This year’s Gospel Festival 2011 will not only give Bermudians the opportunity to hear world class gospel entertainment, it will also allow six Bermudians the chance to vie for the title of Bermuda’s top gospel singer.The six contestants for the Divine Voices Vocal competition have been picked. Now they are practising for the big day. The winner will be chosen during the festival on August 27.Top gospel singers at the festival will include Fred Hammond, MaryMary, VaShawn Mitchell, Shirley Caesar, Y’Anna Crawley and Kim Burrell. The event will be hosted by gospel singer and television personality Dr Bobby Jones.Lifestyle reporter Jessie Moniz spoke with the six Divine Voices Vocal Competition participants to learn a little more about them and their ambitions.One of Kassandra Caines earliest memories is of singing gospel music at her grandmother, Dame Lois Browne-Evan’s 76th birthday party. The notes were flat, but her grandmother said she had a gift and encouraged her to keep singing. Now 18-years-old, Ms Caines is heeding her late grandmother’s words and is one of six contenders in the Divine Voices Vocal Competition designed to find Bermuda’s top gospel talent.“It is hard to actually pinpoint my first experience of singing gospel music because it was the soundtrack to my youth,” said Miss Caines who is the daughter of Tina and Pastor Glenn Caines. “Growing up as a pastor’s daughter I was fully enveloped in the richness of gospel music, I have always enjoyed the style and depth of the genre. I have been singing gospel music since I can remember.“As many rambunctious children do, I used to run around the house with my younger sister, Ariana, imitating whatever music appealed to my ears, so I’ve always been singing.”Growing up she ministered many Sundays at her former church, Sharon Baptist Church in Philadelphia. She was part of the Youth Choir and enjoyed it thoroughly. She said one of her primary gospel influences has been award winning gospel artist CeCe Winans. Miss Caines had a chance to meet her a few years ago and found it an unforgettable experience.“She had such a warm personality and an effortless grace on and off the stage,” said Miss Caines. “I knew that if I ever had the opportunity to perform, I would strive to do it with that much class and beauty, and let’s not even mention the talent.”Miss Caines said it was her parents who encouraged her to take part in the competition.“There are many instances in my life I have been blessed to clearly see my parents love for me,” she said. “My parents heard of the auditions for Divine Voices Vocal Competition and they immediately informed me of this massive opportunity. I was told, I had to audition.“I pray that the Lord opens my eyes to truly embracing who I am in Him and who he has designed me to become. I’m excited to share my gift with the audience at the Gospel Festival. I hope that my ministry of music will bless all in attendance.”She said she has no worries with this competition.“It’s been amazing to be a part of such a phenomenal opportunity,” she said. “Each contestant has made me feel welcome and they each have beautiful personalities. It’s very easy to forget we are competing. I am looking forward to seeing each of my fellow competitors perform. Each of their auditions blew me away so honestly I cannot wait to hear their ministry because I know it will not disappoint.”She is a recent graduate from The Christian Academy in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania. She plans to return to the United States to start college in New York in January.“While in New York I also hope to embrace the opportunities available for new artists in the big city,” she said. “I’m very excited to see what the Lord has in store for me.”Ashley Smith, 27, entered the Divine Voices competition purely for the love of singing.“I entered the contest because I love to sing,” said Miss Smith. “So this is not a contest for me; it is a platform to share my talent and the One who gave it to me. I have been singing gospel since I can remember, at a very young age. I got my start singing in church, in the children’s choir.”She is currently a student at the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy. When she is back in Bermuda she can often be found singing at any of the Seventh-day Adventist churches, usually Southampton, Hamilton, or at Restoration with the Inspirational Choir.She sings ‘I’ll Trust You’ on the album ‘The Purpose Project’ by Bermudian artist Dainavon Tuzo. The song and album area available for purchase on iTunes.Miss Smith hopes to get out of the competition, good experiences, lasting friendships and more exposure that will help her grow as an artist.