The Kingdom Choir comes to Toronto

 Stand By Me! On Sunday it was Sing By ME

By Stephen Weir

The festive season came alive in North Toronto as the Kingdom Choir delivered a stirring performance at the George Weston Recital Hall, located within the Meridian Arts Centre on Yonge Street. On the late afternoon of December 1st, the nearly sold-out audience was treated to a captivating showcase of Christmas carols and gospel music, all performed with the choir's signature warmth and powerful harmonies. For many in attendance, this concert marked a cherished seasonal tradition, as the acclaimed ensemble brought the spirit of the holidays to life through music.

Led by Karen Gibson, affectionately known as the "godmother of British gospel," the 15-member group, accompanied by two musicians, returned to Canada with joyous energy. Like Santa spreading cheer, the Kingdom Choir enchanted the audience with a blend of traditional carols, uplifting gospel melodies, and their iconic rendition of Stand By Me, which became a global sensation following their performance at the wedding of ç. It was an evening filled with celebration, unity, and the magic of song.

The show began with the choir stepping onto the stage, dressed elegantly in flowing red dresses and fitted men’s suits. Without a word, they launched into their performance, singing and dancing with infectious joy. Opening numbers included O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Joy to the World, and Brand New Day.

After a vibrant opening set, the choir paused. “It’s your turn now,” they announced, smiling warmly at the audience. Encouraging participation, Karen Gibson humorously prodded the Canadian crowd, playfully accusing them of being "reserved" and "shy." “Come on, bring the roof down!” she urged.

And we tried! The George Weston Recital Hall is still standing, but it’s safe to say we gave it our best effort.

The UK-based Kingdom Choir has been singing about the Lord and Jesus for over 30 years. As their current North American tour demonstrates, global demand for Gibson’s music continues to grow.

Before the concert, Gibson shared with The Caribbean Camera that the choir, composed of teachers, assistant teachers, and church singers, often performed for small audiences in their early years. That changed in May 2018 when they sang Ben E. King’s Stand By Me at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. The performance was watched by nearly two billion people worldwide and has since garnered over 18 million views on YouTube.

In Toronto, their rendition of Stand By Me was a highlight of the evening. But what truly energized the crowd was Gibson’s mention of her family’s roots in Antigua and Montserrat, along with the Caribbean heritage of many choir members, whose families hail from Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, and Africa. The audience erupted with cheers, waving flags, scarves, and toques, transforming the recital hall into a jubilant celebration.

Looking at the printed program, it became evident that the choir decided to skip the planned intermission to keep the energy alive. With audience participation in full swing, the non-stop set included a soulful rendition of Silent Night and an uplifting performance of Not Giving Up.

Before the evening concluded, the choir invited everyone to stand and wave their lit cell phones for a memorable group selfie on stage. Their final song, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, left the audience filled with holiday cheer.

My story appeared in the Caribbean Camera Dec 2024

After four Canadian performances, the Kingdom Choir now heads to the U.S. and the U.K. to continue their 30th-anniversary tour.