What began decades ago as a group of voices blending in faith has grown into something far larger than music. For the members of Chorale Dynamics, singing was never simply performance — it was community, ministry, and family.

Their journey has been chronicled in the new documentary Bermuda’s Chorale Dynamics: Why Do We Sing, a film directed by Steve Darrell, executive produced by Gayle Newton-Taylor, and produced by Ty-Ron Douglas and Sonia Howes.

With limited tickets remaining, the documentary premiere will take place on Sunday, December 28, at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s Tradewinds Auditorium. This elegant black-tie affair with holiday cheer, starting at 6pm, aspires not only to revisit the past but also to reconnect people to one another, to their heritage, and to the enduring impact of Bermudian gospel music far beyond the island’s shores.

Before there was Chorale Dynamics, there was the Warrenaires. Their legacy paved the way for groups like Chorale Dynamics and became part of the inspiration behind the conception of this new documentary.

“When Joelle Williams did the documentary about Warren Williams and the Warrenaires, many of the former members said they wished they had one last opportunity to sing together again. That stayed with us,” Mr Darrell said.

“When the idea came about to do the reunion, and we started reaching out to members, we realised this was something we needed. This was significant,” added Lucy Douglas, a Chorale Dynamics group member and planning committee participant.

That desire not only led to the Chorale Dynamics reunion concert, “Why Do We Sing”, which took place in May this year, but also culminated in a documentary telling a story that needed to be preserved.

“People remember the Chorale Dynamics, but they don’t really know the story,” Mr Darrell said. “There’s so much people are not aware of, especially what it took to navigate church music at that time. This is a story that had not been told, and we felt it was important for it to happen now.”

Dr Douglas added: “The documentary is really part of a larger rekindling process. This wasn’t just about nostalgia — it was about recognising how significant the accomplishment actually was.”

An accomplishment of this significance did not come without its challenges. For Ms Newton-Taylor, introducing something new meant navigating resistance while remaining anchored in purpose. “The biggest challenge was introducing a new sound — a gutsy gospel sound that came from the heart and the soul,” she said.

At the time of Chorale Dynamics’ beginnings, church culture was resistant to how worship music was presented. “One of the challenges in the church music scene at that time was that many things simply were not accepted. Worship music was typically limited to quartets, a cappella singing, or accompaniment by piano or organ — live bands just didn’t exist in church settings,” Mr Darrell said.

Reflecting on an experience following a concert that introduced drums, Ms Newton-Taylor recalled: “After the concert, I was told, ‘We don’t allow drums here.’ And I said, ‘Well, this is how we sing.’”

Never deterred, but determined, she added, “When something is done with quality, it can be accepted. That was always the focus.”

Facing resistance and working together towards a shared purpose deepened the bonds within the group. The family atmosphere Chorale Dynamics fostered allowed its music and legacy to transcend decades and influence generations.

“When you sing together and engage as a group, you become community and family,” Ms Douglas reflected. “It wasn’t just a family that got together — there was a ministry that took place. This documentary allows us to honour, value, and appreciate what we shared.”

Chorale Dynamics’ impact extended beyond Bermuda, influencing worship culture internationally. “The Chorale Dynamics ushered that style of music into the church scene as we know it now,” Mr Darrell said. “They didn’t just impact the Adventist realm — they sang across denominations throughout Bermuda. They represented Bermuda at the General Conference in Utrecht, Holland, and their album was groundbreaking for its time. The music is still played around the world today.”

A contributing factor to that impact was a sound rooted in Bermudian identity. Ms Newton-Taylor explained: “There is a sound that is uniquely Bermudian — you don’t hear it anywhere else. Because we live in it, we don’t always recognise it, but others do.”

Dr Douglas emphasised both the local and global reach of the group’s influence. “This story reminds us what Bermuda has produced and continues to export,” he said. “There’s a song sung every Sabbath around the world that is connected to Bermudian musicians.”

Highlighting the influence on well-known local figures, he added: “I don’t know the exact timing, but I imagine that Gayle Newton-Taylor was instrumental in introducing Owen Simons to gospel music and a particular style of playing. Marvin Pitcher was also one of the musicians for Chorale Dynamics, which shows just how interconnected this musical lineage is.”

In an effort to preserve that lineage, plans are also under way for the documentary to be archived at Oakwood University, ensuring that Bermuda’s contribution to gospel music — and its influence on the sound as it is known today — is formally documented for future generations.

Ultimately, the hope for this documentary reaches far beyond a single screening or a moment of nostalgia. For those involved, it represents an opportunity to reflect, to heal, and to recognise the depth of what has been built over generations through music, faith, and community.

Lucy Darrell shared that she hopes audiences will experience “not just the evolution of the group, but the total experience of what made us who we are,” believing that telling this story may also encourage others to honour and preserve Bermuda’s rich musical heritage.

For Steve Darrell, that sense of reflection carries a message for those still finding their way. He notes that the documentary is meant especially for the next generation, so they can understand that “they’re not alone in their journey” and know that others have walked similar paths before them.

Ms Newton-Taylor sees that journey not only in memory, but in what continues to grow from it. “Forty years later, the proof is in the pudding,” she said. “We were grounded in something lasting and eternal.”

That grounding is also what makes the upcoming premiere more than a film showing. Dr Douglas believes there is something deeply meaningful about gathering together in person, particularly at a time when shared moments feel increasingly rare. “There’s something powerful about being in the room,” he reflected. “To be among the roots is where new growth can happen.”

• Tickets for the screening of the documentary on December 28 at Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute are available through this link