VOU back home with two gold medals

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Members of the Voices of Unity choir are back home after winning two gold medals at the World Choir Games in China.

One was awarded in the Popular Choral Music category. The other was a Grand Champion gold of the Gospel/Spiritual category.

NewsChannel 15's Elizabeth Fields was at IPFW when the buses rolled in just before 2 a.m. Thursday.

The parking lot was packed with family, friends and supporters.

Director Marshall White was the first one off the bus holding up a shiny trophy.

"This means so much that we could come home champions of an event that we had no knowledge of," he said. "We didn't know anything about this."

But they learned fast said Janice Gipson, the Tour Manager. She said they had to go with the flow and do their best in all kinds of  circumstances.

Breaun Scott said he felt prepared.  "We sung like we have never sung before," he said. "We scored high. We just did our thing, we did what we've always been practicing."

Between hugs from family and friends, VOU members were squeezing in stories from abroad.

"My most favorite performance or experience was the closing ceremony when we got to perform with everyone who got Grand Champions from different languages, different backgrounds," Jimmie Jones told NewsChannel15.

"Most of the choirs were just like us," said Shaneequa Cook. "Even though their language was different, they were still teenagers and just like us."

According to the Downtown Improvement District, the city will hold a  recognition ceremony at noon Friday, July 30th at One Summit Square (at the corners of Wayne and Calhoun streets).

Join Mayor Tom Henry, the City of Fort Wayne, the Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Improvement District, Arts United, AEP, and many other proud choir supporters for the welcome home event.

Read the choir's Dreams of Gold blog by clicking here.