Guest Artist Bio
Northwest Community Gospel Chorus
The Northwest Community Gospel Choir – a gifted, multicultural group of all ages – includes singers and musicians from the Gospel Music Workshop of America, churches and various other music ministries in Portland and surrounding cities. It originally came together to perform at the Oregon Symphony’s first Gospel Christmas concert on Dec. 18, 1999, and has performed at Gospel Christmas every year since.
The choir gathers each fall, under the leadership of its music director, the Rev. Gary Hemenway, to prepare for its December concerts with the Oregon Symphony and conductor Charles Floyd. As they share their gifts each holiday season, chorus members remain dedicated to the perpetuation of gospel music and bringing energy and joy to every song. After 11 years, the chorus stands as a living example of how people of all races, religions and backgrounds can come together.
Northwest Community Gospel Choir Roster
Participating Houses of Worship & Other Organizations
Augustana Lutheran Church
Bethel AME Church
Beaverton Foursquare Church
Cathedral of Praise
Community AME Zion Church
Daniel Memorial Church of God in Christ
Emmanuel Temple Full Gospel Pentecostal Church of God in Christ
Emmaus Church
Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, San Diego, CA
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
First Congregational Church, Eugene
Highland Christian Center
Journey Christian Church, Walla Walla, WA
Life House
Maranatha Church of God
Meadow Springs Community Church
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church
Neighborhood Church of God
New Hope Community Church, Clackamas
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
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.