Verizon's "How Sweet The Sound™" Gospel Choir Competition returns to Detroit for 5th year

The Gospel Music Celebration to Feature Today’s Biggest Gospel Stars Including Donald Lawrence, Yolanda Adams, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans

New York - Registration is now open for the 2012 Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ Gospel Celebration, the country’s premiere and most prestigious gospel music experience. Interested choir representatives can visit www.HowSweetTheSound.com until Saturday, June 30th to sign up to be part of the How Sweet the Sound community. By registering, choirs will have the chance to rejoice in song and praise; sing in front of gospel greats and fans; and compete for a chance to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes.

Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ Gospel Celebration pays tribute to gospel music and provides choirs a platform to showcase their talent. This year, regional events will take place in the following cities:
• Dallas – Sept. 6 at Verizon Theater at Grand Prairie
• Atlanta – Sept. 10 at Philips Arena
• Washington, DC – Sept. 12 at Verizon Center
• Newark – Sept. 13 at Prudential Center
• Detroit – Sept. 15 at Joe Louis Arena
• Chicago – Sept. 17 at United Center
• Los Angeles – Sept. 21 at Staples Center
• Finale - New York – Nov. 4 at Barclays Center

“Verizon is pleased to once again bring this dynamic program to the community,” said Marquett Smith, vice president of corporate communications and community relations, Verizon Wireless. “Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ allows us to connect with our customers and celebrate the impact that local church choirs and gospel music have on the community.”

GRAMMY® award-winning, songwriter, producer, arranger and music director Donald Lawrence will return as host and be joined by 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 will serve as resident judges for this year’s competition.

Last year, Tarboro, N.C. based Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir won the grand prize and the title "Best Gospel Choir in America." The choir used their prize money to support "Weight On The Lord" – a program designed to help people in their community make healthier lifestyle choices. They were also able to kick off their “How Sweet The Tidings” program just in time for the holidays. The program afforded them the chance to adopt five families for the holidays, giving them food and gifts.

"Anyone would love to have the bragging rights of calling themselves "the best church choir" in the nation,” said Kristian Herring, director of Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir. “More importantly, it demonstrated to people that there are different types of music that can change your mood, but only gospel music will change your life and How Sweet the Sound truly helped change our lives."

Tickets to the 2012 Verizon How Sweet the Sound™ tour go on sale in June. For more details about Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ including video content, judging criteria, ticket sales information, and official rules, please visit www.HowSweettheSound.com.