0:00:01 > 0:00:05Last week, six amateur gospel choirs sang with all their heart and soul
0:00:05 > 0:00:07at the Town Hall here in Birmingham.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Today, they perform again, before one of them
0:00:12 > 0:00:16wins the very first Songs of Praise Gospel Choir Competition.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:24 > 0:00:27I'd like to welcome you to this wonderful venue right in the centre
0:00:27 > 0:00:31of Birmingham for this second part of our gospel music competition.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The so-called "Father of Gospel Music," Thomas Dorsey,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37once said, "If it doesn't lift you, it's not gospel."
0:00:37 > 0:00:40And I'm sure these six amateur choirs will do their very best
0:00:40 > 0:00:42to lift you and the trophy.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45We have, from London, Faith Works.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:47 > 0:00:48From Nottingham, Hope Community Gospel Choir.
0:00:49 > 0:00:49From Nottingham, Hope Community Gospel Choir.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:51 > 0:00:54From Birmingham, Birmingham Community Gospel Choir.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:56 > 0:00:58From Preston, One Voice Community Choir.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:00 > 0:01:02From Dagenham, Fountain of Praise.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And also from Birmingham, it's the Town Hall Gospel Choir.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:12 > 0:01:15This week, the choirs will sing a gospel song of their choice.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Watching, and more importantly, listening, will be our expert judges
0:01:19 > 0:01:23who are singer and songwriter, the fabulous Ruby Turner.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:25 > 0:01:28The founder of the London Community Gospel Choir,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30it's the Reverend Bazil Meade.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:32 > 0:01:35And TV presenter, vocal coach, MOBO Award winner
0:01:35 > 0:01:39and wonderful wife and mother, it's Carrie Grant!
0:01:39 > 0:01:41CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Right, our first choir is about to sing, but before they do,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49here's a reminder of how they got on last week.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53# This, this is my story... #
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We're going to give it our very best.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59We've rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Colin has absolutely hammered it into us.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Our song this time is Jesus Paid It All.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08There's a bit of a twist in it.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Town Hall Gospel Choir always likes a bit of a twist.
0:02:10 > 0:02:18# I hear the Saviour say
0:02:20 > 0:02:28# Thy strength indeed is small
0:02:28 > 0:02:33# Child of weakness
0:02:33 > 0:02:41# Watch and pray, ooh
0:02:41 > 0:02:46# Find in Me
0:02:46 > 0:02:53# Thine all in all
0:02:55 > 0:03:01# Jesus paid it all
0:03:01 > 0:03:05# All to Him I owe
0:03:05 > 0:03:07# Whoa, whoa
0:03:07 > 0:03:12# Sin had left a crimson stain
0:03:12 > 0:03:19# Jesus washed me white as snow
0:03:19 > 0:03:25# Jesus paid it all
0:03:25 > 0:03:30# All to Him I owe
0:03:30 > 0:03:32# Whoa, whoa
0:03:32 > 0:03:37# Sin had left a crimson stain
0:03:37 > 0:03:42# Jesus washed me white as snow
0:03:42 > 0:03:43# Whoa, whoa
0:03:43 > 0:03:46# He washed me
0:03:46 > 0:03:49# Jesus washed me
0:03:49 > 0:03:52# He washed me
0:03:52 > 0:03:56# I'm so glad He washed me
0:03:56 > 0:03:59# He washed me
0:03:59 > 0:04:02# Jesus washed me
0:04:02 > 0:04:04# He washed me
0:04:04 > 0:04:09# I'm so glad He washed me
0:04:09 > 0:04:14# Sin had left a crimson stain
0:04:14 > 0:04:17# Jesus washed me
0:04:17 > 0:04:20# I'm so glad He washed me
0:04:20 > 0:04:23# Jesus washed me
0:04:23 > 0:04:26# With His blood He washed me
0:04:26 > 0:04:29# Jesus washed me
0:04:29 > 0:04:31# While He Wash-wash-wash, wash-wash-washed
0:04:31 > 0:04:41# Wash-wash, wash-wash-washed
0:04:41 > 0:04:44# Wash-washed Jesus washed me
0:04:44 > 0:04:47# I'm so glad He washed me
0:04:47 > 0:04:50# Jesus washed me
0:04:50 > 0:04:53# With His blood He washed me
0:04:53 > 0:04:56# Jesus washed me
0:04:56 > 0:05:04# White as snow
0:05:04 > 0:05:07# Oo-oo-ooh. #
0:05:08 > 0:05:10CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Town Hall Gospel Choir!
