Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir Named 'The Best Church Choir in America'

Verizon Wireless' How Sweet the Sound Competition Concludes in Detroit; Choir
from Atlanta Brings Home National Title and Receives $30,000 in Cash and
Prizes

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta West Pentecostal Church
Choir from Atlanta West Pentecostal Church won Verizon Wireless' How Sweet the
Sound(TM) competition and has earned the title of "The Best Church Choir in
America." During the grand finale, held on Nov. 7 at the Joe Louis Arena in
Detroit, Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir walked away with not only the
title, but a cash prize of $30,000.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091109/NY07591 )

The second annual How Sweet the Sound finale brought together the best church
choirs from 11 cities across the nation. Gospel music celebrities, who added
performances to the night's entertainment, judged and hosted the event.
Returning for a second year, GRAMMY®-winning music legend Marvin Sapp helped
judge the choirs along with GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel artist Dorinda Clark
Cole and Gospel music legend Byron Cage. GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter,
producer, arranger and music director Donald Lawrence served as emcee, and
singer, songwriter, producer and actress Lisa Kimmey-Winans joined the How
Sweet the Sound veterans as a co-host. The evening also featured special
performances by the legendary Clark Sisters, Brother Hahz, Kurt Carr and
special guest James Fortune. The Remnant Concert Choir from Mt. Ararat
Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., was named runner-up and received a cash
prize of $15,000.

"Now in its second year, How Sweet the Sound has been an opportunity to
celebrate the unique ways music connects people within the community. We
congratulate Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir and recognize the
tremendous talent of all of the choirs that participated in this competition,"
said Sikita Grayson, director of customer service for Verizon Wireless. "We
are delighted to be able to bring to the community such an uplifting event,
and we have been inspired by the energy of the churches throughout the
competition."

Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir plans to use the prize money to record a
live CD in 2010. This will be their first recording. Brandon Frazier, music
director for Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir said, "How Sweet the Sound
does everything first class. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime experience
participating and to win -- I'm still taking it in. It's an amazing feeling
and has already opened so many doors for our choir."

Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir from Atlanta West Pentecostal Church
additionally won the V CAST People's Choice Award and a $5,000 cash prize.
During the grand finale, audience members were asked to text their votes for
their favorite choir to help decide the Verizon Wireless V CAST People's
Choice Award.

Verizon Wireless customers can download and watch video clips from the grand
finale performances in the Music category on their V CAST-capable phones. For
more information about the competition, visit www.howsweetthesound.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless
voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in
Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a
joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE:
VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and
request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon
Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Nancy Stark, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7520,
Nancy.Stark@verizonwireless.com; Samantha Kane, PMK/HBH, +1-212-373-6132,
Samantha.Kane@pmkhbh.com