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Ahead of Manchester Camerata and AMC Gospel Choir's much-loved, two-city, annual Christmas event - which takes place on 13 December (Birmingham) and 14 December (Manchester), MagNorth sat down with Audrey Lawrence-Mattis, the inspirational creative leader (and her dog MOJO) - to talk about this favourite Christmas tradition, about not being a 'gatekeeper' - and the importance of rigourous journalistic research!
AMC Gospel Choir began as a university project in Birmingham, where Audrey Lawrence-Mattis, having left a career in finance, returned as a mature student to study music.
“AMC was born out of that project - a choir to do live work and to share insights I could write about,” she recalls.
After graduation, Audrey moved to Manchester with her young family, assembling singers in the North West and eventually creating a second AMC branch. By 2007-2008, she launched Palm Arts, her company, and began travelling regularly between Birmingham and Manchester.
“Essentially, we were doing the same set pieces in both locations,” she explains. "Then once a year, we’d put on a bigger performance together. That’s how we’ve maintained strength in both cities for years."
Audrey has curated a repertoire of gospel classics, including “Handel’s Soulful Messiah” and works by gospel legends such as Richard Smallwood and Walter Hawkins, alongside contemporary voices like Kurt Carr and Israel Houghton. "People in the audience sing along now - they know our classics in Birmingham and Manchester," she says.
AMC Gospel Choir’s collaboration with Manchester Camerata grew from their work on Hacienda Classical and a shared desire to merge gospel traditions with classical orchestration.
“I’ve always dreamt of doing just what we like to do - gospel music with a live orchestra,” Audrey explains. The first concert, held involved curating songs, arranging the choir parts by ear, and working with a 20-piece orchestra. The project has grown year on year, with audiences embracing the performances so enthusiastically that tickets often sell out well in advance.
Camerata’s work also emphasises community participation, delivering the most engaging workshops and inclusive projects that connect people to music - often with wonderful results.
Audrey’s dedication to music as a tool for social empowerment was clear in her work with the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead. In 2024, she led a large-scale project bringing together professional choirs, youth ensembles, and community members - some with no previous singing experience - to perform a complex classical score.
“We ended up with over 200 singers,” she recalls. "People said, ‘I never thought I could do this.’ It was empowering for them - and for me too."
The project created a level playing field where talent and enthusiasm mattered more than experience, demonstrating how music can bridge gaps and foster a sense of belonging.
During the pandemic, Audrey continued teaching online and also became a key member of the team at a NHS Nightingale Hospital, helping to onboard volunteers and staff across the North West.
“I realised they still needed people, and I have experience in administration,” she says. “It wasn’t glamorous, but it was meaningful. It gave me a chance to help people who were putting themselves on the front line.”
For Audrey, choirs are microcosms of society. "One of the first aims [in a choir] is to be harmonious - not just musically, but socially. You have to attune yourself to other people’s frequencies, to work together, to get along."
Her teaching extends to schools and universities, encouraging young musicians to explore diverse musical tastes - from K-pop and rock to Romanian pop - alongside traditional and culturally specific songs.
“I leave enthused by the songs they want to sing,” Audrey says. "It teaches me as much as it teaches them."
AMC Gospel Choir is a major focus for Audrey. From September to December alone, the choir performs around 12 engagements, and by the end of December, the total for the year will be around 55 performances. Beyond gigs, Audrey invests time in rehearsals, arranging, and mentoring, ensuring both high musical standards and community engagement is at the heart of her work.
Perhaps slightly tongue-in-cheek, Audrey describes herself as a “miracle worker,” but her impact lies in sharing knowledge and creating pathways for others. She works with professional artists on vocal coaching, arranging, and backing vocals, and mentors students and young musicians in schools and universities.
"I’m not a gatekeeper. I think it’s important to let everybody know how to get stuff done." Her work spans grassroots schools to conservatoires, always aiming to make music relevant, inclusive, and inspiring.
Audrey Lawrence Mattis is more than a musical director — she is a cultural connector, educator, mentor, and innovator. Through AMC Gospel Choir, her collaborations with Manchester Camerata, community projects at the Glasshouse, and her educational work, she has created spaces where music becomes a tool for empowerment, engagement, and joy - bridging generations, cultures, and communities, one choir, one concert, and one student at a time.
Tickets and concert info for the 2025 Festive Happenings are HERE
