Contest carries extra weight for local choir
Via St. Louis Post Dispatch
ST. LOUIS • The sound was good. Really good. But choir director Jerry Smith wanted to try something different.
He moved the altos away from the sopranos to the opposite side of the risers, sandwiching the tenors and basses.
Smith seemed to like the change. So did the choir members.
"Let's record it this time," Smith said.
The balance and blend of sound needed to be as close to perfect as possible for the choir of Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis. Winning a contest that would designate the group as the best gospel choir in the country is on the line. And with it comes additional pressure: being the first choir at the national level representing a predominately gay and lesbian congregation.
The choir won regionals last month in St. Louis. It will perform for the national title Friday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_8cc50d1b-5163-5e22-bd70-3d2c6984da18.html#ixzz1bxkzKccp
23 Oct. 2011 -- ST. LOUIS -- Soloist Adria Nichol Webb (center) leads the choir at the Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis during Sunday morning services at the church in St. Louis Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. The choir recently qualified to represent the St. Louis region at the national gospel choir competition "How Sweet The Sound" at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Oct. 28. Photo by Sid Hastings for the Post-DispatchRead more: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_8cc50d1b-5163-5e22-bd70-3d2c6984da18.html#ixzz1bxlBlzu0
