Bootsy Collins, Marvin Winans to be part of World Choir Games

CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Organizing Committee and INTERKULTUR announced on Tuesday more details about the upcoming World Choir Games.

The games will begin July 4 with an opening procession from Great American Ball Park to U.S. Bank Arena, where many international singers will have their first experiences in the United States.

Grammy winner Marvin Winans, a gospel singer and part of the famous Winans family, will sing at the closing ceremony on July 14 at U.S. Bank Arena. Winans is a pastor in Detroit and gave the eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral in February.

Rock and Roll hall-of-famer Bootsy Collins also will take part in the festivities, as he will join Cincinnati mayor Mark Mallory as co-Grand Marshall of the Parade of Nations on July 10.

The 7th World Choir Games will mark the first time the competition will take place in the U.S. More than 360 choirs from 22 states and 64 countries are expected to compete.

“We know there is great interest in a detailed schedule,” said Jelena Dannhauer, project manager for INTERKULTUR who arrived in Cincinnati last week and is now in town through the event. “There is a lot of coordination and logistical challenges with so many events involved, many of which include people from all over the world. We are so excited by the programs, the workshops and all the concerts. People in Cincinnati will love the variety of choirs performing in competitions and Friendship Concerts.”

For the full schedule of the 2012 World Choir Games, just released Tuesday, go to http://www.wcpo.com/generic/entertainment/world_choir_games/World-Choir-Games-2012-Schedule .