Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music Announces Finalists for the 2nd Annual Move On Up! Gospel Sing-Off & Celebration

(Long Branch, NJ, April 10, 2025) The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music is pleased to announce the final choirs and praise teams selected to perform at the 2nd Move On Up! gospel sing-off and celebration. The finalists will compete for a $10,000 cash award to improve any aspect of their ensemble; the first runner-up will receive $5,000.

The sing-off will be held on May 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pollak Theatre on the Monmouth University campus. It is free and open to the public.  

This year’s choirs and praise teams represent communities from all across the state of New Jersey. They are the Praise Ground Choir, Voices of Judah, St. Stephen AMEZ Choir, Lawrence High School Gospel Choir, Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, and Rebirth Praise Team.

The Rev. Dale Ciceron and Psalms of Praise from Newark won the inaugural sing-off in 2024. “Listen, God is good; God is amazing,” said Cicerone after winning last year. “This was an amazing day, more so that we got to come together in fellowship. It wasn’t really about the competition. It was about the fellowship and friendship, and the celebration of gospel music and keeping gospel music alive.”

“Move On Up! is less a competition than a celebration,” said Robert Santelli, executive director of the Springsteen Archives, in a statement. “It’s a showcase of gospel talent, a tribute to gospel music, and a chance to award prize money to be used to elevate the contemporary sounds of the music.”