Highlights From #NQC2014 Part 1

There's just no way to put into words the entire week of NQC. It's impossible. So much is going on, and so much happens throughout the week that you really can not keep a log of it all! So, I decided to just do a few posts and share personal highlights from the week.

To start off, this was the first year we attended a chapel service at NQC. In fact, we attended two! Chapel service is held at the Music Road Inn and Convention Center, and it's pretty early in the morning when you consider what time you actually went to bed the night before! We were able to make it on Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, with Greater Vision and the Hoppers, respectively. These are smaller and more informal concert settings, so it's a little special. And when you make the effort to get up early, catch a trolley and get to the convention center, you make sure you're in the spirit to receive a blessing from the service!

One of the other highlights early in the week for me was on Wednesday evening, getting to see the Perry's. Now, I've seen this group many times in the past, but in January of 2013, Tracy Stuffle (bass singer and husband of alto Libbi Stuffle) suffered a stroke. Recovery has been long and hard, so it was incredible to see this group-including Tracy-up on main stage at NQC! And the best part was seeing and hearing Tracy sing! 

The Perrys

Tribute Quartet, one of our favorites!

Thursday held another first for us; the Singing News Fan Awards. For the past few years these have been held at Dollywood, and prior to that, were always towards the weekend of NQC, and we always left midweek. Needless to say, we were excited about this! This year the presenters were all siblings-brother/sister, brothers and sisters. For example, Chris and Suzanne Taylor, Michael and Ronnie Booth, Madison and Morgan Easter...you get the idea. The award ceremony started out with a surprise-a choir of 12, getting everyone excited and ready to go! Yes, M caught Riley Clark (Tribute) and David Sutton and Clayton Inman (Triumphant) for pictures beforehand. It's not everyday you see these guys in robes!

Part of the choir

All the 2014 fan award winners were well-deserving, but I have to give a special shout-out to our favorites-our good friends of Triumphant Quartet! They received the Favorite Traditional Quartet Award, as well as Favorite Bass Singer (Eric Bennett)! This is something like the 6th year running they've received these awards, and I am thrilled that others recognize the talent of Triumphant Quartet! I'll share a list of all the winners below the pictures.

Eric Bennett accepting his award for Favorite Bass

Michael Booth (of the Booth Brothers), who won Favorite Tenor

David Sutton of Triumphant, as the guys receive the Favorite Quartet award

• And the winner for Favorite Musician is Kim Collingsworth
• And the winner for Favorite Young Artist is Amber Thompson
• And the winner for Favorite Soloist is Ivan Parker
• And the winner for Favorite Small Market Radio DJ is John Whisnant
• And the winner for Favorite Medium Market Radio DJ is Lottie Squires
• And the winner for Favorite Large Market Radio DJ is Daniel Britt
• And the winner for Favorite New Soloist is Joseph Habedank
• And the winner for Favorite New Traditional Quartet is Canton Junction
• And the winner for Favorite Male Singer is Ronnie Booth
• And the winner for Favorite Southern Gospel Band is The Kingdom Heirs Band
• And the winner for Favorite Lead Singer is Ronnie Booth
• And the winner for Favorite Tenor Singer is Michael Booth
• And the winner for Favorite Non-Performing Songwriter is Dianne Wilkinson
• And the winner for Favorite Baritone Singer is Jim Brady
• And the winner for Favorite New Trio is The Hyssongs
• And the winner for Favorite Bass Singer is Eric Bennett
• And the winner for Favorite New Mixed Group is The Mylon Hayes Family
• And the winner for Favorite Soprano Singer is Kim Hopper
• And the winner for Favorite Mixed Group is The Collingsworth Family
• And the winner for Favorite Trio is The Booth Brothers
• And the winner for Favorite Alto Singer is Libbi Stuffle
• And the winner for Favorite Female Singer is Kim Hopper
• And the winner for Favorite Songwriter is Rodney Griffin
• And the winner for Favorite Traditional Quartet is Triumphant Quartet
• And the winner for Favorite Album is For All He's Done- Greater Vision
• And the winner for Favorite Song is Preacher Tell Me Like It Is- Greater Vision
• And the winner for Favorite Artist is The Booth Brothers