New celebration of gospel music history and culture kicks off in January 2025 with the first Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational, followed by free concerts throughout Miami-Dade County and culminating with Gospel Fest Miami Weekend in June 2025 A weekend of free concerts, workshops, a film screening, gospel conversations and a finale concert featuring national and local gospel acts.
The Adrienne Arsht Center is proud to announce the inaugural Gospel Fest Miami, a new six-month celebration of gospel music’s rich history and vibrant culture. From January through June 2025, the Arsht will invite Miami audiences to enjoy free community concerts around town, a film screening, workshops and performances at the Arsht, all leading up to a show-stopping finale concert featuring national gospel stars alongside local artists
More information about participating artists, performances and a schedule of events will be announced soon. The celebrations will kick off on January 18, 2025 with the first annual Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational, a free choral competition where collegiate, community and church choirs from across Florida are invited to compete for a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the Arsht’s first annual Gospel Fest Miami Weekend, scheduled for June 21-22, 2025, alongside headliners to be announced soon.
The festival will also feature free seminars and panel discussions exploring the history of gospel music, vocal clinics, choir workshops and more.
“Gospel Fest Miami is an evolution of the Arsht Center’s fan-favorite Free Gospel Sundays series, which showcased the rich gospel music in Miami for 15 seasons,” said Jairo Ontiveros, executive producer and Dorothea Green Chair of Education & Community Engagement at the Arsht Center. “We’re excited to expand this popular series so that Miami can truly immerse itself in gospel culture by learning about its history and cultural significance in addition to enjoying magical performances by Miami’s own gospel talents as well as some of the genre’s biggest names.”
Gospel Fest Miami is made possible with support from the community, including longtime Arsht supporters Michelle and Rodney C. Adkins along with Melanie and Martin Kirshner and Baptist Health.
The inaugural season of Gospel Fest Miami includes the following:
ARSHT GOSPEL CHOIR INVITATIONAL
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Knight Concert Hall
FREE – First Access Passes available starting December 3
The Arsht invites South Florida Gospel music lovers to enjoy a day of gospel music at the inaugural Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational. Enjoy performances by collegiate, community and church choirs from across Florida as they compete for a $5,000 grand prize – and a chance to perform onstage at Gospel Fest Miami in June.
Audiences are encouraged to cheer for their favorite choir, sing along to gospel classics and experience the power of gospel music on one of the country’s biggest stages. The evening will feature the best top choirs in each category, with special performances by the “How Sweet the Sound” Award-winning Florida Fellowship Super Choir and Florida Memorial University’s Ambassador Chorale. The invitational will be hosted by gospel singer, songwriter and producer Corey Edwards.
All choirs interested in competing in the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational can find more information and apply here by December 18, 2024.
GOSPEL ON THE ROAD
February-May 2025
The spirit of gospel will fill the streets of Miami with four pop-up performances throughout Miami-Dade County, featuring our city’s best local acts spreading joy, unity and inspiration. Pop-up locations, dates and times will be announced soon.
Gospel on the Road performances are free and open to the public. No reservations needed.
GOSPEL FEST MIAMI
June 21-22, 2025
Knight Concert Hall
This two-day celebration of faith, culture and community at the inaugural Gospel Fest Miami weekend will feature a free film screening at the Arsht on the history and roots of gospel; pre-show artist conversations at the Arsht with historians speaking on the rich history of gospel music, its connection to the Civil Rights movement and its influence on secular music; clinics and choir workshops for vocalists of all skill levels; a free performance by some of Miami’s best gospel acts, and more – all culminating with a star-studded concert featuring national headliners alongside local acts and the winners of the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational.
Detailed information about the lineup, ticket prices and on-sale dates and free First Access Passes will be announced at a later date.
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