THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240201
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The Gospel set to music will fill the Nansemond River High School auditorium Saturday and Sunday as the Tidewater Gospel Music Association presents its first Singing Convention.
The competition - free to the public - runs from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Even after the contest ends, the music will not. Once trophies are awarded, the competing groups, and others, will entertain.
The competitors will be judged by their peers, men and women who are part of the area Southern gospel picture.
The judges are Alan Ham of Kinston, N.C., formerly with Heaven Bound; Ray Peace of Rocky Mount, N.C., who was with The Sentinels; Derrick Boyd of Washington, N.C., a tenor with The Singing Laymen; Tim Sutton of Winterville, N.C., who was with Movin' Up; and Gayle Harris of Norfolk, wife of the former TGMA president.
The TGMA entertainers are The Alliance Trio, The Cavaliers, The Coburn Family, Hearts of Praise, Hope, The Joys, The Kelleys, N' Harmony, Rejoice, The Searchers and Wings of Love.
Guest groups are Singing Laymen, Moving Up Quartet, Harry White Southern Sounds, Harvest Time, The Carolina Boys, The Ambassadors, Assurance, Southern Heritage, The Galileans and The Solid Rock Quartet.
Suffolk Mayor S. Chris Jones will welcome visitors at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Concessions will be sold during the two-day affair. Admission is free, but a ``love offering'' will be taken. ILLUSTRATION: Hearts of Praise is one of the groups performing today at the
Tidewater Gospel Music Association's Singing Convention at Nansemond
River High.
AT A GLANCE
What: Gospel Singing Convention
Where: Nansemond River High School, 3301 Nansemond Pkwy.
When: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday
Information: Cliff Branch, 484-4610
by CNB