Verizon Wireless held its second annual How Sweet the Sound gospel choir contest in Houston on September 19, 2009, in the search to find the nation’s best church choir. Hundreds of applications and videos were submitted from around the Houston area, but in the end, only eight regional finalists were able to compete for the chance to move on to the national finals later this year.

Resurrection Baptist Church’s Mass Choir took home the grand prize in the large choir division, winning $10,000 and the opportunity to compete in the national finals. The Levites of Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Church received the top honor in the small choir division, taking a $10,000 check back to the church with them.

The complete list of winners from this year’s event include:
• Overall Regional Winner: Resurrection Baptist Church Mass Choir, Resurrection Baptist Church, who will advance to the national finals later this year
• Large Category Regional Winner: Resurrection Baptist Church Mass Choir, Resurrection Baptist Church, wins $10,000 prize
• Small/Medium Category Regional Winner: The Levites, Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Church, wins $10,000 prize
• Verizon Wireless V CAST People’s Choice Award Winner: Royalwood Sanctuary Choir, United Pentecostal Church, wins $5,000 prize
• HopeLine Winner: Royalwood Sanctuary Choir, United Pentecostal Church, wins $1,000 for collecting the most phones and donating them to the HopeLine program

Competing in the Many Voices category were the Greater St. Matthew Church Choir, Royalwood Sanctuary Choir from Houston’s United Pentecostal Church, the Resurrection Baptist Church Mass Choir and the Voice of Faith choir from St. Agnes Church.

Participants in the Few Voices category included the Word of Power International Fellowship Church Choir, Voices of JOY choir from JOY Baptist Tabernacle Church, The Levites of the Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Church and the Christ Church Chorale from Houston’s United Pentecostal Church.

Verizon Wireless is a tireless contributor to the communities in which it lives and works, providing grants to local nonprofit organizations, volunteers at various charitable events and jobs to thousands in the Houston area. The monies won at this year’s How Sweet the Sound event will go directly to church improvement, mission activities and other supporting initiatives.