On Monday, my wife and I accompanied a friend on a roadtrip to Memphis for the Verizon Wireless How Sweet The Sound choir competition. The event was at the FedEx Forum and it was pretty packed.
The evening began with a performance of “Let The Word Do The Work” by Donald Lawrence, who co-hosted the evening with Lisa Kimmey-Winans. I never get tired of that song, nor any others on The Law Of Confession: Part 1… I’m like a junkie. But whatever! 
After his performance, Donald introduced the judges– Kurt Carr, Michael Davis (Memphis’ Hallelujah 97.5FM) and Marvin Sapp– before moving swiftly into the small choir competition. The Good Hope Sanctuary Choir, of Memphis’ Good Hope Church, won in that category for their awesome performance of “When The Saints Go To Worship.” They really looked and sounded great!
Before intermission, Kurt Carr and a few of his singers sang “Peace And Favor Rest Upon Us” and dazzled the crowd. The second segment of the show began with Marvin Sapp ministering with “Never Would Have Made It,” a song that is proving to NEVER grow old. Those saints were jumping up and down, screaming for him like a teenage girl at a Michael Jackson concert. It was incredible!
The second segment featured the large choirs and the Greater Community Temple Voices, of Greater Community Temple COGIC, won that set with their jaw-dropping performance of the O’landa Draper CLASSIC “My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord.” That church was O’landa’s home church before his sudden passing in 1998… they did him PROUD and were just on another LEVEL.
They were also the big winner of the ENTIRE night and will represent Memphis at the national HSTS competition. I am kinda predicting that they’ll actually win the whole competition this year– just a phenomenal job.
The night ended with a grand finale of “The Blessing Of Abraham,” led by Donald Lawrence featuring the choirs and a BUNCH of singing fans in the audience. To be honest, I didn’t expect to enjoy the event as much as I did. I dunno how good other cities are, but good singin’ is in the water in Memphis. And choirs are just… not a game. Plus, the production of it was superb (kudos Verizon Wireless!). I had a really great time.
Special shout-out to Monica Coates, Sheri Jones-Moffett & Dion Moffett, Donna Creer, and Donald Lawrence. It was great to see you guys!
I hadn’t planned on pulling out my camera, but… I didn’t wanna leave y’all hanging. 
yeah dude, i went to the one in DC and was thoroughly IMPRESSED... Verizon put some real money into this event... the finally will be crazy cuz the DC choir that won was hott...and i'm sure the same for every city. So should be good... (and i dont even get wit choirs like that...lol)
@EJ. I'm a little jealous Kurt Carr was there but Newark was blessed with the amazing Kelly Price. Your pictures of HSTS look EXACTLY like mine. D-Lawrence preaching it, and Marvin Sapp bringing it on home:-) You even look like you were sitting about where I sat, about 3 rows from the stage which makes you feel like you want to get up there and jam with some of those choirs. I love that you have a prediction--Greater Community COGIC must've been great for you to throw them out there like that. I thought the event was amazing, and very well put together here, and it sounds like your night was just a grand.
You could never had thought that this Choir Competition would have Brought so much Joy to those who attended these Great Concerts ! We here in ST.Louis were Blessed to have the GREAT Evanglist Dorinda Clark Cole as a Jugde as well as Marvin Sapp, Dwight Stone a well known DJ in the City and it was the Number 2 Stop on the Tour and again it was a Night to remember . I won two tickets and was I Glad that I did . After the small Choir Catogorie which was Won by a Liberty Community Worship Center, Singing( God is my Everything ) The Large Choir catogorie was won by Faith Celebration Choir a 72 member Choir from Fetus MO. tore the House Down ! with (Soon and Very Soon by Andre Crouch !) This all White Choir was so Great that it was a hands down winner of both Prizes that were up for grabs . To Donald Lawernce Thank you for bringing so much enegy and annointed Music to our City . The Night was one to remember and I look forward to seeing the finale. And to the Great Marvin Sapp , Thank you for ministering to our hearts and the Legend Evanglist Dorinda Clark Cole , Next time , Please sing So Many Times ! and you are a Blessing and above all , We are still Here ! Ye! Dont ! Give Up and Dont Give In ! God ant through Blessing you Yet ! Thanks for a evening that was like the Old song Services of Long Ago . And at the close of the Day . Virizon Wireless you know that you Brought out the Best in our annointed Gospel Choirs , Black or White ! We know that God has Blessed our Souls! Thank YOU !
I was a part of the Mount Moriah East Choir that competed in the large choir catagory. My choir did an awesome job, and we will be back next to win.