CONTACT Theophous H. Reagans, Esq. Allen Temple Baptist Church [email protected] 510.433.0175

ALLEN TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Entertainment, Features, Religious January 12, 2016

Allen Temple Baptist Church Presents Grammy®-Nominated Baritone Jubilant Sykes in Benefit Concert

"CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE NEGRO SPIRITUAL"

Special Guests: Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir And Dr. Lynne Morrow (Conductor, East Bay Symphony Chorus)

OAKLAND, CA: On Saturday, February 27, 2016 (7:00 p.m.), Allen Temple Baptist Church will celebrate Black History Month and the Negro Spiritual with a benefit concert performance by acclaimed Grammy®-nominated, classically-trained baritone Jubilant Sykes. The esteemed Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir is invited to be special guest performers. Dr. Lynne Morrow, revered conductor of the East Bay Symphony Chorus, will deliver a pre- concert lecture on the history of the Negro Spiritual, and Pam Moore, of KRON-4 TV News, will host the gala event at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd., Oakland, CA.

Jubilant Sykes To conclude the evening affair, generous sponsors will host a photo art exhibit and reception immediately following the performance. Event proceeds benefit Allen Temple Global Ministries and the Betty D. Gadling Fine Arts Academy. Advance tickets are $20 and may be purchased online via eventbrite; $25 at the door. Patron tickets may be purchased for $50. For more information, sponsorships and press RSVP, contact Rev. Theophous H. Reagans at [email protected] | 510.433.0175.

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About Jubilant Sykes: Perhaps no vocalist of our time possesses a more exquisitely versatile instrument than the American baritone Jubilant Sykes. Mr. Sykes brings a new dimension to the traditional career of the classically trained vocalist by drawing on gospel and jazz influences to deliver performances in differing musical genre that often leaves audiences and critics searching for new superlatives. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was inspired to proclaim, “Jubilant Sykes’ voice is extraordinary. He isn’t merely an outstanding singer; his voice is art at its highest expression.”

Mr. Sykes was honored with a Grammy nomination for “Best Classical Recording of 2009.” That same recording, ’s , was named “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine. Sykes has also performed with a number of the world’s finest orchestras and opera companies. He has worked with such conductors as Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Leonard Slatkin, Christoph Eschenbach, David Robertson, Andrew Litton, , David Zinman, John Nelson, John Williams, Keith Lockhart and the late Marvin Hamlisch. Sykes has been the featured soloist with many of the world’s finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra as well as the orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston and numerous others. Jubilant Sykes recently made his acting debut in a film with Cuba Gooding, Jr., and performed the lead role in the play “Breath and Imagination,” presented by Hartford Stage.

About Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir: Founded in 1986, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (OIGC) was born out of a gospel music workshop led by the exuberant Terrance Kelly at Living Jazz’s Jazz Camp West. It became an independent nonprofit organization in 1991. Since then, the award-winning Choir’s exquisite harmonies and stirring gospel repertoire have led to performances with a wide variety of esteemed groups, such as Joshua Nelson, the Prince of Kosher Gospel; the Five Blind Boys of Alabama; and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The Choir also appears on Grammy-winning albums by Linda Ronstadt, MC Hammer, Tramaine Hawkins, and others.

OIGC, a “treasured Bay Area institution,” was named “Best Gospel Choir” in 2006 and was the winner in the “Best Church Music” category in 2009 in the East Bay Express Reader’s Polls. Terrance Kelly was awarded the Dr. Edwin Hawkins Excellence Award in 2013.

About Allen Temple Baptist Church: Allen Temple Baptist Church was organized in 1919 in Oakland. For over 96 years, Allen Temple has served as a bright beacon of faith, hope, and love beyond its’ four walls. Allen Temple is committed to sharing the love of God and the message of Good News throughout the world. We welcome people of all ages & cultural backgrounds as we joyfully celebrate worship and fellowship, and carry out ministries of evangelism, discipleship, education, community outreach, and global missions. Allen Temple’s holistic, prophetic and social justice ministries address the needs of the whole person as well as the whole community. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Jr. is the Senior Pastor, Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson is the Assistant Pastor, and Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. is the Pastor Emeritus. To learn more about Allen Temple, visit Allen-Temple.org.

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About Allen Temple Baptist Church Global Ministries: Allen Temple’s Global Ministry facilitates cultural, religious, economic, and educational exchange, in part by sponsoring sojourns globally, and particularly to the African continent. The Global Ministry provides opportunities for African Americans to participate in experiences that affirm their personal connection to Africa as her sons and daughters.

For the past seven years, ATBC’s Global Ministries has provided outreach to children in South Africa and beyond. As part of its outreach to South Africa, Allen Temple’s Global Ministries and the ATBC Men’s Chorus have raised funds for several years to support children at a nursery in Soweto, South Africa. The funds raised by the Men’s Chorus and the Church at-large paid for beds, blankets, clothing and school supplies for children living in an impoverished community in Soweto, South Africa. Youth and young adults on both sides of the Atlantic collaborate on community service projects designed to address some of the common challenges faced by young people both in South Africa and the U.S. Funds raised by this benefit will be used to continue supporting these children, youth and young adult programs.

About Betty D. Gadling Music and Arts Academy: The Academy provides music instruction for children, youth and young adults living in the East Oakland community. Young musicians enjoy instruction at beginning and intermediate levels in music theory, piano, voice, woodwinds, guitar, percussion and strings. The music program was established to address the paucity of music instruction in public schools.

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