GK Who Are We Brochure 2008.pub

Who travels with the choir?
Anyone can travel with the choir if you
have your own means of transportation & it
is not a television appearance. Chaperones
travel with the choir, one per ten choir
members. Chaperones are selected before
the engagement.
When are your Concerts?
The GospelKnights concert is May 15, 2009
Who is in Charge?
Carson Stapleton: Director/ Chairman
Toi Lloyd: Planning Coordinator
(914) 316-6352
Danielle Jones: GEMS GospelKnights/
Internet (914) 562-3008
Cookie Brandon: Parent Coordinator/
Security (914) 471-0966
Whitney Stapleton: Assist Program
Director/ Choreographer (914) 316-1202
Leon Murphy: Security/ Report Cards
(914) 646-9302
Nicole Bramucci: Faculty/ Advisor
(914) 573-2546
What is the Program Schedule?
The GEMS & MV GospelKnights programs
run from Sept to May.
How much is it to Join?
Registration is $20.00+ the cost of the
uniforms
Do you have a Calendar?
We post our schedule weekly to
GospelChoirs.com and our My Space page.
Church Affiliation?
None. We are an after school program.
GospelKnights Media Exposure?
The GospelKnights have been on CBS, NBC,
FOX, ABC, MY9 & Cable TV New York
stations. We have been reviewed/
mentioned in the Journal News, Daily
News, NY Times & Newsday, radio stations;
WBLS, KISSFM & 1010 WINS. The
GospelKnights have opened for gospel
artists Tye Tribbet & the Williams Brothers
as well as MTV’s Fatty Koo. The combined
GEMS and MVHS GospelKnights sang
before the 2007 Gospel Music Workshop of
America’s Annual Board Meeting.
Are you on the Internet?
The GospelKnights parent website is
GospelChoirs.com. We are also on
MySpace, YouTube & FaceBook. You can
reach us at [email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
If I Join, What Can I Do?
Any member can be a student director, a
soloist or even a musician. We invite you to
join GK, one of the hottest gospel choir
programs in the country!
GospelKnights Bio
The 2008 award winning GospelKnights
includes two programs; the GEMS & the Mt
Vernon GospelKnights [GK]. GK has sung
for Terence J of BET’s 106 & Park @ MVHS.
GEMS members have sung with artist NeYo
@ the Ronald McDonald House in NYC & GK
sang at the Hyatt Regency in Long Island
for an Eli Lilly Corp Meeting. Under the
direction of Program Director and founder
Carson Stapleton, the GospelKnights are in
their 20th year of service to the Mt. Vernon
City School District. Whitney Stapleton is
the GospelKnights Choir
Director and
Choreographer.
When Did the
Program Begin?
The Program began in
1989 at Graham Elementary School in Mt.
Vernon, NY. Mr. Stapleton [Graham’s PTA
President] began the program to influence
the school environment of his then 4
children and their friends. As they
progressed through the system he started
choir programs at each school they
attended. By 2000, Mr. Stapleton was
directing four school based choirs; the
GEMS GospelKnights [Elementary
School], the Franko/ Davis Teen
Fellowship
GospelKnights [Middle
School], the MVHS
GospelKnights [High
School] and the Royal
GospelKnights, a choir
made up of over 30
parents & teachers. Each Choir competed in
the McDonalds Gospelfest and the
Pathmark Gospel Choir Competitions.
Videographer & Founder of the Mt. Vernon
GospelKnights.
GEMS GospelKnights
The GEMS began in 1989 as the Graham
Elementary Magnet School Gospel Choir. In 2000
the program became the GEMS GospelKnights &
was opened to all the students in the district.
Who can join GEMS?
Any student in the Mt. Vernon City School
District can join the GEMS GospelKnights.
Age Group - 2nd to 7th Grade
Choir Rehearsal 2008-2009:
Place: Thornton High School
Time: 3PM to 5PM Day: Fridays
GEMS meets in the auditorium.
MV GospelKnights
The MVHS GK began in 1997.
Who can join GK?
Any student in the Mt. Vernon City School
District can join the MV GospelKnights.
Age Group - 8th to 12th Grade
MVHS Choir Rehearsal 2008-2009:
Place: Thornton High School Time: 7PM to 9PM
Day: Fridays
GK rehearses in the Main Auditorium every
Friday there is school. Please enter Thornton
from the 6th Ave Entrance.
We Are An Award Winning Program
We are an award winning program that has
successfully competed in the Black Music Caucus
International School Gospel Choir Olympics, the
McDonalds Gospelfest & the Pathmark Gospel
Choir Competitions.
GEMS GK is the only choir program to win all 13
awards in a division at one time!
The GEMS GospelKnights
The School Gospel Choir Olympics
Elementary School Division 1999, 2000,
2001, 2003
Most Outstanding Choir
MVHS GospelKnights
2005 Pathmark Youth Division
2006 Pathmark Open Division
GK is the only program to sweep both
Pathmark divisions the same year!
GEMS GospelKnights
2006 Pathmark Youth Division
MVHS GospelKnights
2006 Pathmark Open Division
Engagement Requests?
School to School Engagements
Transportation Costs, donation & Light
Refreshments
Churches (no door charge)
Transportation Costs, Light Refreshments &
a donation. For Other Events Contact Us!
Do You Accept Donations?
We solicit donations. The GospelChoirs of
Mt. Vernon, Inc. is a Section 501[c][3] tax
exempt organization since 2000. Thanks to
Eli Goodzeit, Esq. who volunteered his
services. We are not funded by the school
district.
Please make checks payable to the
GospelChoirs of Mt. Vernon, Inc.
Who is the Program Director?
Carson Stapleton is the Program Director/
Keyboardist/ Song Writer/ Stage Manager/
Sound Technician/ Webmaster/
Carson Stapleton
Program Director
(914) 772-4762