Now in its 40th year, the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir kicked the year off by singing “The Battle Hymn of The Republic” at President Obama’s inauguration ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to a worldwide television audience of over a billion people. The Choir was featured on the cover of The New York Times and highlighted in Time Magazine. Their 27th album, “Love Lead The Way,” debuted at #1 on iTunes Christian/Gospel albums chart.
Directed by Carol Cymbala, wife to Pastor Jim Cymbala, the 300-voice choir is a blend of ethnic and economic backgrounds, with members ranging from lawyers and doctors to former drug addicts. Since its inception when the Choir began with only nine members, Carol has never read music – though she has written numerous hit songs—and the choir has never used charts. To Carol, the purpose of a church choir is very specific and very essential.
“The ultimate purpose of a choir is to lead the congregation into the presence of God,” says Carol. “Prayer is vital. Preparing the choir spiritually is so important. I do feel strongly that the idea of many voices lifted up to the Lord, unified and in harmony, is a powerful thing. We also read of choirs in the Bible going forth and singing before the battles were waged. Beyond singing, it is also being able to minister personally to those hurting or in need of Jesus.”
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has performed at major music venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Madison Square Garden. Their accolades include six Grammy Awards, seven Dove Awards (Gospel Music’s Grammy equivalent), two #1 Billboard charting CDs and over four million albums sold. For more information, visitwww.BrooklynTabernacle.org.
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