Church of All Nations in Boston, as a high school music teacher in Hyde Park, and as the music director for East Coast Soul, the premier function band in the Northeast. In addition, he composes music for TV and film sync placements.

Austin’s musical journey began early. At the age of seven, his gift was recognized by his godmother, Elsie G. Howard, after she heard him playing the piano after a church service at Phillipian Baptist Church, where she served as director of music. Moved by the Lord and full of prayer, she mentored Austin for many years, providing him with free lessons until he reached his teenage years.

In the past decade, Austin has traveled the world, using his musical talents to bridge cultural gaps and inspire communities. From South Africa to Colombia, Cuba to Eastern Europe and Japan, he has worked and performed with numerous choirs and artists, sharing his gifts with audiences worldwide. Follow Austin on Instagram.

Robert Elder, electric bass

After serving six years in the United States Army as a combat medic, serving in Iraq, Jordan and Syria under OEF/OIF, Bobby Elder decided to pick up music as his next path. Starting off singing, songwriting and playing guitar while studying music at a community college in Nashville, he slowly started to fall in love with the role of the bass guitar. After applying to Berklee College of Music and receiving a scholarship to study electric bass performance, his love for music and understand has grown immensely. His favorite genres to play are soul, gospel, funk, jazz and hip hop.

Bobby is now finishing his senior year and about to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Performance with a minor in Theory of Jazz and popular song and a minor in Effortless Mastery. Bobby plays for his church KEC, located in Cambridge, and with other Berklee student groups. He is looking forward to pursuing a career in music and further refining his musicianship. Follow Bobby on Instagram.

Zamar Odongo, drums

Zamar Odongo is a singer & instrumentalist born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. His passion for music started at a young age and was nurtured in church by his parents, brothers and peers. After pursuing music education in Boston, his passion for collaboration deepened.

Sharing stories about the human condition, faith, community, and the love of God, he views music as a tool to bring joy and hope to all who listen. Follow Zamar on Instragram.

Sean Kim, keyboard

Sean Kim is a keyboardist, artist, music producer, and arranger. She is from Seoul, South Korea, and is currently studying at the Berklee College of Music, majoring in Electronic Production and Design. With a deep passion for music, she explores various genres and performs regularly at different shows and gigs. As an artist and music producer, she brings a unique blend of creativity and technical skill to every project she works on.

She began her artist journey with the release of her single album, Too Late, showcasing a unique sound with distinctive drum beats, grooves, and instrumentals that set her music apart. Learn more about  Sean’s music and updates here. You can find her music and updates here or follow Sean on Instagram.

 

Mystic Chorale
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