First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City

Ernestine Dillard	Tulsa Praise Orchestra and recording artist Ernestine Dillard to perform at First Baptist Church of OKC
	The Tulsa Praise Orchestra, a 20-piece Gospel big band, will perform at First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City on Sunday, April 13, at 6:00 p.m. Special guest, vocalist Ernestine Dillard, will join the orchestra for a performance during the concert. The event is free, and all are invited to attend. "We are thrilled to have this great band, as well as an artist of Ms. Dillard's stature, with us," said concert organizer and FBCOKC member Lane Davis. "Our hope is to plant the seeds for forming a similar orchestra for Oklahoma City. We hope musicians with an interest in gospel, big band or jazz music will come to the concert and visit with us about that afterward." The Tulsa Praise Orchestra originated in 1995 under the direction of trumpeter Bob Archer. Since its formation, the band has logged over 350 concerts throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and New Mexico. The band has performed at such venues as the Grand Palace in Branson and the Red Gold Heritage Center at Silver Dollar City. Other notable concerts include performance with the famed Dukes of Dixieland, Steinway recording artist Larry Dalton, Grammy Award winner Phil Driscoll and famed composer / arranger, Ralph Carmichael. Award-winning vocalist and recording artist Ernestine Dillard will present her memorable and stirring rendition of "God Bless America," which she performed during the Memorial Service for the victims and families of the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy, earning her the title, "the singer who helped heal the wounds of our nation." Dillard has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe and performed at the Kennedy Center and the National Cathedral and was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. She has toured with Della Reese and staged performances for presidents, senators, governors and well-known celebrities, such as Simon Estes, Isaac Hayes, Jessye Norman and Yolanda Adams. The event will be held in the church's sanctuary at 1201 North Robinson. Guests should enter from 11th Street west of Robinson. For more on the Tulsa Praise Orchestra, visit www.tulsapraise.com.