Harmonious Voices of Praise to host 8th Gospel Extravaganza

HARMONIOUS VOICES OF PRAISE

Harmonious Voices of Praise (HVP), Emporia State University’s gospel choir, is hosting its eighth annual Gospel Extravaganza, Saturday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 202 E. 12th Street.

“The Gospel Extravaganza is an opportunity for people to be exposed to the genre of gospel music and the opportunity for people to accept Jesus Christ,” Erica Manning, HVP president, said. “This event is by no means forcing anyone to believe in a particular religion, but it will open an opportunity for those who are willing to be exposed to Jesus Christ and to accept him in their lives.”

Although HVP is hosting this event and performing, several other performances will take place from various choirs, soloists, dancers, and poets from around the Emporia area.

These performances include: Church of the New Covenant Choir, Pledge 2 Worship, solos by Kasey Cullors, Jackie Orr, LaShea Wright, a poetry reading by Lorene Booth, and a few dance performances.

“We try to locate talent from not only within Emporia, but also around the surrounding areas and campuses,” Manning said. “With that being said, we try to place different people on program every year. However, the Church of the New Covenant Choir has been participating in our Gospel Extravaganza for about two years now.”

HVP has been hosting this event for the past three years, but the event has been taking place for eight years total. The theme for this year’s event is “Look How Far God Has Brought Us.”

“This theme is self-explanatory,” Manning said. “Our choir has grown from about six members to about 20 members in the past three years. We used to not have any male tenors, and now we have about five male tenors. We are now well known on campus and off campus. We have been so busy this entire year and we are happy about that!”

Manning wants people to attend the gospel extravaganza in order to experience something they may have never experienced before.

“People should come to this event to experience something new, refreshing and reviving. The Gospel Extravaganza is guaranteed to leave people feeling different from the way they came,” she said. “There have been people who have [come] feeling down or stressed out, but by the end of the program, they felt happy and relieved and they wonder why they feel different. It is the spirit of the Lord. People should come to experience happiness in the spirit of the Lord.”

Admission is free for this event and open to the public.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>