Early bird ticket offer until Dec. 21 for CLC's Salute to Gospel Music Concert
A buy one, get one free ticket offer for the Salute to Gospel Music Concert presented by the College of Lake County Lakeshore Campus is available until Dec. 21. The 35th annual event will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St. in downtown Waukegan. The featured performers are JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise as well as Ms. Anita Wilson.
The early bird ticket offer is for the first 200 ticket buyers at the James Lumber Center Box Office (Grayslake) and LancerZone store locations at the Grayslake, Lakeshore and Southlake Campuses.
Regular and group tickets will be on sale Jan. 2 to Feb. 22 by phone or in person at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts Box Office in Grayslake and at the LancerZone stores at the Grayslake, Waukegan and Vernon Hills campuses. Tickets may also be purchased at the Genesee Theatre and online at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets and www.geneseetheatre.com
An accomplished gospel singer, Hairston is the leader, chief songwriter and director of Youthful Praise (affectionately known as YP), a Billboard chart-topping national choir. Formed in 1991 out of Turner's Faith Temple in Bridgeport, Conn., Youthful Praise is known for its exuberant, urban-tinged gospel and praise and worship songs. In 2018, Hairston and the group were nominated for nine Gospel Music Stellar Awards and emerged with a total of six: Song of the Year, CD of the Year, Choir of the Year, Urban Inspirational Single of Performance of the Year, Contemporary Choir of the Year and Praise and Worship CD of the Year. The group also received in 2018 a Billboard Music Award and an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Rhythm & Soul Award.
Youthful Praise has recorded eight albums, and in 2017, their single, "You Deserve It," placed first by Billboard Magazine on four charts: Hot Gospel Songs, Hot Gospel Song Artists, Gospel Air Play and Gospel Digital Songs. The choir has performed with Joan Osborne, Shirley Caesar and Destiny's Child, and television appearances include "Bobby Jones Gospel," "Good Morning America" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Additionally, Hairston launched in 2017 a syndicated radio show, "Youthful Praise with JJ Hairston," airing Saturdays on Rejoice Musical Soul Food in more than 50 markets.
-MORE-
In addition to media appearances, Youthful Praise has performed on several national platforms, including, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, T.D. Jakes' MegaFest and Essence Music Festival. Currently, Hairston is co-headlining the 2018 McDonald's Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour.
Anita Wilson is American gospel music singer, songwriter and music producer. The East St. Louis, Ill. native spent several years as background singer with Donald Lawrence & Company, then emerged as a solo recording artist in 2011 with the ballad "Speechless." Her 2013 album "Worship Soul" as well as her 2015 album "Vintage Worship" each were Grammy nominated for Best Gospel Album.
Effie Rolfe, a Chicago-based media personality, speaker and author, will serve as emcee along with JoHaan Cotton-Wilson, CLC special projects coordinator. Additionally, the 2019 Harambee Award of Excellence will announced at the concert. The host choir is the College of Lake County Gospel Choir, directed by Matthew Hunter, a music education graduate of Michigan State University and prior director of choirs at Niles West High School in Skokie.
Ticket information: $28 general admission; $26 for seniors 65+, CLC students/staff/children); $33 at the door. Groups of 20-29: $23; groups over 30: $19.
For group sales, call the Box Office at (847) 543-2431 (group sales are not available at CLC LancerZone stores). For tickets, call (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets or the James Lumber Center Box Office (Grayslake) and CLC LancerZone store locations: Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St., Room B131, Grayslake, (847) 543-2086; Lakeshore Campus, 33 N. Genesee St., Room S116, Waukegan, (847) 543-2189; Southlake Campus, 1120 S. Milwaukee Ave., Room V134, Vernon Hills, (847) 543-6530. On the performance date, Feb. 23, tickets will be available only at the Genesee Theatre box office.
About College of Lake County:
College of Lake County is an innovative community college in Lake County, Ill. that transforms lives with its variety of accessible, quality education options. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, College of Lake County provides affordable options in a state-of-the-art setting close to home. A large student network, with small class sizes,
provides advantages to our students on a career-related program or a path toward a transfer degree. We're proud to serve the diverse needs of our community and student body. Connect to your future today at College of Lake County. For more information, visit www.clcillinois.edu