By Brandi Watters, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — The sounds of worship and praise filled the Paramount Theatre in Anderson on Sunday as the venue hosted its first-ever gospel quartet competition.
Five quartets entered the competition, singing two songs apiece to an audience of about 250 area gospel-lovers.
Though the Ministers Quartet, a central Indiana-based quartet, walked away as winners of the competition, several local groups took the stage to sing the word. The top prize was three hours of time at Studio D recording studio in Summitville.
Parishioners and pastors from the Madison Park Church of God, First United Methodist Church of Pendleton and East Side Church of God in Anderson took the stage, representing the local gospel community.
The fifth group, Majestic Sounds, hailed from Wilmington, Ohio.
The judges were Nancy Wood, Carma Wood and Pat Topolsky.
Sherry Contos of the Paramount Theatre organized the event and said she hoped it would be the first of many gospel shows at the downtown venue. “We’ve been thinking about a gospel series.”
Instead of bringing in national gospel stars, Contos said the theater wants to continue to feature the talents of regional singers and performers.
Mary Smith of Anderson once worked at the Paramount as an usher as a young girl and attended Sunday’s event. She hopes the theater will stay filled as area residents enjoy such events. “I wish they could have more of these sorts of things.”
A guest performance by a trio from Summitville, 1-Purpose, opened and closed the program, which was emceed by Jim Rogers.
The Friendship Stars of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Anderson performed during the show but were not contestants. The five-boy group included teens and child singers from the local church. The young singers got the crowd clapping to fast-paced praise songs with soulful voices as judges tallied the ballots. Fifteen-year-old singer Jaquan Nunn said singing in the group has benefited him for the past eight years. “It gives me time to get out of my schedule and come to church and praise the Lord. It keeps me off the streets.”
First place: The Ministers Quartet
Second place: The East Side Quartet
Third place: Majestic Sounds
