KEAN GOSPEL CHOIR WINS FIRST AT MCDONALD’S GOSPELFEST

Kean University Gospel Choir won first place in the adult choir category at McDonald’s GospelFest 2016, held on Saturday, May 7th at the Prudential Center in Newark. Competing against six other choirs from the tri-state area, including the 2015 GospelFest winner, Montclair State University Gospel Choir, the Kean University Gospel Choir wowed the audience with its rendition of “None but the Righteous.” The choir was awarded a trophy and a cash prize that will go into funding future endeavors for the group, and each member of the choir received an individual medal.
Prior to the competition, the choir had the privilege of singing on the Fox 5 News show, Good Day Street Talk. The executive producer of GospelFest, A. Curtis Farrow, chose the Kean Gospel Choir to appear on the program, which aired April 16th.
“We were overwhelmed with joy when Mr. Farrow asked us to sing as representatives for GospelFest on Fox 5 News. But when they announced Kean Gospel Choir as the champions – the most indescribable feeling – tears, screams, dancing. The Kingdom of God rejoiced!” Alston added. The Kean students performed alongside some of the biggest names in gospel music, including Shirley Caesar, Jennifer Holiday, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Tye Tribbett, Yolanda Adams, and others.
GospelFest has been held at the Prudential Center since 2008 and been described as the most spectacular gospel celebration in the nation for successfully bringing together the largest collection of gospel performers and attracting over 16,000 attendees annually.