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Ruby, I've got to go first to the vocal gymnastics.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21What did you think of that?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Absolute knockout! Absolute knockout!
0:05:25 > 0:05:32Dynamic, uplifting, just wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Thank you so much, that was great!
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Bazil, did they sound to you like they meant what they sang?
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Absolutely, that performance had everything in it.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48The dynamics were beautiful, the vocal control,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52moving from the soft palette to the gusto sound was just brilliant.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55And once they kicked off into that canon at the end there,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57that was just off the hook, as I say.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Carrie, how does this compare with their performance last week?
0:06:01 > 0:06:05This is what I wanted to see from you guys.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08You have taken it out of the box,
0:06:08 > 0:06:12absolutely living in the moment, and it absolutely connected.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16It was intelligent, you understand the genre.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17Faultless, for me.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23Wow. And thank you, Birmingham Town Hall Choir!
0:06:23 > 0:06:25CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:06:25 > 0:06:27We can run it again. We can do it one more time.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30It was purely inspirational.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Town Hall Gospel Choir?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Boom! Boom! Boom!
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Time now for our second choir, from Dagenham.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39It's Fountain of Praise.
0:06:39 > 0:06:45# So I cherish the old ragged cross... #
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Well, I think the fact that we are a church choir,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50and that we do praise and worship every week, so we've got that
0:06:50 > 0:06:52passion and I think that hopefully should stand out.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55THEY SING SCALES
0:06:55 > 0:06:58This week we're going to sing Blessed Assurance.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Fantastic song, and I believe strongly that's a winning song.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09# Blessed assurance
0:07:09 > 0:07:11# Jesus is mine
0:07:14 > 0:07:17# O what a foretaste
0:07:19 > 0:07:22# Of glory divine
0:07:23 > 0:07:26# Heir of salvation
0:07:27 > 0:07:30# Purchase of God
0:07:32 > 0:07:35# Born of His Spirit
0:07:37 > 0:07:39# Washed in His blood
0:07:41 > 0:07:44# Blessed assurance
0:07:45 > 0:07:50# Jesus is mine
0:07:50 > 0:07:53# O what a foretaste
0:07:53 > 0:07:57# Of glory, glory divine
0:07:59 > 0:08:03# I'm an heir of salvation
0:08:04 > 0:08:08# Purchase of God
0:08:08 > 0:08:12# Born of His Spirit
0:08:12 > 0:08:16# Washed in His blood
0:08:18 > 0:08:20# This is my story
0:08:21 > 0:08:24# This is my song
0:08:26 > 0:08:29# Praising my Saviour
0:08:30 > 0:08:35# All the day long
0:08:35 > 0:08:39# This is my story
0:08:39 > 0:08:42# This is my song
0:08:44 > 0:08:47# Praising my Saviour
0:08:48 > 0:08:52# All the day long
0:08:54 > 0:08:57# Oh, what a blessed assurance
0:08:58 > 0:09:00# Oh, what a blessed assurance
0:09:02 > 0:09:05# Oh, what a blessed assurance
0:09:06 > 0:09:14# This is my song # Oh, what a blessed assurance
0:09:14 > 0:09:27# This is my story
0:09:29 > 0:09:33# This is my story
0:09:33 > 0:09:37# This is my song
0:09:37 > 0:09:41# Praising my Saviour
0:09:42 > 0:09:44# All the day long. #
0:09:48 > 0:09:50CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Fountain of Praise!
