PATTI BOULAYE'S CROWNING GLORY

Patti Boulaye led a mass Gospel Choir of 5,000 down Pal Mall for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Parade on 4th June 2002.

Patti Boulaye led a mass Gospel Choir of 5,000 down Pall Mall for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Parade on 4th June.

Patti originally set out to assemble 3,000 members of the choir, who performed at the spectacular "Reaching out for Africa" concert but compieted the mammoth task of finding another 2,000 voices.

Following her success at the Royal Albert Hall, Patti was asked by Sir Michael Parker KCVO CBE to be on Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee Weekend Committee and to organise a record-breaking 5000-strong gospel choir, which has now become the official Golden Jubilee Gospel Choir. This was the first time that 5,000 Gospel voices were gathered from the nation for any one event, let alone a Royal performance.

Patti and her choir put on a truly amazing display as they joined thousands of other performers in front of the crowds, world's press and media and the millions of people who tuned in to their televisions to watch the climax to the Jubilee Weekend Celebrations.

Thousands of spectators sang along to Patti's Jubilee song, "Celebrate Good News" which she had specially written as a tribute to Her Majesty the Queen to mark the special occasion. 3,500 members of churches and groups from around London and the Southeast including the Metropolitan Police Gospel Choir and Patti's own Sun Dance singersldancers marked history in this once in a lifetime experience.

1,500 young people from Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools, which operates the largest network of part-time performing arts schools in the UK were amongst the choir.

Patti comments: "The choir is a great example of unity and diversity working side by side. Young people from the ages of 15, to men and women in their seventies were all singing dancing and sharing in the Jubilee celebrations. "It really was an honour for me to organise a 5,000-strong Gospel choir heralding 50 years in Her Majesty's reign. I was delighted to be working with Sir Michael again as well as all the members of the choir."

The whole Golden jubilee Gospel choir met for the very first time at St James Square on 4th June. Patti taught members of the 5000 strong Gospel choir some basic choreographed movements including dance, flag, ribbon waving and singing.

Patti led the choir down the Mall singing and dancing to Gospel music and "Celebrate Good News," a Soweto style song written by Patti to mark the special occasion.

More info and pictures on the SFA site

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