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Rocky Mount, N.C.—World-renowned vocal artist and Gospel singer Wintley Phipps will highlight performances by Rocky Mount area choirs and singers when they come together for a “Unity Through Christian Music” event on Saturday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at   Wesleyan College’s Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.

All proceeds will benefit two causes: music scholarships for Wesleyan students from Rocky Mount area congregations, and programs provided through the U.S. Dream Academy to help children of prisoners. Individual tickets are $20; tickets for groups of 20 or more are $15; Students 18 and under are admitted free. Wesleyan students are admitted free with their Student ID card.

Wintley Phipps is a spirit-filled preacher, world-renowned vocal artist, and an innovative creator of special projects. He founded and serves as president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides education programs for children of prisoners and at-risk children and youth. The U.S. Dream Academy has learning centers in 10 states. Rev. Phipps has also served on the boards of  Scholarship America and Prison Fellowship Ministries.

Born in Trinidad, West Indies, Phipps was raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He earned his bachelor’s degree in theology at Oakwood College and his master of divinity degree from Andrews University in Michigan. Throughout his career he has been the featured speaker and performer at many special occasions around the world. He has sung at concerts and conducted lectures in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and North and South America. He has sung for world leaders including U.S. Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton, George H. and George W. Bush, and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, at the Vatican and for Mother Teresa, and has made appearances on numerous television programs including the Billy Graham Crusades, a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. special, the National Easter Seal Telethon, the Rosa Parks Birthday Celebration, “Saturday Night Live,” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” He has been nominated for Grammy Awards, is the author of The Power of a Dream (1996), and is founder of Songs of Freedom Publishing Company and Coral Records Recording Company.

Wintley Phipps has recorded over 12 CDs and recently was asked to record a special selection of the favorite hymns of Billy Graham.

Some of the local choirs and singers who will share the stage with Phipps are the Morning Star Church of Christ Mass Choir, the Englewood Methodist Choir, Wesleyan’s Gospel Choir—The Voices of Triumph, Word Tabernacle Choir, Christian song-writer Melody Brown, sacred dancer Brittany Morgan, and Rev. Thomas  L. Walker of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. MCs for the program will be Wesleyan Chaplain Barry Drum and Evangeline Bullock, host of the local television program “Shine a Little Light.”

Tickets and information are available from Wesleyan’s Belk Box Office at 252-985-5197.

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