Thursday, March 28, 2024

Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound 2012 Competition

By Brandy Jones-West

Anointed, energetic and inspiring, were a few words used to describe the choirs that competed in the 2012 Verizon How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration, the country’s premiere and most prestigious gospel music experience. Local choirs – Marquinn Middleton & The Miracle Chorale, Carnel Davis & Incorporated To Praise, St. Mark Sanctuary Choir, St. John Church Music Ministry, God’s Tabernacle of Deliverance Bishop’s Choir and Selah – competed for $15,000 in prizes, the chance to perform in the national finale November 4 at Barclays Center in New York and a recording contract.

Returning hosts for the evening were GRAMMY award-winning, songwriter, producer, arranger and music director Donald Lawrence along with his equally acclaimed gospel colleague, GRAMMY award-winning entertainer, producer, author and syndicated radio host Yolanda Adams. In addition, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans served as resident judges and special performers for the 2012 competition.

Each choir brought something different and extraordinary to the competition. Selah had a noteworthy soloist that brought the house down and had the judges singing his praises. Marquinn Middleton & The Miracle Chorale and God’s Tabernacle of Deliverance Bishop’s Choir had choir masters with more energy than the Energizer bunny and choreography that had the theater rocking and shouting “alright now” and “go ‘head.” However according to host Donald Lawrence, that alone won’t win the competition – the competition is still all about the choir. “You can’t separate the choir master from the choir because they all work together. So when we see the presentation, it’s the soloist, the choir master, the band – altogether that makes for the whole presentation, the whole experience.” Bishop Hezekiah Walker said, “Everything has to work together to make that thing work and if anything is out of pocket, it will be evident.”

Well it was clear that winner, St. Mark Sanctuary Choir, had all the components to make “that thing work” as judge Bishop Hezekiah Walker mentioned. Judge CeCe Winans said the choir performed as if it wasn’t a competition, but as if they were in their sanctuary and how she appreciated the authenticity of the performance. “You guys took me to that place – that worship place,” said judge Fred Hammond. And judge Erica Campbell shouted praises of “hallelujah” as she gave her remarks of how anointed the performance was and how the anointing was still lingering in the arena. St. Mark Sanctuary Choir took home the Dallas-area title and a $10,000 cash prize.

Runner-up, St. John Church Music Ministry, took home a cash prize of $5,000. Their performance was strong and full of energy. Host, Yolanda Adams said the choir’s performance took her to Louisiana, a place known for big band and jazz music. St. John Church Music Ministry supporters packed the house and waived their signature towels in the air just as the choir did during the praise break in their performance. St. John Church Music Ministry also took home the People Choice Award, an award granted to the choir with the most text message votes, and an additional cash prize of $5,000.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

online wholesale business for goods from
China