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Carrie, did the song choice work for you?
0:10:02 > 0:10:05What I loved most of all was the beginning section,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07the unison singing was beautiful.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11It was tight, the blending was good, it snapped, it was lovely.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Just the whole sound was beautiful. Wow.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Ruby, they said this was their story.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20How well did they tell it for you?
0:10:20 > 0:10:24They told that story very, very well. Wonderful presentation.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Joyful singing. You know, very entertaining. Thank you. Great.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35As founder of one of Britain's premier gospel choirs,
0:10:35 > 0:10:39how far have this choir got to go before they reach that professional standard?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41They haven't got far to go at all, Dave.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45I think they're showing great discipline in terms of working
0:10:45 > 0:10:48with their conductor. And so, yeah, they just keep working at it
0:10:48 > 0:10:53and aim to improve on every area of your performance.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Fountain of Praise, thank you.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Another great performance, guys. It was brilliant!
0:11:00 > 0:11:03How did you guys find it? Fantastic!
0:11:03 > 0:11:06The judges understood we were really telling our story. We're not singing for the sake of it,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08we're also spreading a message.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Next up, it's the turn of One Voice Community Choir from Preston.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17# Every knee shall bow. #
0:11:18 > 0:11:22For me, this is more than just music. It's part of my faith.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28This time, we're going to sing Kumbayah - Come By Here.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30The song is very powerful because it means that no matter
0:11:30 > 0:11:32what you're going through in life,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35God is going to be there to help you.
0:11:35 > 0:11:42# Kumbayah, oh Lord, kumbayah
0:11:44 > 0:11:47# Kumbayah, oh Lord, kumbayah
0:11:49 > 0:11:52# Oh, Lord, kumbayah
0:11:53 > 0:11:56# Oh, Lord, kumbayah
0:11:58 > 0:12:01# Oh, Lord, kumbayah
0:12:03 > 0:12:05# Oh, Lo-o-o-o-ord, kumbayah
0:12:07 > 0:12:10# Oh, Lord, kumbayah
0:12:12 > 0:12:19# Somebody needs you, Lord, kumbayah
0:12:21 > 0:12:25# I've been praying for such a long time
0:12:25 > 0:12:30# Praying for some peace of mind
0:12:30 > 0:12:34# Here I am, Lord, my heart and my soul
0:12:34 > 0:12:38# Praying for you to take control
0:12:38 > 0:12:49# Come by here, good Lord
0:12:49 > 0:12:51# Come by here
0:12:51 > 0:12:54# Come by here, good Lord
0:12:54 > 0:12:56# Come by here
0:12:56 > 0:12:59# Come by here, good Lord
0:12:59 > 0:13:01# Come by here
0:13:01 > 0:13:04# Oh, Lord, come by here
0:13:04 > 0:13:13# Come by here, good Lord
0:13:13 > 0:13:16# I'm praying I'm praying
0:13:16 > 0:13:18# Come by here
0:13:18 > 0:13:20# Praying
0:13:20 > 0:13:22# Come by here
0:13:22 > 0:13:25# I'm praying I'm praying
0:13:25 > 0:13:27# Come by here
0:13:27 > 0:13:31# Oh, Lord, come by here
0:13:31 > 0:13:40# Come by here, good Lord
0:13:40 > 0:13:42# I'm praying I'm praying
0:13:42 > 0:13:44# Come by here
0:13:44 > 0:13:47# Praying
0:13:47 > 0:13:48# Come by here
0:13:48 > 0:13:50# I'm praying I'm praying
0:14:36 > 0:14:37The One Voice Community Choir!
0:14:37 > 0:14:39With Tyndale on lead vocals!
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Bazil, really familiar song - what did you make of the interpretation?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I must say, this choir is the surprise of the night.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51CHEERING
0:14:53 > 0:14:56I just... I love the arrangement. It's one that I recognise.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58And looking at the whole group...
