Guest Artist Bio
Northwest Community Gospel Chorus
The Northwest Community Gospel Chorus celebrates its 10th anniversary this season. The chorus was formed in 1999 and is a rainbow coalition of gifted singers of all ages, drawn from the Gospel Music Workshop of America (Portland/Vancouver Chapter), churches, schools, professional music organizations and ministries in the area.
New members are added each year, leaving and returning as their schedules permit. With several members returning from afar for the 10th anniversary celebration, the chorus consists of more than 100 members this year.
Gospel music continues to be the “good news”, a heritage art form performed with fervent enthusiasm, vigor and spiritual inspiration. With the devotion of its singers and loyal supporters from the community, Gospel Christmas has become an annual holiday favorite at the Schnitz
Northwest Community Gospel Chorus Participating Churches
Allen Temple CME Church
Augustana Lutheran
Beaverton Foursquare Church
Bethel AME Church
Cathedral of Praise
Chosen Generation
City Bible Church
Community AME Zion Church, Vancouver, WA
Daniels Memorial Church of God in Christ
Emmanuel Church of God in Christ
Emanuel Temple Full Gospel Pentecostal
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
First Congregational Church, Eugene
Friendship Christian Fellowship
Highland United Christian Church
Horizon Community Church, Tualatin
Irvington Covenant Church
Journey Church, Walla Walla, WA
Maranatha Church of God
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church
Neighborhood Church of God
New Hope Community Church
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Houston, TX
New Paradise Worship Center, Gresham
New Song Community Church
NE Community Fellowship Foursquare
Portland/Vancouver Chapter, GMWA
Powerhouse Church of God in Christ
Prince of Life Lutheran Church, Oregon City
Red Sea Community Church
Rehoboth World Healing Center
Remember The Hope Christian Fellowship
Riverside Church
St. Andrew Catholic Church
St. Cecilia Catholic Church
St. Paul Baptist Church
Sharon Seventh Day Adventist
Solid Rock COGIC
South Lake Foursquare Church, West Linn
Southridge Foursquare Fellowship, Oregon City
Temple Beth Israel
The International Fellowship Family
Trinity Full Gospel Pentecostal
True Life Fellowship
Turning Point Christian Center
Vancouver Avenue First Baptist
Gary L. Hemenway
Gary Hemenway is the Senior Leader of Journey Church in Walla Walla, Wash. Prior to moving to Walla Walla, in 2004, he was the Worship Pastor at New Song Community Church in Portland and has led worship throughout the U.S. and overseas in a wide variety of settings and denominations for the better part of 25 years.
Raised in the small Eastern Oregon town of Pilot Rock, Hemenway found an early interest (largely due to his parents influence and AM radio) in a wide variety of musical styles. As a pre-teen he was captured by the sounds of Andre’ Crouch and the Disciples, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Chicago, and The Temptations. This led to an increased interest in Jazz, R&B, Soul, and Gospel. Ultimately, he decided to pursue this attraction by studying commercial music at Warner Pacific College in Portland.
Hemenway’s professional credits include: soundtrack, production, direction, composing/arranging and live performance work for Nike, Avia, Weiden & Kennedy, Newton & Bard Studios, Will Vinton Studios, Scream Music, Kung Fu Bakery Studios, Portland Rose Festival, Oregon Symphony (David Byrne & Gospel Christmas), Dr. Charles Floyd, The Home Shopping Network, Northstar Studios, Baskerville Recording, Novum Chamber Singers, Billy Graham Crusades, George Fox University, Vineyard Music Group, Tower of Power horns, Graham Lear, Mark Schulman, Gary Hobbs, Michael Lewis, Christ Kent, The Heritage Singers, and many others.
His work has appeared throughout the world in Nike & Avia videos and at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Hemenway has written and arranged numerous vocal and instrumental pieces and has three recordings of his original compositions and arrangements. Because of his musical diversity and abilities he regularly enjoys working with schools, colleges and churches as a guest musician, clinician and director.
Hemenway and his wife Lauren live in Walla Walla with their three daughters Sarah, Olivia, and Amelia.