2012 National Quartet Convention In Full Swing In Louisville

Louisville, KY – The 55th Annual National Quartet Convention officially kicked off on Sunday evening, September 9 at Louisville’s Kentucky Fair & Expo Center. The opening event included a special Sunday night concert,allowing Southern Gospel Music lovers arriving early for the 2012 event to enjoy the sounds of multi-award winning groups, Greater Vision, The Hoppers and The Booth Brothers. This was the second year in a row these three group’s celebrated the kick-off of Southern Gospel Music’s premier event, which has taken place in Louisville since 1994.

The National Quartet Convention is the only event of the year where fans can see and hear their favorite groups at a single event, then meet group members and purchase music, videos and much more at any one of the many exhibit booths which span throughout 175,000 square feet. Southern Gospel Music lovers can enjoy their favorite music all day long, as music spectaculars begin each morning and continue until midnight each evening.

Headliners on Monday evening’s concert in Freedom Hall included Grammy nominated recording artist, Karen Peck & New River, Gospel Music Hall of Fame members, The Hoppers, and seven-time IBMA Group of the Year, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

Tuesday marks the 11th anniversary of 911, and throughout the evening, artists appearing in Freedom Hall will pay tribute to the fallen of that tragic day. Grammy Award winner, Jason Crabb will be among the 13 performers scheduled to be featured on Tuesday evening.

Seats are available for all afternoon showcases and evening concerts and may be purchased in the North Wing lobby of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center. Visit www.nqconline.com for a complete schedule of events.

2011 National Quartet Convention Filled With Memorable Highlights!

Louisville, KY - The 54th Annual National Quartet Convention officially concluded on Saturday, September 17, following six days and seven nights filled with memorable moments, special reunions, local and national television exposure and more than 75 hours of music, music and more music. The event kicked off on Sunday evening, September 11 at Louisville's Kentucky Fair & Expo Center and continued throughout the week, as Gospel Music fans from more than 40 states and at least a half dozen countries traveled to the city of Louisville, KY, for the 2011 Convention. In addition to the many popular quartets, trios, duets and soloists featured throughout the week, prominent keynote speakers included Dr David Jeremiah, Dr Charles Stanley and former Attorney General John Ashcroft, as well as Fox New Correspondent, Kelly Wright.
The National Quartet Convention, which first began in 1957 in Memphis, TN, offers fans of Gospel Music the convenience of seeing and hearing their favorite groups at a single event, as well as meeting those favorites, purchasing their music, videos and much more at any one of the 500 exhibit booths which span throughout 175,000 square feet. Gospel Music lovers enjoy their favorite music all day long, as music spectaculars begin each morning and continue until nearly midnight each evening, with performances by such popular and multi-award winning recording artists as The Gaither Vocal Band, Jason Crabb, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Booth Brothers, The Hoppers, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, The Isaacs, and Jeff & Sheri Easter.
One special highlight of the week included the very first NQC Christmas Day on Tuesday, as the day kicked off with a special bonus Christmas concert. Christmas decorations decked the hallways of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center, and the evening concluded with a special NQC Christmas In September music extravaganza.
Another highlight included the Dixie Melody Boys' 50th Anniversary Celebration, featuring the reunion of more than 40 past and present Quartet members. Other reunion appearances included the Gaither Vocal Band Reunion, the Hinsons Reunion, as well as the Rambos Tribute. Each Reunion Tribute featured former classic standards recorded and made popular by each of the groups.
The 3rd Annual NQC Cancer Walk, hosted by Janet Paschal, proved to be another huge success, as walkers braved a cold, drizzly Louisville morning on Thursday to participate in the event, a benefit for the American Cancer Society.
Reflecting upon the 2011 NQC, Executive Vice President, Clarke Beasley, stated that the overall success of the event was most evident to all who attended the event. "It was truly a special year, filled with many memorable moments. Attendance was very strong, and our attendees were truly blessed by all they saw and heard."
The 2012 National Quartet Convention will take place September 9-15, 2012 in Louisville at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center. Visit www.nqconline.com, as a complete schedule of events will be posted in the coming weeks.

Pictured above: Multi-Grammy Award winning recording artist, The Gaither Vocal Band were featured
during a special reunion event on Thursday, and also made an appearance during
Friday evening's concert line-up at the 2011 NQC.