Friends For Harmony Concert

Black ministerial alliance and vision New England Join forces to promote harmony and peace through major music event ‘friends for harmony concert’ brings internationally acclaimed artists and regional favorites to Bank of America pavilion

Boston , MA - The Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, Inc. (BMA) and Vision New England (VNE), the region’s largest faith-based organizations, have developed an unprecedented partnership to promote harmony and peace through celebration, song and praise. As co-presenters of the Friends For Harmony Concert , VNE and BMA invite New England citizens to join in a spiritually uplifting musical celebration at the Bank of America Pavilion .

Mayor Thomas M. Menino , Reverend Michael E. Haynes , and Caleb and Bonny Loring III , the event’s honorary co-chairs, will embrace this opportunity to build friendships and bridge barriers separating urban and suburban people across cultural, racial, regional, and denominational lines.

On Saturday, June 18, 2005 , beginning at 5:30pm, the FRIENDS FOR HARMONY CONCERT will present the New England debut of one of the hottest new music groups in the country in a contemporary gospel music celebration. Stellar and GMA Award winning and Grammy nominated Israel and New Breed bring their internationally acclaimed

Christian and gospel music to Boston’s premiere harborside concert venue. Regional favorites, Freda Battle & The Temple Worshippers and the Eastern Nazarene College Gospel Choir , will open the concert (seating begins 5:30pm; concert begins 6pm and ends 9:30pm; 20-minute intermission).

Among recent accolades, Israel Houghton won Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2005 Stellar Awards. His latest release with New Breed, Integrity Gospel’s “Live From Another Level,” won Stellar’s CD of the Year, two 2005 GMA Awards for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (“Again I Say Rejoice”), and a Soul Train Award for Best Gospel Album. In addition, the group garnered a 2005 Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album category. Critically acclaimed as one of Christian music's foremost worship leaders, songwriters, recording artists, and producers, Israel has touched the hearts of millions across the globe through his “anointed, God-inspired music.” He has worked with such artists as Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, and Yolanda Adams, and garnered the admiration of music legends, including Andrae Crouch and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Boston ’s own Freda Battle is well known throughout the tri-state area for nearly 30 years in gospel music and radio, and for her work with The Winans, Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and others. She also serves as a Minister of Music for Jubilee Christian Church, one of the largest in the Boston area, and as president of the board for Jubilee’s own label, Axiom Records. The Eastern Nazarene College Choir began as a small, multi-cultural, student-led group. Today it is a 50-member choir under the directorship of Eastern Nazarene College music professor Dr. Delvyn Case.

Since 1997 this group has performed "contemporary urban gospel" throughout the Northeast and made an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Through their worship, passion for God, and excitement, they proclaim the Gospel with great joy. Both groups have extended their reach far beyond the region through successful recordings.

Bishop Gilbert Thompson , President of the BMA, said, “The Friends For Harmony Concert is a calling to gather different people, churches, and faith-based ministries across New England to celebrate harmony and peace for our city and region through song, praise and worship. We are excited about partnering with Vision New England to bring their suburban-based members and our urban Alliance together for this celebration.”

Reverend David Midwood , President of VNE, stated, "The Friends For Harmony Concert promises to be a powerful celebration of spiritual unity in this region. Many streams are coming together to create a river of dynamic worship. Vision New England and the Black Ministerial Alliance have been ministry partners for many years. This promises to be one of the most exciting evenings the community has ever seen.”

VNE is the largest faith-based organization in New England. Headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, VNE serves more than 5,000 churches representing 80 denominations and 50,000 members around the New England region. VNE works through its 23 service-focused, outreach ministries to address regional needs. Central to the organization’s ministries is the theme of uniting churches for evangelism, discipleship and celebration.

BMA is the largest urban faith-based organization in New England. Located in Boston’s Dudley Square, BMA represents 80 urban churches that touch the lives of some 25,000 people in the Greater Boston area each year, and provides technical assistance and training for churches and faith-based organizations to assist with expanding or launching new services to meet emerging community needs. BMA is currently collaborating with more than 96 faith-and community-based agencies to collectively work with 22,000 at-risk and high-risk youth living in Boston’s inner core.

The Friends For Harmony Concert will help VNE and BMA raise general operating funds to support both organizations’ mission-driven ministries and programs around New England, including programs for at-risk and high-risk youth, people with disabilities, and prison ministries. The benefit concert also will provide a new opportunity for people of common interests in harmony and peace to gather in support of this important message.

Tickets for the Friends For Harmony Concert are currently available through Ticket Master, the Orpheum Theatre, and Sanctuary Bookstores. General admission: $20 (uncovered concourse table seating behind Pavillion Sections); $30 and $50 (covered Pavillion reserved seating); $150, box seating/VIP intermission reception. For more information about tickets, ticket outlet locations, featured performers, the host sponsors and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.friendsforharmony.org; call VNE: 978.929.9800; or BMA: 617.445.2737 x29.