The Unity Choir will be tuning up their voices and resuming rehearsals for upcoming services and holiday performances.
If you’re a former choir member who’d like to return, or interested in making a joyful noise with us for the first time, please email your name, email address and phone number to MUSIC@UnityHouston.org.
Kenneth Gayle, Music Director
Tony Glover, Choir Director
Unity of Houston has an amazing team of musicians and singers who bring inspiring music to our weekly services. Our music at Unity is well known for its great variety of musical styles. The Unity Choir is a great place to get connected! Our choir performs 8 to 10 times per year in concerts, Sunday services, and other special events. Auditions are not necessary and the ability to read music is a plus but likewise, not required. Just bring your heart and soul, and be ready to sing the light of God! Prospective members can join the choir at any time, understanding that a minimum number of rehearsals is required before each performance.
For more information about the Unity Choir, contact music@unityhouston.org.
Unity of Houston Virtual Choir, December 2020
Unity of Houston Virtual Choir, July 4, 2021
Unity of Houston Band
Gary Norian, Piano
GARY NORIAN, originally from Chicago, is a 20 year native Texan. He performs around Houston, has a thriving teaching studio, and can be seen and heard at Unity each and every Sunday. Gary has performed with the Houston Symphony with guest artists Megan Hilty, Bernadette Peters, Tony Desare, Montego Glover, N’Kenge and Capathia Jenkins, under the direction of New York Pops conductor/musical director, Steven Reineke.
John Edward Ross, Guitar
JOHN EDWARD ROSS is a composer, producer, guitarist, and educator. He has scored films such as the documentary\xA0Space, Land, and Time: Underground Adventures with Ant Farm,\xA0composed and performed for modern dance companies Ashdanceworks and Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, created multimedia film/music duets with filmmaker Laura Harrison, and created commercial music. As a guitarist he has led modern and avant-garde jazz ensembles, and he has performed and recorded with numerous other groups. He recently finished building (from the ground up, with his own two hands) an 1300 square foot music studio-Studio Sassafras. Musicians and artists come to Studio Sassafras to record and to work with John Edward as a producer. He also teaches private music lessons and has developed a series of books and recordings for teaching guitar. He is the recipient of several artist grants and residencies in his home of Houston, TX.
Carlos Pineda, Bass
CARLOS PINEDA AVILA began his musical studies as a violinist and pianist in the Venezuelan youth and children’s orchestras system. He belonged to several symphony orchestras and later continued his training in popular folk music. He was musical director and instrumentalist of different bands with which he made national and international tours.
CARLOS PINEDA AVILA began his musical studies as a violinist and pianist in the Venezuelan youth and children’s orchestras system. He belonged to several symphony orchestras and later continued his training in popular folk music. He was musical director and instrumentalist of different bands with which he made national and international tours.
Vernon Daniels, Drums
VERNON J. DANIELS, born into a musical family, is one of Houston’s most sought after drummers. He pursued his education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he studied with Alvin Batiste, Dr. Isaac Greggs and Professor Don Dillion. While attending college, he was able to work with film director Spike Lee, actress Kim Fields, musicians Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie, to name a few. After spending 10 years working in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans area, he relocated to Houston and has played his drums extensively. Since he has been in Houston, Vernon has graced the stage with many national and international artist such as, Joe Sample, Kirk Whalum, Yolanda Adams, actors Don Rickles and Dan Aykroyd.
Unity of Houston Feature Vocalists
Kenneth Gayle
Tenor Kenneth Gayle’s national credits include performances with:\xA0Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ravinia Music Festival, Grant Park Music Festival, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, Opera Omaha, Omaha Symphony, Opera Idaho, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival.
A Seattle native and Houston resident since 2004, local performance credits include appearances with the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Mukuru: Arts for AIDS Series, Three Mo’ Tenors and the Southwestern premier of the chamber opera\xA0“Fragments from Augustine the Saint”\xA0at Rothko Chapel.\xA0Recent appearances as a featured soloist include the New York City premier performance of John Cornelius’ PAX at Carnegie Hall with Apollo Chamber Players, and Mass in B Minor by J.S. Bach with Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival.\xA0\xA0
Local producing/performance credits also include performances benefitting: The Houston Women’s Home, AIDS Foundation Houston, Legacy Community Services, The Montrose Counseling Center, The Parish School, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, and many others.\xA0Mr. Gayle currently serves as Director of Music and Fine Arts at Unity of Houston.
Tony Glover
TONY GLOVER, a native Houstonian, sang his first solo in church at age five. His education and performing opportunities have taken him to concerts halls all over the world – China, Egypt, London, Norway, New York, Los Angeles and more – but his roots remain in the church. When he’s not raising the roof at Unity of Houston with his soulful, heart-felt singing, he’s likely at his home church, Brentwood Baptist Church. A graduate of Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Tony now brings his expertise as a singer, actor, dancer, choreographer, and writer back to his alma mater as a consultant and stage director. Locally, he has performed with Houston Grand Opera, Texas Opera Theatre, The Alley Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, The Great Caruso Dinner Theatre, Main Street Theatre and the The Ensemble Theatre to name a few. Tony has the honor of having performed for six of the last seven sitting Presidents of the United States in addition to several of Houston’s dignitaries – including his favorite hometown teams, the Astros, the Comets, and the Rockets.
SheVon Jacob-Laidlow
SHEVON JACOB-LAIDLOW, a native Houstonian, has traveled the world with her outstanding singing and charismatic performing – Germany, Australia, Europe, South America, New York Florida, and of course Texas. Whether she’s entertaining for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, performing before for the United Nations, or singing here in her home church of Unity of Houston, SheVon’s powerful vocals reach the core of her listeners with a passion for the moment that leaves a lasting impression. SheVon’s theatre credits include Florida Repertory Theatre, Carousel Dinner Theatre, and numerous Cabaret and Showcases in New York City. Revered for her versatility, SheVon moves effortlessly between Funk, Rock & Soul, Pop, and Rhythm and Blues, and always brings an electrifying spark to the many bands, recordings, and concert appearances where she has collaborated.
Julia Laskowski
JULIA LASKOWSKI has performed in Houston at Mainstreet Theatre, TUTS, HGO, The Alley, Stages, Texas Repertory,\xA0Opera in the Heights, The Grand Opera House in Galveston, The Stafford Center, Ovations Night Club, and TheaterLab. She has done concert tours in Voghera, Montescano, Pinzolo, Fanano,\xA0Milano and Gubbio Italy. Her\xA0early performances were in the opera repertoire and later she became known for roles in musical theatre and her variety concerts. She has been a soloist at Unity of Houston since 1995. She will play the role of Effy in the Spitfire Grill at the new AD PLAYERS Theater in April & May 2020.