WEST SPRINGFIELD — The joyful sounds of “A Gospel Christmas” will ring out at the Majestic Theater on Tuesday, Dec. 16, with Grammy-nominated recording artist Michelle Brooks-Thompson reminding guests of the “reason for the season.”
Showtime at the West Springfield theater is 7 p.m.
“Sue (Dziura, Majestic’s associate producing director) reached out to me and asked if a gospel Christmas show would be something I would be interested in doing,” Brooks-Thompson, who is a gospel singer and worship leader at Red Oak Church in West Springfield, said.
“It is that time of year when people are caroling and there are many Christmas concerts and good music around and I said ‘yes’ that I would love to do it,” she added.
The gospel singer is no stranger to the Majestic Theater stage, where she has been a part of their summer concert series, performing Whitney Houston and Celine Dion tribute shows.
Some of the songs people can expect at the concert include “Jesus O What a Wonderful Child,” “Go Tell It on The Mountain,” “Who Would Imagine a King” from the movie “The Preacher’s Wife,” “Now Behold the Lamb,” as well as a gospel version of the late Donny Hathaway song, “This Christmas.”
“And it wouldn’t be a Christmas concert without singing ‘Mary, Did You Know,’ and traditional carols like ‘Silent Night,’ ‘Silver Bells,’ ‘Oh, Holy Night,’ and all those good ones that people love to sing at this time of the year,” said Brooks-Thompson about just a few of the songs that will be packed into a two-hour concert that also features her band and six background singers.
Christmas carols are meant to share the gospel and proclaim the birth of Jesus, Brooks-Thompson said.
“As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I believe that Christmas is a time of year we set aside to acknowledge the birth of Jesus Christ. And with that as the main focus, I love singing carols and gospel music and bringing the story of his birth and its meaning to life. We can sing carols of Christ’s birth, but there is so much more to his birth that is now incorporated into the gospel songs we sing,” she said.
“And for those who are not believers, and who want to know who Jesus is, music is such a great way to reach people, especially gospel music… anything that is uplifting and inspiring that penetrate the heart and soul, gospel music does that without a doubt. So being able to pause during this time when everyone is shopping and planning to get together with family, it allows me as an artist, worship leader, and believer to have everyone pause for a moment and refocus on what is the meaning of Christmas – to acknowledge and recognizing the birth of Jesus Christ,” she added.
Brooks-Thompson is an independent recording artist who gained widespread recognition as a finalist on Season 3 of NBC’s “The Voice.” In 2017, she earned the title of Grand Champion at the renowned amateur night competition at the Apollo in New York, winning $20,000, in addition to clinching victories in over 21 vocal competitions.
She has performed at various concert venues, sporting events, private gatherings, and notable national television programs. She has shared the stage with both Grammy and Stellar Award-winning artists from the gospel and secular music scenes. Her powerful voice and commanding stage presence have enchanted audiences, particularly through her heartfelt renditions of the National Anthem and “God Bless America,” which she has performed at many major sporting events across the NBA, NFL, and NHL.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Brooks-Thompson is an active member of the Grammy Recording Academy, the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy, and the Gospel Music Association. She is a devoted wife and mother of three who live in Springfield and is the founder and director of the nonprofit Heart of the Earth.
Tickets for “A Gospel Christmas” are priced at $30 and $28 and are available online at majestictheater.com.
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