Choirs of Fire

International recording artist “Nikkie”, is a fresh voice to the music industry. Nikkie’s passion for music began at an early age. In her High School and College years she was ranked as one of Florida’s top vocal sopranos, Nicole was invited to sing at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. Being a skilled vocalist , Nikkie has the ability to blend classical training with her style of music, a new and rising genre-gospel pop. This unique style of song has afforded Nicole the opportunity to share her gift on stage with many recording greats.
She has opened for gospel legends Shirley Ceasar, Ron Kenoly, & Vanessa Bell Armstrong. Keith Sweat gave way for Nikkie to sing and write for him on his 2007 christmas album-Christmas of Love. Continuing on the path of success, Nikkie performed with Stellar Award nominees Jimmy Hicks & V.O.I. Nicole’s love for music has taken her outside of the gospel music arena and back to where she began, classical. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra invited Nikkie to perform with them in concert in early 2002. Recently, her journey with classical music brought her to the largest platform of her career; touring in Europe singing gospel music with a 56 member orchestra (world re-known- IL Novecento)as her backing. This combination drew crowds of up 18,000 people for the Night of the Proms concert. The concert allowed Nikkie to display her versatility as an artist where she not only sang gospel backed by an orchestra, but she later performed with Bee Gee’s front man, Robin Gibb, as a background singer. Sinead O’Connor, Kim Wilde, Tears for Fears, 10cc, & Midge Ure(International recording artist); all utilized Nikkie as a backing vocalist during their performances. This dynamic vocalist has also graced the audiences of world re-knowned motivational speaker Les Brown, who invited Nikkie to perform during one of his speech presentations. Any lover of music would want to hear this sensationally skilled, and talented vocalist. To hear her is to hear the passion of a gifted psalmist. Nikki became the Music Director over the World Famous Angelic Voices of Praise in 2009, she is one of the original members of AVOP.

This native of Tampa, Florida has been singing all of her life. Born to perform, LaTonya is very busy these days using her gift to serve the Lord. She is the head of the Music Ministry at her church where she currently has nine choirs under her direction. Her performing credits include the JPMorgan Chase Gospel Chorale, Praise Ensemble, Angelic Voices of Praise, Harlem Gospel Choir at Disney (MGM Studios), Super Bowl XLIII choir for Faith Hill, and a number of theatrical productions including A Man of God, as the lead actress and Fooled by the Grass. LaTonya joined the group now known as AVOP back in 2007 and is a original member of the group.

Toni’s gift of singing was evident at an early age. By grade school, she was forming girl groups with her young friends. Toni Rackard was born to worship. She is consumed with the zeal of God, passionate to see God’s face and continually strives to glorify Him by ministering to His people in song. She currently lives in Tampa, Florida, with her husband, Derrick. She is the praise and worship leader at Jesus People Family Worship Center and is a graduate of the University of South Florida, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management Information Systems. She has toured the world singing Gospel Music in Russia, Serbia, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Toni joined AVOP in 2009.

D.L. Wilson was born in South Bend, Indiana. This talented songwriter and vocalist learned from some of the best singers and performers of our time such as The Winans, The Clark Sisters, Pebo Bryson, Darryl Coley, Donny Hathaway and John P. Kee. As a Gospel Artist he has performed, opened and met with some of the music industry’s finest artist such as gospel greats Kirk Franklin, Martha Munizzi, Byron Cage, Karen Harding, also R&B great R-Kelly, ‘Lil Joe of The Rude Boys, Men at Large, The Temptations, and LeVert featuring the late, great Gerald Levert. This multi-talented, singer/songwriter has experience in stage play acting. D.L. performed in the gospel stage play “A Man of God” featuring R&B singers Glenn Jones and Adina Howard. D.L. joined the World Famous Angelic Voices of Praise in 2009.

Evangelist Bush was born in Detroit Michigan, She started singing at the tender age of eight and has been singing ever since. She has had the privilege to share the stage with great artists such as Kim Burrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Hezekiah Walker, Martha Munizzi, and Grammy Award Winner, Pastor Shirley Caesar just to name a few. The year 2008 marked the year of “New Beginnings” as she is the CEO of iMuzik Entertainment. Her newly recorded album, “It’s My Time” was produced by David (D-1) Grant and Jamel Hopkins of Surround Sound but her greatest honor and privilege is to bless you by sharing the richness of her voice in song. In 2009 she became a member of AVOP and has toured the world singing the Gospel.

Evangelist Geraldine Watlington is musically gifted. Her professional life began at the age of nine years old when gospel music impresario James Cleveland featured her as a soloist on the now classic album “Peace Be Still.” Among her credentials, she counts three concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York, guest appearances on numerous national television shows and over numerous years a run of European / African tours where she consistently received rave reviews. Her vocal / music workshops combine traditional and innovative concepts in gospel music and are in demand and well received throughout the United States. Evangelist Watlington has added a new component to her music ministry. “Vocal Excellence,” a vocal training, vocal coaching and staging academy has been in operation since January 2007. Evangelist Watlington became the Choreographer, and Overall Consultant for AVOP in 2009.

This talented singer has been performing since the age of 8 years old. At a young age she toured extensively with world renowned A&M University Gospel Choir as their Lead Singer and Assistant Director. She has shared the stage with Gospel greats such as The Clark Sisters, Donald Lawrence, and Dorothy Norwood. She has appeared on Troy Sneads debut CD "Call Jesus" and the nationally acclaimed CD "Twinkie Clark-Terrell presents The Florida A&M Gospel Choir. She became a member of the World Famous Angelic Voices of Praise in 2009 touring through Italy.