Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir Named ‘The Best Church Choir in America’

Verizon
Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound Competition Concludes in Detroit; Choir
from Atlanta Brings Home National Title and Receives $30,000 in Cash
and Prizes

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Atlanta
West Pentecostal Church Choir from Atlanta West Pentecostal Church won
Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound(TM) competition and has earned
the title of “The Best Church Choir in America.” During the grand
finale, held on Nov. 7 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Atlanta West
Pentecostal Church Choir walked away with not only the title, but a
cash prize of $30,000.

The
second annual How Sweet the Sound finale brought together the best
church choirs from 11 cities across the nation. Gospel music
celebrities, who added performances to the night’s entertainment,
judged and hosted the event. Returning for a second year,
GRAMMY®-winning music legend Marvin Sapp helped judge the choirs along
with GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel artist Dorinda Clark Cole and Gospel
music legend Byron Cage. GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter, producer,
arranger and music director Donald Lawrence served as emcee, and
singer, songwriter, producer and actress Lisa Kimmey-Winans joined the
How Sweet the Sound veterans as a co-host. The evening also featured
special performances by the legendary Clark Sisters, Brother Hahz, Kurt
Carr and special guest James Fortune. The Remnant Concert Choir from
Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., was named runner-up and
received a cash prize of $15,000.

“Now
in its second year, How Sweet the Sound has been an opportunity to
celebrate the unique ways music connects people within the community.
We congratulate Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir and recognize the
tremendous talent of all of the choirs that participated in this
competition,” said Sikita Grayson, director of customer service for
Verizon Wireless. “We are delighted to be able to bring to the
community such an uplifting event, and we have been inspired by the
energy of the churches throughout the competition.”

Atlanta
West Pentecostal Church Choir plans to use the prize money to record a
live CD in 2010. This will be their first recording. Brandon Frazier,
music director for Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir said, “How
Sweet the Sound does everything first class. It’s been a
once-in-a-lifetime experience participating and to win — I’m still
taking it in. It’s an amazing feeling and has already opened so many
doors for our choir.”

Atlanta
West Pentecostal Church Choir from Atlanta West Pentecostal Church
additionally won the V CAST People’s Choice Award and a $5,000 cash
prize. During the grand finale, audience members were asked to text
their votes for their favorite choir to help decide the Verizon
Wireless V CAST People’s Choice Award.

Verizon
Wireless customers can download and watch video clips from the grand
finale performances in the Music category on their V CAST-capable
phones. For more information about the competition, visit www.howsweetthesound.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon
Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice
and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in
Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless
is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.
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Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Verizon Wireless