“Anything else is icing on the cake,” she said.But she said it was a difficult making the decision to audition.Her gospel influences range from Hezekiah Walker to Kirk Franklin to Fred Hammond to the Clark Sisters, Mary Mary and Yolanda Adams.“The list goes on,” she said.At the Gospel Festival, she is most looking forward to hearing Mary Mary, Karen Clark-Sheard, and Fred Hammond, all artists that she grew up listening to.“Also, Karen’s ‘Finally’ album brought me through a tough time,” said Miss Smith. “I feel like she put that album out just for me. Also, I have a very deep respect for the legacy of Shirley Caesar. I used to care for an elderly man while in college in Huntsville, Alabama. He had recently suffered from a stroke. As I got to know him, I learned that he had this old record player in the back room with hundreds of records, probably over 1,000. I asked him who his favourite artist was, and he said ‘Shirley Caesar’. I was surprised, and he proceeded to show me all of the records that he had of her when she was a part of a singing group called The Caravans and also when she became a solo artist. So every week after I’d finish cleaning up his house, we would listen to Shirley Caesar songs for a while before I left. And you know what? She still sounds the same as way back then.”Cindy Smith, 34 wasn’t going to enter the Divine Voices competition at all until a friend told her she needed to “step out of the box” because she had nothing to lose by auditioning.“I have been singing gospel since I was three-years-old in the Sunbeam Choir at St Philip’s AME Church,” she said. “I only sang in church until I auditioned for the Gilbert and Sullivan production of ‘Dreamgirls’ and I was awarded the part of Effie. My singing took off from there.”She has a version of herself singing ‘I’m Changing’ from the movie Dreamgirls on YouTube. She sang this song at the Marcelle G Clamens Talent Explosion.However, she said it was when she joined the New Testament Church of God Healing Centre that her pastor told her she hand an anointing on her life, meaning that when she sang the atmosphere changed. She now sings on the Praise Team at the Healing Centre.Through the competition she hopes to get the chance to work with gospel stars Kim Burrell and VaShawn Mitchell.“The most challenging part of the competition was making up my mind to continue with the competition once I found out that I was a finalist,” she said.She said one of her biggest gospel influences is Yolanda Adams.“She worships from her heart and she does not compromise her beliefs,” said Miss Smith. “I am looking forward to seeing Mary Mary and the participants of Sunday Best; VaShawn Mitchell and Karen Clarke-Sheard.Divine Voices Vocal Competition participant Claire-Lee DeCouto, 18, said she entered the competition to sing for the honour and glory of her heavenly father.“I have been singing Gospel music since as long as I can remember,” she said. “I grew up in the church, so gospel music was in my environment. I got my start from my foundation I grew up in the church and I was always given that opportunity to use my gift and talents for God.”She said she doesn’t have any albums or singles out currently, but she hopes that will change in the future.She currently sings with Judah Praise team at New Creation Worship Centre under the ‘leadership of Apostle Denwiddie. She also sings occasionally at St Paul AME Church under the leadership of Rev Dr Lanel D Guyton.“From the competition I hope to become wiser vocally and mentally, build friendships, grow spiritually and musically and just have a good experience and have a good time.”Miss Decouto said the most difficult part of the competition has been picking out the songs to sing.“We had to pick out of a list one contemporary song and one traditional song and we all couldn’t have the same song,” she said.Miss Decouto said at the Gospel Festival she is really looking forward to hearing ‘MaryMary’.“I’m so excited,” she said.While many gospel singers get their start singing in their church choir, Francine Brown, 32, got her start at a grocery store.“I have been singing gospel music for over 15 years,” said Miss Brown. “I got my start at a grocery store. I was a packer at the Somerset Marketplace in primary school. On my break time I would sing and customers use to stop and comment about how much they enjoyed the singing. This led to performing at my primary school fair. This became my first solo performance on stage.”Now Miss Brown plans to release her first album in 2012 . She has her own independent record label called ‘Sunrise Records’.“Sunrise Records, an independent gospel label started as an idea in 2002. The idea was to develop and sign gospel artists in Bermuda. I am the president and it is a work in progress. I have hopes of opening it as a full time label, and hiring musicians, songwriters and singers. If you know anything about labels it’s a huge job market for Bermuda.