FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
March 8, 2026
Karen Schuessler – Artistic Director: Karen Schuessler Singers
(519) 614-1668
schuesslerkaren@gmail.com
www.kssingers.com
The Karen Schuessler Singers presents Missa Gaia / Earth Mass
LONDON, ON – The Karen Schuessler Singers present Missa Gaia / Earth Mass on May 2 at 7:30 pm at Wesley-Knox United Church, 91 Askin St, London.
Missa Gaia / Earth Mass – The wolves, the whales and the loons are back! A sweeping celebration of Creation and Creator, Missa Gaia weaves sound textures and colours, overlaying the world rhythms of Afro-Brazilian, Zulu and Indigenous music as well as Gospel and Gregorian chant, transporting audiences to a higher place. This feast of musical styles is a concert experience like no other. With Denise Pelley, Paul Grambo, Steve Holowitz and the incomparable Missa Gaia Jazz Ensemble.
“This is the piece that started it all. I fell in love with it the first time I heard it and committed myself to performing it in London even though it wasn’t published yet. I even formed a choir, which became KSS, so I could perform it. There is no other work I know of that so completely honours our planet and its blessed diversity,” says Artistic Director, Karen Schuessler.
Missa Gaia/Earth Mass was first assembled by Paul Winter and Paul Halley for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. With its unique combination of world styles and pulsing rhythms, and, taking its themes from the actual voices of nature, this work is a magnificent expression of our interconnectedness. It was first performed in London by the Karen Schuessler Singers in 1994 and recorded in 2000. Over the years, it has become the choir’s signature work.
Denise Pelley needs no introduction to London audiences. A vocalist of rare talent and beauty, she has been part of the Missa Gaia performances from the beginning. As well, baritone Paul Grambo adds his unique gospel style to this work.
The choir is accompanied by the Missa Gaia Jazz Ensemble led by Stephen Holowitz, piano, with Dave Wiffen, soprano saxophone, Marg Stowe, guitar, Mitch Tyler, bass, Rob Larose, drums, Greg Mainprize, percussion, and Ron Fox, pipe organ.
Missa Gaia intersperses four main parts of the mass with other music, such as the pulsing “Ubi Caritas” and the breathtaking solo, “Mystery”. Several pieces are based on melodic themes that are taken from the calls of whale, wolf, and loon. Of special note is “Return to Gaia”, a magnificent movement for soprano saxophone and the magnificent Wesley-Knox pipe organ with its 3,000 pipes, which is the climax of the work.
For this special final performance of the Karen Schuessler Singers, the choir will be joined by many former choristers who have sung this extraordinary work over the past 33 years, creating an ensemble of 70 voices.
As well, to highlight the message of this unique work, KSS is partnering with the Thames Talbot Land Trust (https://www.thamestalbotlandtrust.ca), which “actively works to protect, conserve, and restore nature within Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford and Perth counties”. And in solidarity with the wolf, the whale, and the loon, the choir is also partnering with the Humane Society of London and Middlesex (https://www.hslm.ca), which “exists to improve the lives of animals in our community”.
“From its beginnings as a choir created specially to sing this one amazing work, KSS has grown to be a force for live choral performance in London.Ending our performance journey of 33 years by singing Missa Gaia brings us full circle as an arts organization. We have always striven to connect with our community and shine a light on the important issues of the day to help make the world a better place”, says founder and artistic director, Karen Schuessler.
Tickets:
Tickets are $25 for adults, and $10 for students. Children 6-13 are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased online at www.kssingers.com, at Tuckey Home Hardware, and from choir members.
Event Information:
What: Karen Schuessler Singers Concert: Missa Gaia/Earth Mass
Where: Wesley-Knox United Church, 91 Askin Street, London, ON
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Contact: 519-681-8129 http://www.kssingers.com
For more concert or ticket information, visit our website www.kssingers.com, or call 519-681-8129.
About the Karen Schuessler Singers:
The Karen Schuessler Singers is one of London’s premier concert choirs. Celebrating 33 years of great music, it was founded in 1993 by director Karen Schuessler to explore the wealth of choral music. The choir has become well known for quality performances and widely varied, accessible and innovative programming.
Each season the choir has presented a 3-concert subscription series designed to appeal to all ages and musical tastes. The choir has performed choral repertoire not often heard to complement traditional repertoire with music ranging from the classics to jazz to Broadway, and from Medieval to the 21st century.
The vision of Karen Schuessler Singers has always been to create concerts that are not only entertaining and thought provoking, but that also lift spirits, lighten hearts and deepen souls.
Says Karen Schuessler, “The thrill of live performance, when the audience is open and receiving and the performers are giving from their hearts, is an experience unlike any other. Sing Joy!”