Six of the driving forces behind New England’s highly acclaimed Rock My Soul Gospel Choir, will perform a concert on Saturday, December 11 at Greenland Community Church, 2 Post Road, Greenland NH. The concert begins at 7 pm; doors open at 6:30 pm. Refreshments will be served during intermission, and CDs and merchandise will be available for sale. (Continued below)

The Rock My Soul Sextet is known for its unique, roots-based sound of rich vocal blends and soul-stirring harmonies, influenced heavily by the “golden age” of gospel. Members of the group have also recently been featured on WMUR-TV’s NH Chronicle and in a recent PBS documentary entitled Freedom Songs: Music of the Civil Rights Movement. The music for this concert will feature a special repertoire of “gospelized” Christmas carols and spirituals, as well as R&B- and doo wop-flavored popular holiday favorites.  

Songs will range from spirited versions of familiar tunes lik,e “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” to the less familiar, but no less inspiring, “No Room at the Inn” and “Christmas Everyday.” In contrast to the high-energy gospel sound will be introspective carols such as a Temptations arrangement of  “Silent Night” and a Drifters-inspired version of “White Christmas.”  

The Rock My Soul Sextet has garnered an ever-growing following and performs throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. 

“I think that the sense of connection and commitment this group has to the music is what makes it so exceptional,” says Dawn Boyer, founder and leader.  

“Knowing that we’re performing this terrific, upbeat music for a purpose — to help audiences feel connected to something positive and joyful, to teach them a bit about the origins and meaning behind gospel music, and to celebrate the strength of the human spirit — gives us all a sense that we’re helping to make things better, one song at a time.  In New England, not many people have a chance to hear ‘old school,’ jubilee-style gospel in four-part harmony. We want to change that, because its appeal is universal, whether you go to church or not.”

Members of the Sextet include Dawn Boyer, Brett Hartenbach, Jody Dugrenier, Terry Olson, Mark Weaver, and Tina Weinberger. The group will be accompanied by Hartenbach on acoustic guitar and Mike Effenberger on keyboards.  

Due to the group’s popularity, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Advance tickets for the concert are $10. All tickets at the door are $12. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Advance tickets may be purchased online, at Bull Moose Music in Portsmouth or by calling 207-450-8016. 

The Rock My Soul Sextet is part of The Roots & Gospel Project (formerly the Gospel Music Project), a nonprofit, arts and cultural organization dedicated to performing free outreach concerts at hospices, homeless shelters, nursing homes, rehab programs, and other facilities that support those in need. By performing the songs and educating audiences about the history behind them, the RGP hopes to lift hearts, open minds, and bring people closer together to understand the meaning of peace, equality, respect, unity, and justice.