“This idea for Sunrise Records came about because we are always trying or hoping for someone to sign us to a label and then we become famous. Well, that’s not how it works, when you understand what a record company does. Bermuda doesn’t have a gospel label, and it needs one. We are small, but we have many churches, gifted singers and musicians all over.”She said she decided to enter the contest because she loves to sing and minister the gospel of Jesus Christ.“I also wanted to have the opportunity to perform with international gospel artists,” she said. “I hope to build strong relationships with the international gospel artists. I would also like the chance to take the tools necessary to help Sunrise Records.”Miss Brown said the most difficult part of the competition was trying not to be competitive, and to enjoy the moment and have fun.“The gospel influences in my life are my mother, Enid Rollins and my sister Keina Rollins,” said Miss Brown. “Keina sang and knew all the gospel artist before me. She got me interested in gospel music. Mom (Enid) knew all the old school gospel artists. I enjoyed listening to mom because her sound was so beautiful. I got interested in that old school traditional gospel sound because of her. Thanks, mom.“My brother Andrew plays keyboard and he made me realise that I could look into the musical side of everything, not just singing. I attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and received a degree in Professional Music. I have worked both in education teaching and at Simons Music School. Andrew paid for my first semester of music college. All of my family have been financially and personally a great support.”She said at the gospel festival she was looking forward to hearing Fred Hammond because she loves his lyrics and the music that he produces.Miss Brown presently works in a recording studio at the St George’s Community Centre for the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation as music coordinator. Her responsibilities include singing, songwriting, studio production, piano, drums and voice to name a few. She works with clients ages five-years-old to adult. I put on productions yearly like a music fair, piano recital, music extravaganza (to showcase the community musicians and singers that I teach) along with mid-term and summer music camps.Miss Brown was recently a vocalist on the new local song ‘Proud to be a Bermudian’ produced by Johnny Woolridge. For more about Proud to Be Bermudian see www.bermudasong.comWillard Burch, 19, has been singing gospel since he five-years-old. He started off singing in the church.“I improvise chords on the piano and create music as well as write my own songs and have recorded however I cannot say that it’s available on the web at this point,” he said. “Up to today I still sing in my church Rehoboth Church of God (Apostolic). I am also a keyboard player, so thanks be to God, I have progressed and harnessed a dual talent.Mr Burch said he has experience singing other genres of music, but feels most at home with gospel.“When I sing gospel that’s when you’ll catch me in my element,” said Mr Burch. “That’s when you’ll hear some of the best vocals I have to offer. It’s one thing to perform any old song, but when I sing gospel it’s a worship experience for everyone involved so it’s more sentimental.”He hoped to get more experience and exposure through the competition, whether he wins or not.“I just aim to have an impacting performance that will not be forgotten,” said Mr Burch.He said the most challenging part of the competition so far was the audition. He felt slightly intimidated by the high calibre of people participating.“I love good music,” said Mr Burch. “There are so many gospel singers who have influenced me. I mean the list could go on and on: Yolanda Adams, Donnie Mclurkin, the great-Shirley Caesar, just to name a few.“At the Gospel Festival, I am looking forward to all of the acts, to tell the truth. I really like Mary Mary. I think we all do. ‘Shackles’ was just a hot song and I haven’t stopped listening since. Shirley Caesar is one of my favourites she has a distinct way of bringing it like no other. She’s just so unique. Fred Hammond is undeniably inspiration for a singer like me, because I too sing deep and soulful. Also, I can’t forget about the jazzy rifts of Karen Clark Sheard. Her voice is angelic. It doesn’t get any better.”The Gospel Festival is being held August 25, 26 and 27 in the Victualling Yard at the Royal Naval Dockyard. Tickets are $90 for a one day pass, $245 for a three-day pass, $180 for a one day VIP pass, and $500 for a three day VIP pass. To purchase tickets go to the website www.bermudagospelfestival.com. For information telephone 504-8790.