Raise Mass Choir Travels to Lisbon and Madeira, Portugal.

Raise Mass Choir, "Columbus, Ohio's Total Choir" will be traveling to Lisbon
and Madeira, Portgual to perform. 17 members of the Raise Mass Choir will
travel along with members o fthe Denison University gospel Choir to Portugal
to perform a varied program of gospel music and spirituals including a
special gospel song written by Rev. Raymond Wise in Portuguese. The choir
will depart for Portugal on March 8th and rfeturn March 18th.

Raise Mass Choir was formed in 1992, as one of the performing entities of
Raise Productions, a gospel production company in Columbus, Ohio. Raise Mass
was formed initially as a means of expanding Raise's music ministry from its
smaller groups, Raise Productions Choir and Family, to a much larger group to
allow for more community involvement. Therefore, the goal of Raise Mass
Choir is to bring gospel singers and musicians together from across the city
of Columbus who aspire to achieve musical and ministry excellence.

The members of Raise Mass Choir represent several different churches,
choirs, and denominations, who do not minister together on a regular basis,
they are brought together for special events. Over the years, the various
members of Raise Mass have performed background vocal for numerous national
recording artists (Tramaine Hawkins, Yolanda Adams, Kim McFarland, Luther
Barnes, Mimi Redd, Diana Ross, Ron Richardson, the Rinat Choir of Israel, and
others), appeared in touring gospel musical productions (The Gift with Kenny
Rogers, A Mother's Love), and performed throughout the United States and in
Europe. Raise Mass has appeared on radio and was featured in a one hour
Christmas special entitled "A Raise Christmas." Raise Mass Choir has
performed at the Lancaster Arts Festival and served as the chorus for the
world premiere of the Opera Columbus' production of "Vanqui."

Raise Mass has also been featured on numerous recordings. Their most
recent recording entitled "It's Time To Go" was released on Raise Records in
February of 2000. Raise Mass has also recorded two CDs of hymns from the
early nineteen hundreds on the Jambalaya/Tyscot Label entitled the
"Bridegroom Songs I and the Bridegroom Songs II" The choir under the
direction of Rev. Raymond Wise, performs a varied repertoire of music
including spirituals, choral music, hymns, traditional and contemporary
gospel music. As you listen to Raise Mass Choir you will notice that they
are not just a musical group but a ministering group. So open you hearts and
receive a blessing as you enjoy the musical ministries of Raise Mass Choir.