LOWESVILLE––The Wilmington Celebration Choir will perform a free concert on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.

The Vineyard Church of Lowesville is the place to be that Saturday evening, according to noted gospel singer and concert co-ordinator Carroll Cooke. And although the concert is free, as Cooke recently noted, a free-will offering will be taken up.

Formerly the Pillar Record Family, the Wilmington Celebration Choir was founded by Joey Gore in 1997. Based out of Wilmington, it is not a church choir but a touring gospel choir that is comprised of 48 members, with a crew of five. It is a multi-generational, multi-denominational group, representing churches throughout eastern North Carolina. The group’s inherent variety facilitates its unique blend of harmony and its passion for spreading the gospel through song. 

“Our mission is to fulfill the call through the powerful tool of anointed music, bringing encouragement and healing to the Body of Christ and, more importantly, salvation to the unbeliever,” the group’s members said in a recent joint statement.

The Vineyard Church is located at 1062 NC-16 South in Lowesville, just down the road from Hill’s Chapel United Methodist Church. The church features Southern, bluegrass and/or acoustic gospel concerts every Saturday evening.