Here is an important message to the tens of thousands of worshippers in St. Louis who sing in the church choir: A national choir competition is not only coming to St. Louis, it is kicking off its tour here on Saturday, September 13 at Scottrade Center.
It’s Verizon Wireless’ first nationwide How Sweet The Sound competition, which is giving choirs in 11 cities from coast to coast a chance to compete in the national grand finale for a cash prize of $25,000 (and the title of the best church choir in the U.S.).
The local event may be in September, but the deadline is now – actually, tomorrow, July 25. Get on it!
How Sweet The Sound invites choirs affiliated with a church or other church organization (as defined by the organization’s tax-exempt ID number) to enter. There are two categories for entry – Small/Medium Choirs, consisting of 6 to 35 participants, and Large Choirs, consisting of 36 to 100 participants.
Choirs interested in a chance to perform on-stage must submit an application and a five-minute performance audition video online at www.howsweetthesound.com – now.
Audition videos will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select up to 16 choirs from each region. The 16 choirs will be posted on www.howsweetthesound.com where people can vote for their favorite choir in each of the two categories.
The four choirs in each category per region that receive the highest number of votes will be invited to participate on stage at the event in their community. The choirs will compete in front of local celebrity judges, who will vote to determine the finalist choirs that will be awarded the $10,000 cash prize.
There will be two finalists – one from each category. The two winning choirs from each region will then head to the grand finale to compete against choirs from across the country for the $25,000 prize in November.
“We recognize music unites communities and is often a cornerstone element of how people celebrate life,” said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.
“How Sweet The Sound is much more than a singing competition – it is an opportunity to celebrate the unique ways that music connects people within the community.”
Participants must be 18 years of age or older and legal residents of 50 U.S. and D.C. For official rules, go to www.howsweetthesound.com or call 800-230-0053 to receive a copy.
