Sold-Out Forever Joyful Crowns 20 Years of Renewal Choir
St George’s Bristol was filled to capacity on Saturday night as Renewal Choir marked its 20th anniversary with Forever Joyful – a concert that sold out almost two months in advance and more than justified the rush for tickets.
The 70-voice community gospel choir delivered a programme packed with brilliant performances full of passion and excellence, drawing standing ovations and emotional responses from an audience that clearly sensed they were part of a historic and memorable moment in the city’s cultural life.
From roof-raising gospel anthems to tender, reflective moments, the evening captured the heart of what Renewal Choir has stood for over the past two decades: excellence in music, deep-rooted community and an atmosphere of joy that welcomes everyone.
While the guest artist shone, the beating heart of Forever Joyful remained with Renewal Choir itself. Carefully crafted arrangements, confident soloists from within the choir and tight ensemble work showcased the depth of home-grown talent that has developed in and around Bristol over the last two decades.
Carla Jane adds extra magic
Guest artist Carla Jane brought an added dimension of magic to the night. Her breathtaking solos – moving masterfully from intimate, soul-stirring moments to full-powered gospel declarations – drew some of the loudest applause of the evening and wove beautifully around the choir’s rich harmonies, especially in the last two numbers of the night, Hallelujah Chorus and Joy to the World.
“Carla lifted the whole event,” said Renewal Choir co-founder Vernon Samuels. “Her musicality and ability to connect with the room helped turn a great concert into something truly special.”
The performance will take place 16 years after Renewal Choir last presented Handel’s Messiah to a sold-out audience of just over 1,000 people at the city’s main concert hall, then known as Colston Hall. That groundbreaking event reimagined Handel’s classic through the lens of gospel music and Black musical expression, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who experienced it.
Now, in 2026, the choir is preparing to bring that vision back on an even bigger scale, once again anticipating a 1,000-strong, sold-out experience. Falling on Mother’s Day, the concert promises to be both a major musical landmark and a meaningful family occasion for the city.
Blending the timeless power of Handel’s score with driving rhythms, rich gospel harmonies and expressive solo features drawn from both within the choir and invited guest artists, the upcoming production promises an evening that will appeal equally to long-time Messiah devotees and first-time concertgoers.
“If Forever Joyful was our big birthday party, Handel’s Messiah – A Soulful Celebration is our gift back to Bristol,” said Choir Director Kim Samuels. “We’re excited to revisit this work 16 years on in a venue setting appropriate for the 21st century, with a bigger sound, deeper experience and the same heart to bring hope and joy through gospel music.”