Kean Gospel Choir to Compete at McDonald’s Gospelfest in May

For a second straight year, the Kean University Gospel Choir has been selected to compete in the Adult Choir Category at McDonald’s Gospelfest, an annual Mother’s Day weekend event in Newark. Last year, the Kean Gospel Choir took first place in the competition. Gospelfest 2017 will be held at the Prudential Center on Saturday, May 13 at 4 p.m.

“The choir is extremely proud to have the opportunity to represent Kean University for a second consecutive year on such a large stage,” said Danielle Thomas, president of the Kean Gospel Choir. “We hope that our voices will inspire others, as we are inspired by all of the talent each year at Gospelfest.”

In addition to placing first in last year’s competition, the choir was featured on Fox 5’s Good Day Street Talk in April 2016. The choir is active on Kean’s campus, performing at events such as Remembering the Dream, the ceremony honoring the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Kean, Black Love hosted by Pan-African Student Union and many others. In December 2016, the choir partnered with Kean’s Haitian Student Association to present GospelFest. The event, a first of its kind at Kean, drew a crowd of over 600 to Wilkins Theater.

The Kean Gospel Choir promotes and provides an outlet for students to express their faith through gospel music. All students can join the group, regardless of their knowledge of gospel music or level of musical ability. The choral group encourages positive attitudes among all members, respecting all gifts, and raises the consciousness of the Kean University community toward a greater understanding and appreciation of gospel music.

McDonald’s Gospelfest attracts more than 16,000 attendees each year. This year’s lineup includes some of gospel music’s greatest talent, including Hezekiah Walker, Erica Campbell (of the duo Mary Mary), Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton, Bishop Paul Morton, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, and Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral Mass Choir (led by the Rev. Floyd Flake).