BRIGHTON Goes Gospel is the best way to kick start the festive season.

The choir has performed both its summer and winter concerts at several venues over the years, but the concert A Christmas Wish truly found its home at the CityCoast Church in Portslade on Saturday.

The room reverberated with upbeat gospel songs and Christmas spirit as the performance and workshop choirs sang their hearts out, bringing the audience to their feet in some moments, while moving them to tears in others.

A particular highlight of the outstanding, open-to-everyone workshop choir was a solo from Tilly, a young woman whose talent was a privilege to witness.

After stunning the crowds with a rendition of Away In A Manger, her vocals over the top of the choir’s Jingle Bells brought a whole new perspective to the well-known song.

The performance choir – which singers must audition to join – particularly wowed when the tenor, soprano and alto sections split.

They succeeded to make Joy To The World sound like ringing church bells – simply incredible.

The concert’s star appearance from Wayne Hernandez – who performed at the Duke and duchess of Sussex’s wedding as part of the Kingdom Choir – was the ribbon wrapping up the Christmas gift.

His silky smooth and enchanting voice was weaved through the show, melting hearts as he went.

Timings were strict, but musical director Jason Thomas and the JT Band couldn’t help playfully ad libbing in the creative way which makes the Brighton Goes Gospel concerts so special.

And it also didn’t hold director Daniel Thomas back from breaking into his signature foot-stomping dancing, and throwing his uncontrollable energy into joining in the singing and tambourine shaking.

Like a child excited for Christmas, the 2020 BGG Christmas concert at the Brighton Dome to mark the group’s 20th anniversary is eagerly anticipated.

Kimberly Middleton