The Tutors

Brighton Goes Gospel is very privileged to have two of the most experienced Gospel tutors and performers in the country.

Karen Gibson

One of the country's most noted and experienced gospel tutors, Karen Gibson has been involved with vocal groups, soloists and choirs for over 20 years.

Karen facilitates choirs and conducts gospel workshops all around England as well as abroad in countries such as Italy, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, France, Poland, Nigeria and Seattle, USA. Workshop delegates have numbered anywhere between 20 and 1000.

Amongst other projects, Karen runs two gospel choirs, the award-winning Kingdom Choir (www.kingdomchoir.co.uk) and youth choir, UPC. The Kingdom Choir has been one of the most sought after choirs for radio and television work including the BBC's 'Songs of Praise' and has performed with and for many celebrities and dignitaries including Elton John, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Bill Clinton. They have travelled to Ireland, Hungary, Israel, Switzerland, Italy, Poland and Sweden. Their debut album, 'Smile, it's a Brand New Day' is available from Europe's largest gospel record label, Integrity Music Europe.

2007 saw the launch of Karen's own one-day gospel workshops, 'The Joys Of The Noise', held at the National Opera Studios,London. For more,visit: www.gospelmatters.com or email enquiries@gospelmatters.com.

Highlights of Karen's career include directing a 3000-voice choir at the Royal Albert Hall and conducting the Kingdom Choir at Buckingham Palace during the procession at the Queen's Jubilee. She also takes great pride in her work with young people.This year sees the launch of Karen's own gospel music workshops, 'The Joys of Noise', to be held at the National Opera House, London. For more information email enquiries@gospelmatters.com

Jason Thompson

A gifted pianist who has been playing for 26 years.

His other talents include composing, arranging, choir directing, piano tutoring, vocal tutoring, session singing and workshop leading. He currently teaches in two schools as well as running his own music school called the 'Jazz That' Music School. The school will be available for online lessons from August 2007.
Jason has been teaching the piano for over 16 years. He has 100% pass rate for students entered under the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Due to his 100% pass rate in over 16 years, statistically he is in the top 5 teachers of piano in the United Kingdom. This is according to figures from the ABRSM.

Jason's 'Jazz That' Music School will be available for online lessons from Spring 2008.

His international performances have taken him to places afar a field as France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Spain, Prague, Italy, Poland, Norway, Ukraine, Hungary, Japan, America, St Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica and Ghana.

He was the Musical Director for the national tour of the theatre show 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar And Grill' A show about the life of Billie Holiday. Jason was also the Musical Director for the theatre show Simply Heavenly, which showed at Trafalgar Studios in London's West End.

Jason has been the Musical Director and accompanist for top UK Gospel artistes such as, Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir, Bazil Meade and the London Community Gospel Choir, Sianni, Noel Robinson and Nu Image, Mark Beswick and Power Praise and the GMTV award-winners Blessed Voices and Raymond and Co. He has also accompanied or performed with Liberty X, Corrine Bailey-Rae, Nate James, Shaun Escoffery, Don E, Kelly Le Roc, Carol Thompson, Janet Kay, Caron Wheeler, Rhianne Benson, Patti Boulaye, Sir Cliff Richard, Incognito, Womack and Womack, Ashford and Simpson, Isley Brothers, Gwen Dickey of Rose Royce and is currently the Musical Director for Ruby Turner.