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David Grant presents this year鈥檚 Gospel Choir Of The Year competition from the Hackney Empire in London. He introduces six talented Gospel Choirs from around Britain who must impress judges Mica Paris, Muyiwa Olarewaju and Carrie Grant with their exciting gospel songs and hymns.

• The B.I.G Choir

• Gospel Rhythms

• The Reapers Choir

• AINE

• Lewes Sings Gospel

• Living Faith Connections Choir

MICA PARIS

Mica鈥檚 roots are in soul and Gospel music. She grew up singing in her grandparent鈥檚 church and released her debut, platinum-selling album 鈥�So Good鈥�, when she was just 19.

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In 2002 Mica extended her talents into broadcasting and presented 'The Gospel of Gospel', a TV documentary tracing the influence of Gospel on American popular music. She became well known to 麻豆官网首页入口 audiences when she co-hosted 鈥�What Not to Wear鈥�.

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Mica has been presented with the "Gold Badge Award" by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for her special contribution to the British entertainment industry.

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Mica says鈥�.

"Really looking forward to hearing all the choirs lifting their voices and to participate as a judge. Can't wait!"

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CARRIE GRANT

One of the best-known vocal coaches in the UK, it was her involvement with 鈥�Fame Academy鈥�, and 鈥�Pop Idol鈥� along with husband David Grant, that brought Carrie to the attention of the nation. Their book, 鈥�How to Sing鈥� is the biggest-selling vocal coaching book in the world.

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Carrie has had a varied career, starting as a dancer on 鈥�Top of The Pops鈥�, representing the UK in the Eurovision in '83. As a session singer she has worked with the likes of Diana Ross, Roberta Flack and Rod Stewart. Carrie and David's highly acclaimed gospel album 鈥�Watching and Waiting鈥� won them a MOBO Award in 1998.

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These days Carrie is a regular presenter on 鈥�The One Show鈥� but singing remains her passion and she recently performed at Ronnie Scotts for the British Jazz Festival. She continues with her 鈥�Girls' Night Out 罢辞耻谤鈥� for World Vision.

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Carrie says鈥�.

鈥�There can be nothing better than the sound of many voices singing together, with passion, freedom and heart. I can't wait to get back in that judging seat!鈥�

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MUYIWA OLAREWAJU

Born in 1970 in London, Muyiwa lived for the first few years of his life in Nigeria. His earliest musical memories are of listening to church music and Kate Bush.

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In his singing and song writing Muyiwa mixes traditional Gospel music with elements of world music, soul, R&B and pop. With his group Riversongz he has released five albums that feature his distinctive singing voice and 鈥渟poken word鈥� monologues/raps. The latest is 鈥�Declaring His Name All Around The World鈥�, and features singers from India, China and Africa. They are the first gospel act to sell out Hammersmith Apollo and Indigo2 at the O2 in London.

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As a broadcaster, he has a late-night show on London's Premier Christian Radio, where he presents their flagship 鈥�Gospel Tonight鈥� and 鈥�Worship Tonight鈥� programme and he鈥檚 also the front man on 鈥�Turning Point鈥�, the American TV programme that鈥檚 seen all over the world. 听听

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Muyiwa says鈥�

鈥�I am delighted to be part of this wonderful programme that shines some light on the prodigious Gospel talent we have in our country.鈥�

B.I.G. Choir

Andrea Encinas is the arts director of British Gospel Arts as well as the founder and director of the B.I.G. choir, a training choir that鈥檚 been in existence since April 2012.听 There are 67 members at present; although 40 will be performing on Gospel Choir of The Year.

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Andrea says the choir is non-auditioned and people come for all sorts of reasons and range in ages from early 20s to members aged 60, including people from different backgrounds. Andrea says the choir has a family feel and that people 鈥榣ook after each other鈥� but have a strong passion for singing.听 Their tag line is 鈥榩utting the soul into choral music.鈥�

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Gospel Rhythms

Gospel Rhythms are based at Coventry University and perform in churches, at music events and at university functions. Rebecca, who has led and conducted the choir for the last 3 years says she takes a relaxed approach to coaching but is very passionate about singing and encourages the choir to focus on their passion. Rebecca says each performance the choir do has a very different experience. Many of the choir members are students but many have also left university but continue to sing with the choir because they love singing with the choir so much. The longest standing member has been with the choir for 6 years. The choir is also conducted by David who describes the choir as a family of people that come together to share the Gospel.

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The Reapers Choir

The choir is led by Anu who explains that she wants to enter Gospel Choir Competition because singing means so much to her and the choir. The choir will feel at home in The Hackney Empire as the choir are based in Hackney at Christ Apostolic Church. The choir members have all sung, some still do, in the church鈥檚 classical choir and they like to sing quasi-classical arrangements, which suit their voices.

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Anu has composed one the songs that the choir performs. It was written whilst grieving for her father. Anu explains that the words in the song 鈥楽tand Still鈥� sum up the choirs attitude to God, Faith and Lives. 听

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AINE

AINE (pronounced 鈥極nya鈥�) started with 5 ladies in 2007. As the choral director, Alex wanted to choose an appropriate name for this small female choir. He wanted to find a female name and came across the celtic name 鈥楢INE鈥� meaning 鈥楯oy and Peace.鈥� He said 鈥榡oy and peace鈥� is the way he wants his music to sound. Their music is based on 7th Day Adventist Christianity. The choir share a commitment to the bible and have a belief in its values. He says the choir is now mixed (males and females) and there are 9 members who will be performing on Gospel Choir of The Year. They share Alex鈥檚 vision in creating a unique, contemporary sound, which takes its spirit from 鈥楶raise and Worship.鈥�

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Lewes Sings Gospel

Lewes Sings Gospel is a community choir run by Southover Church in Lewes. Southover is a medium-sized Anglican church, with a passion to be outward-focussed and to serve the community. The gospel choir is one way in which it serves the local community and makes connections between those inside and outside the church.

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The choir is made up of a real mix of people, with ages ranging from 30 to 70, lots of the members travel from as far as Brighton to perform with the choir. Chris, the choir leader has grown up with the church from choirboy to choir leader and has really embraced the Gospel spirit since the launch of Lewes Sings Gospel in 2009.

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The choir鈥檚 conductor, Karen Gibson has also been associated with Lewes Sings Gospel since its launch in 2009. Karen is a well-known and highly respected choir director in the Gospel community.

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Living Faith Connections Choir

Evans Ogboi who is a full time member of the church 鈥� Living Faith Connections Church in Barking, runs Living Faith Connections Choir. The choir has 38 members and is 13 years old. Evans joined the choir 3 years ago and says that the choir feel the power of God when they sing. Evans explained that he was really pleased the choir got through to the final because he鈥檚 鈥渆xcited to be able to reach out to people.鈥� This is a Church choir. He says 鈥淲e鈥檙e passionate, excited, talented, energetic 鈥� and contemporary.鈥� Evans produces music for artists full-time and he has his own music-studio at home.