Local Gospel Choirs to Perform at Ware Center, 2/5

Local gospel choirs and praise dance teams will showcase Lancaster region's gospel community through song and dance at the Ware Center, Friday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. The evening will include choirs and dance teams from Bright Side Baptist Church in Lancaster, New Covenant Community Church in York, Bethel AME Church in Harrisburg, and Millersville University. This joyful event, focused on the gospel scene in the area surrounding Lancaster, will showcase the wonder of praise and have audiences dancing and singing along all through the night. The Ware Center is located at 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster.

Masters of Ceremonies will be Mr. and Mrs. David Barton of Bright Side Baptist Church. "Gospel is defined as the good news," says David Barton, who also serves as president of the Bright Side Male Chorus. "I see it as a love letter put to music."

Performing from Bright Side Baptist Church will be the Bright Side Baptist Choir, who have been performing for over 30 years, and the Male Chorus, a group of rich, experienced voices who have been traveling throughout the local area for 26 years. The New Covenant Community Church Choir, a new gospel choir, will combine the voices of both young and old churches, and feature singers Mr. and Mrs. Michael Young. The Millersville University Gospel Choir is a group of musical students who not only love gospel music but also believe in the importance of sharing their joy with the community.

The show will also feature Mrs. Diane Wilson-Bedford, the 2007 winner of Pennsylvania State Senior Idol, and her daughters from Bethel AME Church, where Wilson-Bedford serves as Music Director. She is known as a singer with the vocal range of Whitney Houston, wowing judges in 2007 when she hit all the notes in "I Will Always Love You."

The show will include two dance teams: the Kingdom Dancers from Bright Side Baptist Church, a girls dance and mime team directed by Mrs. Beverly Rozier and Ms. Nyesha Hammond, and the Footprints Praise Dancers from Millersville University.

Tickets are $10 reserved seating and $5 for MU and Visiting Students with valid IDs at a ticket office or at the door. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting ArtsMU.com or by calling 717-871-7600. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Ticket Office located in the Student Memorial Center on Millersville's campus, or the Ware Center, located at 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster. Doors open one hour before each show for ticket sales, subject to availability.

The Millersville University Visual and Performing Arts Season is made possible by support from Season Platinum Partner Rodgers & Associates and Gold Season Sponsors Aussie and the Fox and Hagelgans & Veronis, and Silver Season Sponsors Clipper Magazine, The Hotel Lancaster, 12:34 MicroTechnologies, and Weber Advertising. First Friday Music Stage is sponsored by Fine Living Lancaster. This season's Luminary Donors include Ann Barshinger, John & Susan Garofola, Mary Burton & Laurent Horne, Linda Holman Marcks, William McIlwaine, Peggy Neff, Mary Kearns & Jon Walker, and Paul & Judy Ware.

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