D.C. gospel choir Composition of Praise to perform at All Saints Catholic Church in Bridgeport, West Virginia

The parish is pleased to make this event happen, as it opens the doors for the community at large to experience music that is so powerful and unique, officials said.

It’s a way to celebrate the arts, while at the same time celebrating and affirming their faith, officials said.

This upcoming visiting vocal ensemble is made up of several voices and a small instrumental combo. The gospel group also will sing for the 5 p.m. Mass on Sept. 10, and the 10 a.m. Mass on Sept. 11. They also will give a free Gospel Music Workshop at 11 a.m. Sept. 11 at All Saints. The workshop will be led by their director, Eddie Cromwell.

Cromwell is also director of St. Augustine Catholic Church Music Ministry in Washington. He is a gifted, inspirational, self-trained classical pianist, composer and organizer in gospel music ministry for more than 20 years, officials said.

He has performed with the likes of many nationally known gospel artists, such as the Winans, Darryl Coley, Tramaine Hawkins, Andre Crouch, Richard Smallwood, John P. Kee, Dianne Reeves, Karen Clark-Sheard and Anthony Brown.

In the last several years, Cromwell has had the distinguished honor of directing performances with his parish choir at St. Augustine Catholic Church on the occasions of papal visits to the United States, officials said.

He has led groups that have performed at the White House during the Bush administration and Obama administration, and he continues to still be in demand for various musical performances in a variety of locations in his local area and abroad, officials said.

Historically and even today, Composition of Praise has been represented by various denominations including: Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Baptist, Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and nondenominational. The Sunday concert will feature various genres of songs which include a mix of traditional, modern and contemporary gospel. The choir’s voices fill the entire church with a soul-filled energetic burst of musical praise to God, officials said.

Over the years, this group has always in high demand, officials said. They have traveled to various islands, including: The Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as well as Bethel AME Church in Moorestown, New Jersey. They also have taken several trips throughout Italy, including Calabria, where they sang to packed concert halls and historical Catholic churches and cathedrals.

This will be their fourth time in Bridgeport. Their last visit drew hundreds of people to All Saints for the concert. Anyone looking for their spirits to be raised and their hearts to be full of joy, should consider coming to this free event, officials said.

The work of Composition of Praise Gospel Choir is quite unique and vibrant, officials said. You can hear some of their music on Youtube as well, officials said.

For more information, call 304-842-2283 extension 16, or check out allsaintsbridgeport.com or All Saints Roman Catholic Church on Facebook. All Saints also broadcasts its Sunday Morning Mass on Youtube as well.

All Saints Church is located at 317 E. Main St., Bridgeport.