Peace & Serenity

Mc Donald’s Gospel Fest

In July Peace & Serenity will be singing at the World Choir Games (WCG) in Cincinnati, but not just there! At the end of January the choir had made it to the finals of this year’s Mc Donald’s Gospel Fest!

“I have always wanted to enter my group into this competition ever since the 1990’s,” said Kenny Smith, founder and director of the choir. The Cincinnati branch of the choir has existed since 28 years. Since two years a New York branch has been in existence.

The Gospel Fest is an annual live concert, which musicians, music groups and dancers auditioned for in January. In 2012 it’s being held at Mother’s Day and thus is under the motto “Honor Thy Mother”. It brings numerous famous celebrities from the U.S. Gospel scene to Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (USA).

The “First Lady of Gospel” Shirley Ann Caesar will be there as well as Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston’s Mother, and also the Gospel duo Mary Mary. The last has helped to increase the popularity of Urban Contemporary Gospel in the U.S. in collaboration with Kirk Franklin. Franklin, multiple Grammy winner is composer and performer of the Official Song of the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnnati.

For the choir “Peace & Serenity” the Gospel Fest in New Jersey is a big step towards the preparation for the 7th World Choir Games. Kenny Smith is looking forward to July 2012 and knows about the choir’s great commitment for the world’s largest international choir competition.

During the WCG on July 5, 2012 Smith will hold a workshop on “Authentic Gospel Choral Singing” for everybody interested.

For the first time ever the 7th WCG will be in the USA, in Cincinnati. “Gospel” is one of altogether 23 categories this year.