Christian Music / Gospel

GMA's Music in the Rockies - Education and Competition

By Kim Jones, About.com

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Rush Of Fools

Midas Records

GMA’s 33rd Annual Music in the Rockies 2007 begins Sunday, July 29 and continues through August 3. The event features six days of educational and professional development seminars and music concerts at the Estes Park Center YMCA in Estes Park, CO. Music in the Rockies is a unique experience that pulls in thousands of musicians from all over the world as an event that helps indie Christian artists further their dreams. Just ask “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks and finalist Chris Sligh (who attended and competed in the talent competition in 2004 and 2003 respectively) if it works.

Specific educational and professional development tracks will cover arts in ministry (presented by A.C.T. Intl.), artistry, praise & worship and songwriting. Classes and critique sessions cover everything from basic tools for songwriting to getting signed by a label to performance techniques. Songwriters and artists can even have their song or demo tapes professionally critiqued by industry professionals. Because the event draws many families each year, there are also special family programs, such as Kids Kamp, Teen Connection and Women’s Retreat.

The official GMA talent competition for unsigned artists and songwriters, the GMA Academy Artist & Song of 2007 competition, is another highlight of the event.

Overall Grand Prizes for the Academy Artists and Song competition are awarded for Band 2007, Instrumental 2007, Song of 2007, Vocal Group 2007 and Vocal Solo 2007. Prizes include Disney's "Night of Joy" Best of Show Award, with one finalist selected by a Disney representative to perform at Walt Disney World’s Night of Joy, September 2007, in Orlando, FL; Compassion International's Music & Ministry Experience, with one competing artist chosen to receive an all-expense paid ministry trip to a Compassion International destination; and the overall Song of 2007 winner will be invited to perform during GMA Music Week’s Songwriter Showcase in April 2008, performing on the same stage with the year’s top Dove Award nominated songwriters.

All in all, more than $50,000 in prizes will be awarded and all the competitors will have the opportunity to perform in front of key A&R, record label and publishing executives in the Christian Music industry.

Music abounds each and every night of Music in the Rockies, with a week-long concert series that is open to the public and features a stellar line-up of artists. More than 25 performers will be featured over the six nights of music.