The St. Therese’s senior choir, the largest Gambian choir, is to launch a fund-raising exercise to replace their lost solo guitar, which was stolen from their store, this reporter was informed by the choir’s leadership.

The St. Therese’s senior choir of Kanifing, totaling 90 choristers, became handicapped following the theft of their only electric solo guitar by yet unknown person(s).

According to Mr. Anthony J. Mendy, the president of the Choir, the senior choir is the best because they have composed several local songs in vernacular, which other choirs have borrowed and made their own. He said they have performed several high profile concerts and drama at the Jaama Hall, adding that apart from this, they staged concerts and musical bonanzas with many other prominent choirs of Senegal. “Our music often thrills the congregation at the St. Therese church,” he said.

Mr. Mendy revealed that the senior choir’s choirmasters, Sang Gaye, Alphonse Joh, Lolie Biagui and Alfred Jarju, together with their numerous choristers, have attracted a lot praise and admiration for their work lately. He however lamented: “We have been handicapped by thieves who stole our only electric guitar. Since then we have no replacement. We have therefore arranged to hold a musical concert the proceeds of which we would use to buy our guitars, amplifiers and some other instruments.”

The concert, he said, would come up on 26th October 2007 at Jaama Hall, Kairaba Beach Hotel at 9.00p.m. Mr. Mendy further disclosed that the proceeds would also be used for the construction of a Library.

The role of the Senior Choir is to animate the Holy Mass through singing liturgical songs.