WPU to Host Spoken Word Artist Abyss and Hip-Hop Group UpRite Lions, 9/19

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that the university will host a live musical performance by Abyss, a spoken word artist, and UpRite Lions, a hip-hop vocal group, on Thursday, Sept. 19. The performances will be held on the university's Belk Patio at 7:30 p.m.

Following a spring campus performance earlier this year, both acts are returning to William Peace University to allow students a chance to recite their own poetry and display their musical talents alongside the guest artists. A meet-and-greet will be held with Abyss and UpRite Lions following the performances. Tickets are $18 for adults; $16 for senior citizens, alumni, faculty and staff; and $5 for students and children. For more information and registration details, visit http://bit.ly/1bsRUVp.

Abyss, whose name stands for A Bright Young Soul Searching, is a self-taught musician who has defined the realms of spoken word artistry since first entering the poetry arena. An award-winning artist, he has appeared on Home Box Office's (HBO) Def Poetry and Black Entertainment Television's (BET)106 & Park and performed at the 12th Annual Gospel Choice Awards. Additionally, Abyss was one of the original cast members of Somebodies, the first scripted sitcom in BET history. A published author, musician, community activist, actor and motivational speaker, he is committed to supporting community initiatives and equally focused on developing the talent of bright young musical artists of tomorrow.

A hip-hop vocal group that formed in 2008, UpRite Lions has skyrocketed into musical success over the last five years with performances with several leading industry artists, including Common, Kanye West and Mary J. Blige. As a testament to the group's undeniable talent, UpRite Lions beat more than 6,500 international contestants to secure the coveted fourth-place win in the MySpace and XM Satellite Radio program "Show Us What You Got."

"We are so excited to welcome Abyss and UpRite Lions back to the William Peace University campus this fall," said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. "These artists go beyond sharing their musical gifts to empower the talents of future generations. Having the opportunity to perform alongside such artists will be an exciting and memorable moment for our students - one I know they will cherish for a lifetime."

William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women's college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor's students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women's institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and welcomed its first coeducational class to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university's graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. For more information, visit www.peace.edu.

William Peace University Twitter: http://twitter.com/WPeaceU. William Peace University Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WPeaceU. William Peace University YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WPeaceU.

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