Event is Christian/Gospel's official weekend training camp and
competition for signed and aspiring artists and songwriters will be
held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) will host a GMA Academy event
February 16-17, 2007 in Dallas with Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba
recording artist Kirk Franklin and Ardent/INO Recording Artist Todd
Agnew. The Christian and gospel music industry's official weekend
training camp and talent competition for signed and aspiring artists
and songwriters, the GMA Academy event will be held at the Hyatt
Regency Dallas.
Academy registration is available online at www.gospelmusic.org.
January 16, 2007 is the deadline to register for the talent
competitions.
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The GMA Academy was originally established to encourage and train
musical talent interested in developing a ministry or career in
Christian and gospel music. Through various seminars and critique
sessions, individuals receive in-depth instruction, covering practical
business concerns to improving artistic and songwriting skills, taught
by music industry professionals. The event also includes the
industry's oldest and most respected talent competition.
"The GMA Academy events are intensely rewarding. In one, focused,
weekend, registrants will make time to focus on their individual
calling in music, learn more about the inner-workings of the Christian
and gospel music industry, network with influential industry
executives and receive valuable feedback about songwriting and
performance skills. I cannot think of any more important way to spend
two days if I were an aspiring or independent artist or songwriter,"
said John W. Styll, president of the GMA.
The GMA Academy Dallas begins on Friday, February 16 for two days of
intensive training with tracks for songwriters and performers. Artists
Franklin and Agnew will participate in the GMA Academy event as
Artists-in-Residence and present a teaching concert on the first
night, along with the GMA Academy Regional SONG of 2007 Competition.
The event concludes Saturday night with the GMA Academy Regional
ARTIST 2007 Competition and showcase performances of the winners.
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Winners from the talent competition at GMA Academy Dallas will be
invited to go on to the Artist & Song of 2007 National Competitions at
GMA Music in the Rockies, held in August 2007 in Estes Park, Colo.
In addition to Franklin and Agnew, GMA Academy Dallas will feature
influential professionals from all areas of the music business who
serve as faculty for the weekend event. Additionally, author and
speaker Reed Arvin will offer keynotes for each morning. Arvin is an
accomplished author, with his legal thrillers published around the
world in 13 different languages. His latest work, Blood of Angels
(2006, HarperTorch), has been named to numerous Top 10 lists since its
release. Prior to becoming an author, Arvin was an accomplished
musician/producer touring with artists Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant
and producing 12 #1 songs for the late Rich Mullins. Arvin served on
the original GMA Academy Advisory Council as dean, and was the
managing editor for the first GMA Academy music curriculum, which was
published in 1999.
Complete information and details about the GMA Academy Dallas can be
found here.
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ABOUT THE GMA
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and
voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to
exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all
styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip
hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of
4,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers,
promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers,
songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA
Dove Awards, GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, and the GMA
Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.