0:14:58 > 0:15:02I'm looking at some of the individuals up there, and they are so into it.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05That is what it's all about.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08APPLAUSE Lovely. I enjoyed that very much.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13Carrie, One Voice - one song, one chance to get it right. Did they?
0:15:13 > 0:15:16This is the choir that I most want to join.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20CHEERING I just think you have so much energy.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23I was like, "I need to spot a weak one." There's no weak ones!
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Every one of you is just giving 100%,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30and that energy is so joyful, and so brilliant.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Ruby, does choosing a familiar song like this have its drawbacks?
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Well, it can have its drawbacks, but not with this choir.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44I don't think anything can hold this choir back. They're fantastic.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It's like it's a Soweto township choir coming through.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Super, absolutely super. Fantastic.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Super, dynamic, the choir they'd most like to join...
0:15:56 > 0:15:59One Voice Community Choir!
0:16:00 > 0:16:02THEY CHEER AND LAUGH
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Finally got together. Really fantastic, yes.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Carrie wishes to join our choir. We have so much fun.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10She can if she likes!
0:16:10 > 0:16:13So proud of the choir. I felt it and it was awesome.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15CHEERING
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Three choirs have sung in this final instalment of our gospel choir
0:16:18 > 0:16:22competition, and things aren't getting any easier for our judges.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24If you have already picked a winner, hang on.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26There are three more choirs to go,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and this time, our choir are from here in Birmingham.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32It's Birmingham Community Gospel Choir.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38To be in the first ever Gospel Choir Of The Year competition
0:16:38 > 0:16:40is just already we've reached...
0:16:40 > 0:16:44Praise God, he's done very well for us. Thank you very much.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47What A Friend We Have In Jesus is a piece that we're doing,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51and it means a lot to me, because actually, he is my friend.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54He's more than a friend to me, actually.
0:16:54 > 0:17:07# What a friend we have in Jesus
0:17:07 > 0:17:20# All our sins and griefs to bear
0:17:23 > 0:17:37# What a privilege to carry
0:17:37 > 0:17:50# Everything to God in prayer
0:17:50 > 0:18:05# O, what peace we often forfeit
0:18:05 > 0:18:17# O what needless pain we bear
0:18:20 > 0:18:34# All because we do not carry
0:18:34 > 0:18:47# Everything, everything, everything to God in prayer
0:18:49 > 0:19:04# Can we find a friend so faithful
0:19:04 > 0:19:16# Who will all our sorrows share?
0:19:19 > 0:19:33# Jesus knows our every weakness
0:19:33 > 0:19:46# Take everything, everything, everything to God in prayer. #
0:19:49 > 0:19:52CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Birmingham Community Gospel Choir!
0:20:00 > 0:20:02SHE MOUTHS
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Bazil, I'd like to start with you. What did you think?
0:20:05 > 0:20:10I was just saying to Ruby that that was, what, old school, traditional,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12straight down the throat, straight down the road.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14And it came over beautifully.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18It was a lovely blend and the group sang together
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and the harmonies were just working well for me.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22And I felt there was a lot of conviction there
0:20:22 > 0:20:25which is very important when singing, particularly this type of song.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29Carrie, big choir with some big voices.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Did that work with the sensitivity of the song?
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Oh, absolutely.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Yeah, that was beautifully executed, really expertly executed.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40I think you are possibly the gospel choir with the most potential.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43There's some really good voices and real understanding there.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Ruby, did you feel an understanding
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and a connection with what they were singing about?
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Absolutely.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56Could you imagine walking past their rehearsal studio one evening
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and you hear that sound?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02You would have to stop and you would have to go and find out
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and that's what gospel's all about.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Bring it to you and let you go and find out. Thank you.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10APPLAUSE
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Thank you, Birmingham Community Gospel Choir.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16God was in the house, yeah!
