UVOP ‘Praises in the Evening’ for Caribbean-American Heritage

The United Voices of Praise (UVOP) at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church in Brooklyn on Saturday lifted up their voices mightily in giving “Praises in the Evening” as part of Caribbean-American Heritage Month celebrations.

The choir, which was founded in May 2004, also held its first concert to raise much-needed funds for the century-odd old church at the corner of Rogers Avenue and Fenimore Street.

Trinidadian Nadia Douglas plays “How Great Thou Art” and “Jehovah You” on steel pan.Photo by Nelson A. King

The two-hour-long concert primarily featured high-octane songs by UVOP, renditions by guest artistes Abena Amory and Brenda Browne, and steel pan music by Trinidadian Nadia Douglas.

The praises were backed-up by Jerome Roberts and Baba Dow Eaton on drums, Joseph Roberts on keyboard and Kelvin Burke on guitar.

Baba Dow Eaton on drums, with guitarist Kelvin Burke in background. Photo by Nelson A. King

UVOP started with “Pressing On” and ended with a medley that included “Jesus is the Rock,” “A Miracle-working God,” “Praise the Lord,” and “I Command My Hands.”

They were interspersed with, among others, “How Excellent,” “We Come to Praise Thy Name,” “There is Power,” “Your Name,” “I Love You, Lord,” “You are God,” “I Lift My Hand in Praise,” and “Let the Name be Praised.”

Abena Amory sings ”Coming Up the Rough Side.” Photo by Nelson A. King

Amory, the daughter of celebrated Vincentian soprano Erlene Williams-King, echoed “Holy is Thy Name” and “Coming Up the Rough Side,” Browne offered “I Love You, Lord,” UVOP members Irlene Jones-Braithwaite noted “There is Power,” and Stella Pringle (secretary) and Shadae Gooding sang “When I think About The Nation,” and four UVOP young adults rendered the African version of “I Lift My Hand in Praise.”

Mistress of Ceremonies Min. Deborah Hull, UVOP’s Vincentian-born chaplain, hoped that the celebration was “a blessing” to patrons.

“We worked really hard for us to get this stage,” she told the ceremony. “God is really doing a great thing in this place.”

UVOP young adults offer the African version of “I Lift My Hand in Praise.” Photo by Nelson A. King 

Sophia Eversley, UVOP’s Barbadian-born director and president, said the group has been singing praises to “our risen Lord each fourth Sunday at the Fenimore Street United Methodist Church” since the group’s formation.”

“We were privileged to be under the esteemed direction of Bro. Russell Cohen, who had high hopes for the choir until his deceased in 2017,” she told Caribbean Life. “One of his wishes was for me to keep the choir going for as long as I could. In 2022, I decided to honor Bro. Russell’s dream of having a choir concert and ‘Praises in the Evening’ was formed.

“As this was our first concert, I felt proud of achieving my goal and, as the choir president, I was also beaming with delight with their performance, as the selection of songs we chose showed how our journey began and where we are today,” added Eversley, who was presented with a bouquet of flowers by members at show’s end. “The celebration of our journey was not only to raise funds for the church but to also celebrate the key period in Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

“The United Voices of Praise choir thanks the Fenimore Street United Methodist Church for their continued prayers, support and encouragement throughout these 19 years,” she continued.