Be The Light – Concert with Lea Morris

Lea Morris, an award-winning American singer-songwriter and choral composer, is coming to Victoria on Easter weekend as part of her interactive “Be The Light” tour, visiting all the way from Germany.

The Victoria concert will take place from 7 – 9 pm on April 1 at the Church of Truth in James Bay, featuring Lea’s powerful vocals and dynamic guitar work, seamlessly blending gospel, jazz, country and R&B in her unique versions of original, contemporary, and traditional songs. With her insightful lyrics, warm vocals, and dynamic guitar work, Lea is often compared to Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell. However, withLea’s multi-layered, uplifting songs incorporating vocal percussion and looped harmonies, she has a style all her own.

Nanaimo songleader Sylvia Humble, along with her co-sponsors, Victoria’s Gettin’ Higher Choir and Wavelengths Community Choir, are pleased to present Lea Morris to the Victoria singing community. A highlight of the April 1 evening concert is the performance of two of Lea’s songs by workshop participants. Preceding the concert are two fun and accessible vocal workshops, where all voices, regardless of singing experience, are invited to experience Lea’s harmonic and polyrhythmic, multilayered songs in celebration of the beautiful contrast of dark and light. Songs are taught by ear and heart. The first workshop is on Sunday March 31 from 1-3 pm at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, and the second is on April 1 from 3 – 5pm at the Church of Truth.

Lea is one of eight composers of the African diaspora chosen to write songs for the “Black Lives Matter Commissioning Project” in collaboration with the Natural Voice Network based in the U.K., to recognize the contribution of black composers to the world of community singing.

Lea’s song, “Be The Light”, inspired by Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb”, is one of many of Lea’s songs that are loved and shared by choirs around the world.

Join us, and be inspired to “Be The Light”! Walk-ins are welcome while capacity allows.

Born in Washington DC to a father who toured the world playing trumpet in a funk band and a mother who dreamed of opera, Lea began to sing in the Baptist church as soon as she could speak. In high school, she started teaching herself to play acoustic guitar by writing songs. Then, during an exchange year in Germany, she dabbled in classical, jazz and pop. Lea has been nominated for and won several awards, including, Best Vocalist, Best Recording, and Songwriter of the Year. Having shared the stage with luminaries including Odetta and Mavis Staples, Lea is also returning to her roots by composing multi-layered chants and grounding a community singing experience in Braunschweig, Germany, where she currently resides.

Sylvia Humble quit her government job to return to her passion for singing after 20 years silent. In 2021, she founded Sing Again community choir in the Oceanside area, now growing to include groups in Parksville, Nanoose, and Nanaimo. She is often found leading singalongs in public places, and inviting folks to join in. She recently graduated from the Community Choir Leadership Training in Victoria (with Denis Donnelly, director of Wavelengths Community Choir, and Cathy Baker and Dick Jackson directors of the Gettin Higher Choir), and is a proud member of the Ubuntu Choir Network. They share the core belief, as does Lea Morris, that singing is a human birthright.

URLs:
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2322537-0?pid=10320
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2322537-1?pid=10320
YouTube: https://go.evvnt.com/2322537-4?pid=10320

Category: Live Music | Concert

Artists: Lea Morris, Sylvia Humble