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Jolly good singing, you all! Jolly good.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21The crowd was absolutely fantastic
0:21:21 > 0:21:23and very receptive to what we're singing.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25THEY CHEER
0:21:25 > 0:21:28The tension is building. There are just two choirs left to sing.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31This time, our choir are based in Nottingham.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33It's Hope Community Gospel Choir.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38# Glory, glory, hallelujah... #
0:21:38 > 0:21:40'We're very, very excited and feeling confident.'
0:21:40 > 0:21:43We've come a long way in the last month or so.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47We're singing Wade In The Water for our second piece.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50It's basically about Moses and the parting of the waves
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and the struggles people had in those days.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54But also the struggles we face today.
0:21:54 > 0:22:00# Wade in the water
0:22:00 > 0:22:05# Wade in the water, children
0:22:05 > 0:22:09# Wade in the water
0:22:11 > 0:22:15# God's a-gonna trouble the water
0:22:16 > 0:22:22# Oo-oo-ooh
0:22:22 > 0:22:26# God's a-gonna trouble the water
0:22:28 > 0:22:33# See that band all dressed in red?
0:22:33 > 0:22:38# God's a-going to trouble the water
0:22:38 > 0:22:44# Well, it looks like the people Moses led
0:22:44 > 0:22:48# God's a-going to trouble the water
0:22:50 > 0:22:54# Wade in the water
0:22:55 > 0:23:01# Wade in the water, children
0:23:01 > 0:23:05# Wade in the water
0:23:06 > 0:23:12# God's a-going to trouble the water
0:23:12 > 0:23:16# Wade in the water
0:23:18 > 0:23:23# Wade in the water, children
0:23:23 > 0:23:27# Wade in the water
0:23:29 > 0:23:34# God's a-going to trouble the water
0:23:34 > 0:23:40# Oo-oo-ooh
0:23:40 > 0:23:46# God's a-going to trouble the water
0:23:46 > 0:23:50# Wade in the water
0:23:51 > 0:23:55# Wade in the water
0:23:57 > 0:24:01# Wade in the water
0:24:02 > 0:24:10# God's a-going to trouble the water. #
0:24:10 > 0:24:14CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:24:20 > 0:24:21Hope Community Gospel Choir.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Carrie? I love this song so good song choice.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30This looks like a choir that really enjoys their time together.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32And for that, they are absolutely great.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37APPLAUSE Bazil, Wade In The Water is a very old spiritual.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Did it stir your spirit?
0:24:39 > 0:24:42It is actually one of my favourite spirituals.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I love to perform it myself and I just felt that the group
0:24:45 > 0:24:47probably could have added a little bit more dynamism to it.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50I think you could still do it better than you have just done that.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53APPLAUSE Ruby?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Can Hope be hopeful?
0:24:56 > 0:25:00I thought it was a wonderful interpretation of a great song.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05The lead vocals - very unassuming, very quiet but so lovely...
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and smiling and that's what's so...
0:25:08 > 0:25:10APPLAUSE
0:25:10 > 0:25:12..that's so important, I think,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15to see that the choirs are enjoying what they are doing.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Great interpretation, thank you.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Hope Community Gospel Choir.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22CHEERING
0:25:22 > 0:25:24THEY CHEER
0:25:24 > 0:25:26It's a really, really fantastic competition
0:25:26 > 0:25:28but we don't regard it as a competition,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32it's a celebration for everybody to just rejoice and have fun.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Our last choir in the competition are from London. It's Faith Works.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41# Pass me not, o gentle Saviour... #
0:25:41 > 0:25:42'Gospel music does go on.'
0:25:42 > 0:25:44We exaggerate the song quite a bit.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47We lengthen it and especially when people are enjoying it,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49we tend to go on a bit more, when people say,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51"Yeah, go on. Clap, clap!"
0:25:51 > 0:25:55For our second piece, Total Praise, we've been given a backing track.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57'Yeah, the backing track is quite important.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58'It's disciplined us quite a bit'
0:25:58 > 0:25:59and it's worked really well.
