KRAVIS CENTER: Voices Rise in Harmony & Spirits Soar at 22nd Annual Gospel Gala

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - May 30, 2014 - PRLog -- Voices Rise in Harmony and Spirits Soar at

Kravis Center's 22nd Annual Gospel Gala

(West Palm Beach, FL – May 27,  2014) The Kravis Center’s renowned Dreyfoos Hall has hosted many a musical concert over the last two decades, but few were as spiritually joyous as the recent 22nd annual Gospel Gala, where hundreds of hand-clapping, foot-tapping and Amen-shouting fans sang along from start to finish.

A Kravis Center Community Outreach Event hosted by the Center’s Community Relations Committee chaired by John Jenkins, the annual concert has featured numerous gospel legends over the last two decades and this year’s event was just as inspirational.

"Through its musical excellence and devotional tone, the Gospel Gala always provides a real spiritual and emotional uplift to everyone who attends,” said Mr. Jenkins, who also praised the Kravis Center’s S*T*A*R Series for providing local students the opportunity to see such diverse entertainers as Savion Glover, Ayikodans and Spirit of Uganda. “These performances provide students exposure to live theater, spark classroom discussion and stimulate the curiosity of young minds.”

Emceed by Community Relations Committee member Lee Hooks, the Gospel Gala 2014 started with a Beyond the Stage pre-performance musical presentation in the lobby, featuring local singers Justified. The rousing opening numbers of the big concert were by the Voices of Sweet Home from the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in Miami, under the musical direction of Willie C. Smith III.

"They were sensational,” said Vanessa Young, the Kravis Center’s Director of Community Outreach. “Watching the happy crowd sing along, following the lyrics on the big screen, and with all the special lighting and applause, it was as exciting as a rock concert.”

That makes sense because this year’s Gospel Gala headliner was Israel Houghton and New Breed. The winner of five Grammys, as well as multiple Stellar, Dove and Soul Train awards, Houghton is widely known for his cross-cultural style of worship music that fuses elements from gospel, jazz and rock. Along with his band and vocal ensemble, New Breed, he has created a canon of contemporary gospel-praise songs that have become standards, including “Friend Of God,” “You Are Good,” “Again I Say Rejoice” and “Alpha and Omega.”

Israel Houghton had such a good time, he praised the Kravis Center and promised to come back again whether he was invited or not. “I love this venue,” he declared.

About the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.

The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL.  For more information, please call (561) 832-7469 or visit the official web site at kravis.org (http://www.kravis.org).

Media Contact:
Gary Schweikhart
PR-BS, Inc.
561.756.4298

gary@pr-bs.net