The Katonah Village Library Proudly Presents the Third Annual GospelFest.

For the past two years on a Saturday afternoon in February the doors have been blown off of the library by the joyous voices of area gospel choirs. The tradition continues this year with three choir groups performing. This will be the third visit of the Antioch Baptist Church Choir. They have been singing hymns, anthems, and spirituals for the Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills for over one hundred years, St.John's Wilmot Choir of New Rochelle is also returning for the third year. With a more experimental repertoire, they have performed at the Palace Theater and for the NY Diocese Convention. This year they will combine forces with the library's own choir, harmonize this. Newcomers to the GospelFest are the choir of Nyack College NYC called Purpose.

The festival was started by Stephanie Hartwell-Mandella, the Youth Services Librarian, who just can't stop singing. She saw GospelFest as the way to bring gospel to a wider audience. Hartwell-Mandella has also built a choir right at the library's Steinway Grand Piano with Frank L. Pisani (New York Blues Hall of Fame) with the idea that everyone can sing: "We are always looking for positive ways to connect. Everyone has so much fun. And it is true that we all sound better together!" There will be a chance for all to experience that harmony when the choirs and the audience join together in the final song. So come and expect to be lifted and inspired, roused, and filled with hand-clapping, foot-stomping rhythm.

Saturday, February 18 at 2pm
Tickets available at the door: 5.00 donation, children under the age of five are free.

The concert is on the lower level of the library, located at 26 Bedford Road in Katonah. 232-3508