Six choirs will belt it out on Monday to see who walks away with bragging rights as the best gospel troupe in the regionl.
Choirs will compete during the “Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound” regional show at Philips Arena. Other competitions will be held in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Newark and Washington, D.C.
The Atlanta competition was open to choirs within a 300 mile radius.
The winner in each city will then have a fight it out at the national finale in New York in November. The winning choir will strut away with up to $50,000 in cash and prizes.
“We recognize gospel music really has the ability to inspire and uplift its fans,” said Cameka Crawford, manager of multi-cultural communications and community relations. “This is really a program that pays tribute to gospel music and gives local choirs a chance the showcase their talent on a larger platform.”
This is the fifth year for the national competition. Crawford said the 42 choirs in seven cities was whittled down from hundreds who entered the events. This year, the events was expanded into include community and college and university choirs as well as those affiliated with churches.
The Atlanta area competitors will include the Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir, former national champs. Other competitors include The Voices of Life of the Life Center Church, Robert Weaver & The Weaver Chorale, Cedric Sesley and Out For Souls, Anointed Voices of Tabernacle Baptist Church and Dynamic Praise of Oakwood University.
Last year’s national winner was the Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir from Tarboro, N.C.
If you go:
2012 Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound
7:30 p.m. Monday
Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta
Tickets are $14, $19 and $24 at the box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000.
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