* New
Zealand of all places! What’s the Southern Gospel scene like in New Zealand?
There is
absolutely no Southern Gospel music in New Zealand that I know of. So to
pursue a career, I will need to move to the States.
* So
how did you get to know the music?
I am
quite new to the Southern Gospel music scene. I was singing with a group in
Chicago, and, prior to returning home to NZ one of the group gave me a
cassette of Christmas songs. I didn’t listen until the next Christmas, and
was totally blown away by the quality of singing and the sound - especially
the bass. It was The Cathedrals – their a cappella Christmas album.
Since that time I have got more acquainted with the genre, especially now
that we have the Gaither Homecoming series on local TV.
*
What’s your own singing background?
I am a
music teacher and performer and I come from a very musical family. My father
had a beautiful operatic tenor voice, and my mother was a piano teacher and
his accompanist. All my relatives were into music - one an opera singer,
another a concert pianist, another a dance band leader. I got my training in
Chicago, and started teaching music after receiving a Bachelor of Music
Education degree in 1983. During that time I was introduced to four-part
close-harmony singing in the barbershop style.
* What
about your walk with the Lord?
I married
a girl I met at university and started a family. My wife was Catholic and I
was Anglican, but both lapsed during our college years. We eventually came
to live in my hometown of Hastings, here in New Zealand. I got a job as Head
of Music at a local high school, and Karoline taught music as an itinerant
instrumental tutor. It was during this time we found the Lord and began
worshipping regularly. I began directing a barbershop chorus and singing
locally in a quartet. We also both got involved in the local theatre scene
and between us have become musical directors for many productions.
* So
what are your current plans?
Having
taught now for 20 years, and being blessed with a wonderful singing voice I
felt it was time to utilize it for the glory of our Lord. I have been
feeling, for quite a while, that this voice was given to me for a reason and
singing every now and then at church was not utilizing it to full potential.
After much prayer I decided to look towards singing in a Gospel group in the
US – what I would consider my ideal job. I talked it over with Karoline and
our three children, and with their blessing started making enquiries.
*
How’s it going?
I started
by looking up Southern Gospel sites on the internet, and that is how I found
you. I also listed myself in Singing News as looking for a full-time
quartet to sing with. To date I have had several replies and I am
corresponding with two different groups. Obviously, the distance makes it
more difficult, but I know the Lord will guide me down the path He has set,
or else close the doors. I am making an audition CD in the next couple of
weeks and will use that to keep in touch with groups in the States.
* It
all sounds exciting. I hope and pray that it works out really well.
NB:
You can contact Dean at
robertsdk@paradise.net.nz
January
22nd, 2004
