East Orange High School Choir Wows At ‘Gospelfest’ (WATCH)

EAST ORANGE, NJ — A student choir from East Orange recently wowed the audience and captured a top prize in the 2019 McDonald's Gospelfest.

On May 11, a troupe of young musicians from Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts took to the stage to compete in the McDonald's Gospelfest – one of the largest showcases of gospel music in the world.

This year’s event – as in the past – was held at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The East Orange School District posted a message of congratulations to students on its Facebook page:

“I’m delighted and overjoyed that the Tyson High School Choir won the McDonald’s 2019 Gospel Fest Competition! What an absolutely amazing and extraordinary feat to accomplish! Over 10,000 international competitors compete for this prestigious winning title each year! It just goes to show the unlimited potential and talent of our phenomenal students and incredible teachers! Thank you so much Mr. Bell for pouring your all into our students on a regular basis. Your dedication, commitment, and high expectations continue to shine as a ‘Vision of Excellence!’ I’m so proud of you and the Tyson High School Choir. Thank you for instilling into our students that they are capable of achieving anything that they put their heart, mind and efforts towards, and for accepting nothing less than their best! Thank you, Ms. Champagne for your strong bold leadership! Keep up the AWESOME and spectacular work Team Tyson Middle/High School! Way to go Team Tyson!”

Watch videos of the performance here and here. (Story continues below)

East Orange wasn’t the only Essex County town to have representatives in this year’s event. The Newark Board of Education Gospel Choir became the first workplace choir to participate, competing in the adult choir category.

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.

• See related article: Newark Board Of Education Choir To Perform At 'Gospelfest'

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