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Deaf concertgoer feels Christian music through sign language | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Like thousands of other Christian-music fans, Jessi Gupta was on her feet for nearly every act Friday at KingsFest at Kings Dominion.
She bounced and nodded to the head-banging group Fireflight. Arms raised, she swayed back and forth during Chris Tomlin's set. When headliner Toby Mac capped the evening at Kingswood Amphitheater, Gupta screamed along with other fans as neon lit up the sky, complementing the hip-hop and rock-fusion sound.
The 30-year-old government worker from Bristow didn't hear one lyric, a single guitar riff or one of the stage-thumping drum solos. Gupta is deaf. She experienced the concert in complete silence, but few may have heard the message of embracing Jesus Christ as clearly as she did.
"It was mind-blowing," Gupta said. "It's because I was able to understand the word, because I was able to understand the message."
Thanks to 15-year-old Emma Cramer, who is studying sign language with Gupta, every lyric was communicated. Cramer not only signed each word but also moved her body with the beats and mimicked the vocalists' inflections with her facial expressions. Gupta had been to two country-music concerts, but KingsFest was her first Christian concert and her first with an interpreter.
"Obviously, I can't hear their voice, so she relays through her facial expressions," Gupta said. "So I know when the mood shifts or how it is. So watching her I can actually feel it deeper. I know when it's light and upbeat and when the message is serious."
Cramer and her father, Dave Cramer, attending their third straight KingsFest, didn't need to see the stage to see the music's impact.
Dave Cramer is also learning sign language through Grace Life Community Church in Bristow and joined his daughter and Gupta during Tomlin's set. As Tomlin sang, the lyrics flashed behind him on a large digital display, allowing Gupta to sign along. The passion overtook Gupta as she closed her eyes, but she still easily stayed on pace during Tomlin's rendition of "Amazing Grace."
Emma said she found a deeper meaning in the music through signing.
"When you're signing it, I don't know for me, it just completely makes me feel sooo much better," she said. "It makes me enjoy it so much more."
Gupta attended to see the groups whose videos she watches online. Many artists have YouTube videos that include American Sign Language. Gupta most anticipated seeing the rock band Fireflight. The Orlando, Fla., band's guitarist Justin Cox saw Cramer signing to Gupta during his group's performance.
"It's incredibly humbling just to know that what we're doing is auditory for the most part, but that to know that someone can feel impacted by something that they have to see visually is just amazing," Cox said.
Said lead vocalist Dawn Michele: "It just helps us know that God's working through the words."
The festival was seen as a success for promotion company Premier Productions. Thursday was a near sellout, Friday sold out and Saturday was expected to, according to Kings Dominion marketing manager John Pagel. The park does not release numbers, but Pagel said there are 5,000 seats and 2,500 to 3,000 more people can fit on the lawn.
Premier is in its third year and each summer has put on about 15 festivals at Cedar Fair theme parks nationwide. Richard Young, the director of operations, said numbers are down this year 10 percent to 20 percent mainly because of the economy. He said attendance dropped from 2,800 to 900 from last year to this year at one festival, but events such as KingsFest help offset the unexpected.
Young said having Christian concerts at theme parks is a great advantage.
"What we like to say, our company's mantra is the park is our best opening act," Young said. "Here you have a nice venue in the midst of a huge theme park, so it's a combination deal."
Young said a top priority is keeping ticket prices low. KingsFest tickets on average increased $2 from last year. A single day ticket cost $56.99, but a Kings Dominion season pass-holder could attend for $24.99.
Young attributes KingsFest's consistent annual turnout to the strong Christian message and the family-oriented experience promoted by theme parks.
"This is firmly the Bible Belt area," he said, "so church events, Christian festivals are a mainstay of church groups."
Like thousands of other Christian-music fans, Jessi Gupta was on her feet for nearly every act Friday at KingsFest at Kings Dominion.
She bounced and nodded to the head-banging group Fireflight. Arms raised, she swayed back and forth during Chris Tomlin's set. When headliner Toby Mac capped the evening at Kingswood Amphitheater, Gupta screamed along with other fans as neon lit up the sky, complementing the hip-hop and rock-fusion sound.
The 30-year-old government worker from Bristow didn't hear one lyric, a single guitar riff or one of the stage-thumping drum solos. Gupta is deaf. She experienced the concert in complete silence, but few may have heard the message of embracing Jesus Christ as clearly as she did.
"It was mind-blowing," Gupta said. "It's because I was able to understand the word, because I was able to understand the message."
Thanks to 15-year-old Emma Cramer, who is studying sign language with Gupta, every lyric was communicated. Cramer not only signed each word but also moved her body with the beats and mimicked the vocalists' inflections with her facial expressions. Gupta had been to two country-music concerts, but KingsFest was her first Christian concert and her first with an interpreter.
"Obviously, I can't hear their voice, so she relays through her facial expressions," Gupta said. "So I know when the mood shifts or how it is. So watching her I can actually feel it deeper. I know when it's light and upbeat and when the message is serious."
Cramer and her father, Dave Cramer, attending their third straight KingsFest, didn't need to see the stage to see the music's impact.
Dave Cramer is also learning sign language through Grace Life Community Church in Bristow and joined his daughter and Gupta during Tomlin's set. As Tomlin sang, the lyrics flashed behind him on a large digital display, allowing Gupta to sign along. The passion overtook Gupta as she closed her eyes, but she still easily stayed on pace during Tomlin's rendition of "Amazing Grace."
Emma said she found a deeper meaning in the music through signing.
"When you're signing it, I don't know for me, it just completely makes me feel sooo much better," she said. "It makes me enjoy it so much more."
Gupta attended to see the groups whose videos she watches online. Many artists have YouTube videos that include American Sign Language. Gupta most anticipated seeing the rock band Fireflight. The Orlando, Fla., band's guitarist Justin Cox saw Cramer signing to Gupta during his group's performance.
"It's incredibly humbling just to know that what we're doing is auditory for the most part, but that to know that someone can feel impacted by something that they have to see visually is just amazing," Cox said.
Said lead vocalist Dawn Michele: "It just helps us know that God's working through the words."
The festival was seen as a success for promotion company Premier Productions. Thursday was a near sellout, Friday sold out and Saturday was expected to, according to Kings Dominion marketing manager John Pagel. The park does not release numbers, but Pagel said there are 5,000 seats and 2,500 to 3,000 more people can fit on the lawn.
Premier is in its third year and each summer has put on about 15 festivals at Cedar Fair theme parks nationwide. Richard Young, the director of operations, said numbers are down this year 10 percent to 20 percent mainly because of the economy. He said attendance dropped from 2,800 to 900 from last year to this year at one festival, but events such as KingsFest help offset the unexpected.
Young said having Christian concerts at theme parks is a great advantage.
"What we like to say, our company's mantra is the park is our best opening act," Young said. "Here you have a nice venue in the midst of a huge theme park, so it's a combination deal."
Young said a top priority is keeping ticket prices low. KingsFest tickets on average increased $2 from last year. A single day ticket cost $56.99, but a Kings Dominion season pass-holder could attend for $24.99.
Young attributes KingsFest's consistent annual turnout to the strong Christian message and the family-oriented experience promoted by theme parks.
"This is firmly the Bible Belt area," he said, "so church events, Christian festivals are a mainstay of church groups."
