'How Sweet the Sound' Gospel Competition to Find America's Best Church Choir

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Gospel legends Cece Winans, Donald Lawrence, and Marvin Sapp will put together "America's Church Choir” at Verizon’s finale on Oct. 28.

Verizon's “How Sweet the Sound Finale” is a unifying community event that pays tribute to gospel music and fans. The gospel competition has a goal to find America's best church choir.

“We are pleased by the response to this program year after year and look forward to bringing together people from across the country to celebrate the gospel community," said Marquett Smith, vice president of corporate communication at Verizon Wireless, in a press release. "It has been incredible to see the impact this program has had on the community."

The Grammy award-winning judges are looking for the best choirs to compete, so they can form a super group choir.

Choirs representing nine cities across the United States will get together for this historic and prestigious night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The competition traveled across the country to provide a platform for these choirs and to compete for a chance to win $50000.

According to the press release, here is the list of competitors:
St. John Church Music Ministry of Grand Prairie, Texas; All Nations Life and Praise Church Choir of Stockbridge, Ga.; Choir of Salvation and Deliverance Church of Tarboro, N.C.; James E. Jordan, Jr. Adult Choir of Riverdale, Md.; The Anointed Voices of Higher Ground Young Adult Choir of Columbus, Ohio; Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Saint Louis Choir of St. Louis, Mo.; All Nations Choir of Alsip, Ill.; Family Life Sanctuary Choir of Whittier, Calif.; and, Christian Life Center Mass Choir of Stockton, Calif.

The competition is working with HopeLine to collect old cell phones and give them to victims of domestic abuse and survivors. More than 12000 phones have been collected throughout the tour.