The Toronto Mass Choir was founded in 1988 by Lisa Brown, Courtney Williams, and Karen & Oswald Burke following the Association of Gospel Music Ministries’ annual gospel music convention. Karen Burke has been the principal conductor since the formation of the choir, which is an ensemble of approximately 30 vocalists and a five-piece band. Other conductors for the TMC include Anne Marie Stern (1988-1990), John Watkins (1990-1993), Cheryl Nembhardt (1994-1996), and Elvis Boddie (1994-present). TMC’s musical influence is found in contemporary and traditional gospel, jazz, funk, soul, blues, and sounds of the Caribbean. TMC has toured Canada and the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Italy, Trinidad, and Barbados. Their renowned success was met with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gospel Music Association of Canada in recognition of their 25th year in 2012.

TMC’s album Follow Him was nominated for a Juno Award in 1999. The 2002 release of Instrument of Praise was met with four awards in the following year: the 2002 Covenant Award for Gospel Album of the Year, a Vibe award, a Juno Award, Gospel Album of the Year by the Urban Music Association of Canada, and a Maja Award for Gospel Choir of the Year. In 2006, TMC won two awards for The Live Experience: the 2006 Covenant Award for traditional Gospel Album of the Year, and the 2007 Shai Award for Urban/Soul Album of the Year.

Awards

• GMAC Covenant Award for Best Urban/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year (2002)
• Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year
• The Vibe Award for Urban/Soul Album of the Year
• The Urban Music Association of Canada Award for Gospel Recording of the Year