0:26:03 > 0:26:10# Lord, I will lift... # APPLAUSE
0:26:10 > 0:26:20# My eyes to the hills
0:26:20 > 0:26:38# Knowing my help is coming from you
0:26:40 > 0:26:46# Your peace you give me
0:26:47 > 0:26:59# In times of the storm
0:26:59 > 0:27:06# You are the source of my strength
0:27:08 > 0:27:15# You are the strength of my life
0:27:18 > 0:27:26# I lift my hands in total praise to you
0:27:36 > 0:27:44# You are the source of my strength
0:27:44 > 0:27:55# You are the strength of my life
0:27:55 > 0:28:10# I lift my hands in total praise to you
0:28:10 > 0:28:43# Amen
0:28:43 > 0:29:03# Amen. #
0:29:03 > 0:29:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Thank you very much!
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Carrie, did that work for you?
0:29:16 > 0:29:18You really upped your game
0:29:18 > 0:29:22and it's a soprano song. Sopranos, you were just glorious,
0:29:22 > 0:29:24but more than anything, that cost you
0:29:24 > 0:29:27and that's made me cry, more than anyone tonight, that's made me cry.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29CLAPPING AND CHEERING
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Ruby, it made Carrie cry, how about you?
0:29:32 > 0:29:36This choir is testifying.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38CLAPPING
0:29:38 > 0:29:40We're not here to convert anybody,
0:30:50 > 0:30:51# Why, he washed, washed, washed, washed, washed, washed... #
0:30:51 > 0:30:55# Blessed assurance
0:30:55 > 0:30:58# Jesus is mine... #
0:30:58 > 0:31:02# Somebody's crying, Lord!
0:31:02 > 0:31:04# Kumbayah... #
0:31:04 > 0:31:07# Take everything, everything, everything
0:31:07 > 0:31:11# To God... #
0:31:11 > 0:31:16# Wade in the water, children... #
0:31:16 > 0:31:24# Amen! #
0:31:26 > 0:31:28All six choirs have joined us on stage,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31our judges are back with their decision and Ruby
0:31:31 > 0:31:35has the trophy ready and waiting to be received by the winning choir.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Just before Bazil makes the announcement,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Carrie, how difficult was the decision?
0:31:40 > 0:31:44First of all, we all sat there and said, "We've been so moved
0:31:44 > 0:31:46"and uplifted and impressed tonight,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48"it's just a staggering amount of talent here."
0:31:48 > 0:31:51We did deliberate a lot
0:31:51 > 0:31:52but we have got a winner.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Bazil, will you put us out of our misery and tell us
0:31:56 > 0:31:58who the winner is?
0:31:58 > 0:32:00The 2013
0:32:00 > 0:32:04Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year is...
0:32:10 > 0:32:14..The Town Hall Gospel Choir, Birmingham!
0:32:14 > 0:32:19CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:32:40 > 0:32:42How does it feel to win?
0:32:42 > 0:32:45Wow...wow, this is amazing.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47We're just so blessed.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49It's been great.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52It's been amazing, it's been exciting.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Singing and sharing the whole day with these choirs
0:32:55 > 0:32:57has been really fantastic
0:32:57 > 0:33:00and just to hold the inaugural
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Gospel Choir of the Year for Songs Of Praise
0:33:02 > 0:33:05is a blessing, I'm honoured. We're honoured.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Ladies and gentlemen, your winner!
0:33:14 > 0:33:18That's it from the Town Hall, Birmingham, and this first-ever
0:33:18 > 0:33:20gospel choir competition on Songs Of Praise.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23If you've enjoyed it, please write and tell us and why not send
0:33:23 > 0:33:26us an e-mail at the address on screen.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Our thanks to our judges,
0:33:28 > 0:33:29our choirs,
0:33:29 > 0:33:32our audience in the hall
0:33:32 > 0:33:34and, of course, you for watching.
0:33:34 > 0:33:35Goodbye!
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd