Anderson University’s New Image Gospel Choir has been selected as a top 20 semi-finalist for the 2017 Circle of Lights ceremony presented by IBEW #481.
Phoebe Mangas, a senior national security and Spanish major and one of the choir’s directors, wanted the Gospel Choir to be involved with Circle of Lights, but wasn’t sure if it was possible. Their first gathering of the year, an interest meeting for new members, was the day before video submissions were due for the contest.
“Making the top 20 was a pleasant surprise,” she said. “I know how talented the choir is and will be, but with a 20-minute practice session and an iPhone submission, it was definitely unexpected!”
She credits the choir’s flexibility and talent with the unexpected success.
“The members of this year’s choir are sharp and picked up everything right away,” she said. “We only planned to sing one song that day and ended up singing five.”
Voting for the “Viewer’s Choice Finalist” is occurring now, and in addition to the viewer’s choice candidate, judges will select nine other acts to take part in the final round of auditions, a live callback special called “Indiana’s Got Talent.”
Voting takes place now until Oct. 1 at http://www.wthr.com/article/vote-for-the-2017-circle-of-lights-viewers-choice.
The New Image Gospel Choir is co-directed by Mangas and Angellica Jones and is coordinated by Audrey Traylor. Zina Teague also joined the team as the new staff coordinator this year.