Thanks to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and Walt Disney World Resort, a contestant in the Music in the Rockies Spotlight 2005, GMA’s official talent competition for unsigned artists, will be invited to perform at Night of Joy at the Magic Kingdom in September, announced John W. Styll, president of the GMA.
The Music in the Rockies Disney winner will perform on the same stage as MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, tobyMac, CeCe Winans, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Nicole C. Mullen and Donnie McClurkin during Disney’s Night of Joy Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.
“‘Night of Joy’ and gospel music make a great match, and we’re thrilled to welcome Walt Disney World involvement,” Styll said. “To be Disney’s choice to perform at Night of Joy is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a talented artist, and we’re honored Walt Disney World has chosen our Music in the Rockies event as the place to find that talent.”
“We are extremely delighted to be working with the Gospel Music Association,” said Linda Warren, executive vice president, Marketing and Brand Management, for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Night of Joy at Walt Disney World is a very special event for us, and having collaborators like the GMA makes the event even more exciting for our guests.”
GMA Music in the Rockies (formerly “Seminar in the Rockies”) is July 31 through August 6 at the Estes Park Center YMCA. The week-long event has a long-standing history as the premier competition, gathering and educational event in gospel music. One of the main attractions of Music in the Rockies is always the Spotlight 2005 and Song of 2005, GMA’s official talent competition for unsigned artists and songwriters. Grand prize winners are named in several categories.
This year, Walt Disney World Entertainment will send two judges to Music in the Rockies where they will participate on a panel of judges at various performances and competitions during the week. The Disney judges will select one contestant, who may or may not be a GMA Spotlight winner, to receive the Disney “Best of Show” award and the Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Prize Package.
Walt Disney World Resort has presented Night of Joy annually since 1983. More than 100 Christian music artists have performed before a combined audience of more than 800,000 people in the Magic Kingdom.
In addition to the exclusive opportunity to perform at Night of Joy, the Disney winner will be awarded two night’s accommodations for four guests at Walt Disney World hotels, 10 “Magic Your Way” tickets to Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as 10 tickets to the Night of Joy at Walt Disney World.
“I cannot imagine a more exciting prize package – a concert performance at Night of Joy and two days of all access to Disney’s Parks – it’s a great incentive to be part of this year’s Music in the Rockies,” said Styll.
There are several key deadlines for registering for GMA’s 31st Annual Music in the Rockies and specifically the talent competitions. All the details for registration can be found at http://www.gospelmusic.org.
GMA Music in the Rockies started in 1974. That summer, Cam Floria, president of Christian Artists’ Corp., launched an event called Christian Artists Music Seminar in the Rockies, designed to bring together experts in the Christian music industry to provide networking and training opportunities for church choir directors and aspiring musicians. In 2000, the GMA acquired Seminar in the Rockies from Christian Artist Corporation. In 2004, GMA changed the name to GMA Music in the Rockies.
Founded in 1964, the 4,500-member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children’s gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music Awardsä, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.
