Kellogg's Launches Gospel Sing Off Youth Choir Competition
The Kellogg Company is giving youth choirs all over the nation an opportunity to demonstrate their talents, pay tribute to gospel music, and celebrate its impact on American music (not to mention win a trip to the Walt Disney World) with the launch of the 2005 Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off Youth Choir Competition.
"Through this competition Kellogg is celebrating the legends of gospel music, as well as bringing together some of the country's best young talent," said Jenny Enochson, Kellogg Company senior director of marketing communications. "To pay tribute to the impact African American churches have had on gospel music, we have selected historic church sites to host the competitions, and we've developed a special commemorative souvenir booklet, 'Great Moments in Gospel History.'"
To enter the competition, contestants must submit an audio recording of their group (with members ranging from 10 to 20 years of age) along with 100 original UPC/bar codes from select Kellog’s, Cheez-It, Famous Amos, or Keebler products. Entries for the competition must be postmarked by Friday, May 6, 2005 and received no later than Friday, May 13.
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A total of 40 choirs will be selected to compete in semi-final events in July in Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Dallas. Each semi-finalist will receive a minimum cash prize of $500. Regional winners will be awarded $10, 000 for first place, $5000 for second place and $2000 for third place. The grand prize winner will receive a magical vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. and the opportunity to perform on stage with some of the biggest names in Christian music at Disney’s Night of Joy, which takes place on September 9 and 10, 2005.
The contestants' semi-final performances will be evaluated by an illustrious panel of judges including Gary D. Hines, producer and songwriter for the Grammy award-winning group The Sounds of Blackness and Dr. Herbert V. Jones, doctoral assistant to the director of choral activities at the University of Mississippi Department of Choral Music in Oxford, Miss. and assistant dean of the academic division of Gospel Music Workshop of America.
EMI Gospel recording artist Kierra "KiKi" Sheard will also be participating in this year’s Sing Off and will serve as the competition's spokesperson as well as perform at the Gospel Sing Off regional semi-finals. Sheard will also perform with the contest's grand prize winner at the Night of Joy at Walt Disney World® Resort.
"I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event and share the many blessings I have received," said Sheard. "I commend Kellogg for providing a platform for young people to exhibit their extraordinary talents and pursue their dreams." Sheard is the daughter of Karen Clark Sheard - a founding member of the award-winning Clark Sisters singing group - and granddaughter of gospel luminary the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark.
For more information of the 2005 Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off Youth Choir Competition or to request an entry packet, please visit www.kelloggsgospelsingoff.com or call 1-866-305-4813.
With 2004 sales of nearly $10 billion, Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, frozen waffles, meat alternatives, piecrusts, and ice cream cones. The company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, Murray, Austin, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, Carr's, Plantation, Ready Crust, and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit Kellogg's web site at www.kelloggcompany.com
