The Voices of Inspiration Annual Spring Concert touched the hearts and souls of many people last Friday night during its two-hour concert in the Umphrey Lee Ballroom.
Voices of Inspiration is an SMU gospel choir whose mission is to preach about and praise God through music. They invited recording artist Jermia Cannon, radio personality Antonio Johnson and many local gospel choirs to participate in their concert.
Voices member, Krysta Patterson, thought that this year’s concert was the best one yet.
“We are excited about the response we have gotten, and more importantly we are concerned about winning souls for God,” she said.
Voices started the night off with three songs accompanied by a live band. The audience was out of their seats singing and clapping along with the choir before the first song was over and they remained that way throughout the night.
Guest emcee Antonio Johnson kept the show moving quickly. His background in comedy kept the audience entertained throughout the evening.
University of North Dallas’ Salt of the Earth three man gospel group was a hit. Their old-school style gospel song “Clap Your Hands” had the adult listeners dancing and clapping. “Sing y’all!” was cried out from an elderly woman, who seemed delighted to hear the gospel style from her past.
Bloodline, a gospel choir from the Denton area, awed the crowd with their beautiful voices. “We didn’t come to entertain you, we came to praise the name of the Lord,” said the Bloodline director. The members of Bloodline sang with hands lifted to the ceiling and eyes closed, worshipping God and inviting the audience to do the same.
Jermia Cannon was the guest-recording artist of the night. Cannon discovered her love for music when she learned how to play the drums in her youth. Cannon switched instruments and now plays the organ at her father’s church along with leading the youth and mass choir, where she is the director of music. Cannon, who has sang with many great gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, performed two songs. Accompanied by her band and three back up singers, Cannon brought the show to its climax.
Wal-Mart generously supported the event by donating door prizes that were given out during the concert. Individuals won Gospel CDs, books and posters and Voices of Inspiration t-shirts.
