By Steve Warren
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced almost everyone in the world to communicate by telephone, text, or virtually via the internet, CBN News wanted to bring you this performance by a virtual choir as Easter approaches.
This a cappella performance by 48 singers from 14 different counties was actually produced by David Wesley in 2018. Even though it was posted to YouTube over a year ago, it’s perfect viewing in today’s environment of social distancing and quarantining from the virus. So take five minutes and enjoy this uplifting performance.
“It was a labor of love lasting five months and many dozens of work hours. We pray that you are blessed by the music and the message of this modern hymn,” the producer of the video wrote below his YouTube post.
In an email to CBN News on Monday, Wesley explained why he chose “In Christ Alone.”
“I decided on ‘In Christ Alone’ for a few reasons. It’s a deeply meaningful song, presenting the gospel in a nutshell. It’s a memorable and singable melody. My solo version of the song was already my most popular video on YouTube (2 million views at the time of launching the 2018 virtual choir). It seemed like a good fit,” he said.
It turns out that Wesley, the man who made this powerful video, is actually a registered nurse who works in the operating room of a large community hospital located in Ontario, Canada.
Right now he’s working in ICU helping with the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The registered nurse said he’s treating COVID-19 patients and as a result, has moved into the basement of his house to prevent exposure of the coronavirus to his family.
Wesley told CBN News “In Christ Alone” was his third virtual choir project.
“I first decided to do a virtual choir in 2016. Since 2013, I’ve received numerous requests for collaboration on YouTube. However, most requests were from people with limited equipment, experience, or ability. I came up with the virtual choir as a way to include my YouTube ‘fans’ and would-be collaborators in a video. To be honest, I really don’t remember if I knew about Eric Whitacre’s virtual choirs before coming up with the idea. Since the first project (Nothing But The Blood), I’ve done 4 more: O Canada 150 (for Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017), In Christ Alone (2018), A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (2019), and a secret virtual choir finale to my Evolution of Saddleback Worship video (commissioned by Rick Warren for Saddleback Church’s 40th anniversary in February 2020),” he said.
Wesley also told CBN News a new virtual choir project is now in the planning stages.
“I am in the midst of preparing for a new virtual choir project. It seems that the field is getting crowded though. What was once a very niche artform has instantly gone mainstream. Producers with more time, talent, and expertise than I have are already putting out new material at breakneck speed. I’m currently beefing up my website to handle the logistics of new projects, as I expect large numbers of participants,” he explained.
You can watch Wesley’s other virtual projects on his YouTube channel. You can also follow him on Facebook.