06/14/2012

TICKETS GO ON SALE JUNE 22ND AT 10 AM.

Newark, NJ - Verizon's How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration, the country's premiere and most prestigious gospel music experience, returns to Prudential Center for its fifth year of celebrating the community. The Gospel music celebration features today's biggest gospel stars including Donald Lawrence, Yolanda Adams, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans.

Verizon's How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration pays tribute to gospel music and provides choirs a platform to showcase their talent. This year, Newark will host one of seven musical celebrations on September 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Prudential Center. Tickets are $23.50, $18.50, $13.50. Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.com, Charge by Phone (800-745-3000) or at any Ticketmaster retail outlet. If tickets remain, tickets can be purchased at Prudential Center's Box Office starting Monday, June 25 at 11:00.

Registration is currently open for the 2012 Verizon's How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration. Interested choir representatives can visit www.HowSweetTheSound.com until Saturday, June 30th to sign up to be part of the How Sweet the Sound community. By registering, choirs will have the chance to rejoice in song and praise; sing in front of gospel greats and fans; and compete for a chance to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes.

''Verizon is pleased to once again bring this dynamic program to the community,'' said Marquett Smith, vice president of corporate communications and community relations, Verizon Wireless. ''Verizon's How Sweet the Sound'' allows us to connect with our customers and celebrate the impact that local church choirs and gospel music have on the community.''

GRAMMY award-winning, songwriter, producer, arranger and music director Donald Lawrence will return as host and be joined by GRAMMY award-winning entertainer, producer, author and syndicated radio host Yolanda Adams. In addition, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans will serve as resident judges for this year's competition.

Last year, Tarboro, N.C. based Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir won the grand prize and the title ''Best Gospel Choir in America.'' The choir used their prize money to support "Weight On The Lord" - a program designed to help people in their community make healthier lifestyle choices. They were also able to kick off their ''How Sweet The Tidings'' program just in time for the holidays. The program afforded them the chance to adopt five families for the holidays, giving them food and gifts.

''Anyone would love to have the bragging rights of calling themselves ''the best church choir'' in the nation,'' said Kristian Herring, director of Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir. ''More importantly, it demonstrated to people that there are different types of music that can change your mood, but only gospel music will change your life and How Sweet the Sound truly helped change our lives.''

For more details about Verizon's How Sweet the Sound, please visit www.HowSweettheSound.com.