Newark Board Of Education Choir To Perform At ‘Gospelfest’

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark Board of Education Gospel Choir is set to become the first workplace choir to participate in the annual McDonald’s “Gospelfest.”

On Saturday, the choir will take the stage to compete in the McDonald’s Gospelfest – one of the largest showcases of gospel music in the world – at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Competing in the adult choir category, the choir will compete against four other high-achieving troupes, and will share the stage with celebrity artists such as Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, Shirley Caesar and Tamar Braxton. (Purchase tickets here)

According to a BOE news release, the Newark Board of Education Gospel Choir was founded by Elijah D. Griffiths, a former NBOE employee, and current employee, Legretha Wingo, in November 2018 after performing at the board’s holiday celebration.

The NBOE Gospel Choir, which is open to all employees, has 72 members and includes a broad section of employees including executive staff, instructional, clerks, custodians, attendance counselors and paraprofessionals.

The Newark Board of Education Gospel Choir has since become the first ever public-employee based choir in the United States, and the first to ever participate in a national competition and musical production, administrators said.

After the McDonald’s Gospelfest, the choir will be performing at the Kick-Off for Gospel Music History Month at Newark City Hall on Friday, May 31 at 11 a.m. in the Council Chambers. They are also scheduled to perform at a celebration in Trenton including Gov. Phil Murphy on Saturday, June 29.

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