Winners Named at 31st Annual GMA Music in the Rockies

Walt Disney World and Compassion International Also Honor Aspiring Artists With Special Honors at Annual Music in the Rockies Event in Estes Park, Colorado

Nashville, TN. - Long before "American Idol," the Gospel Music Association (GMA) has been discovering the future recording artists of Christian and gospel music every summer in the Rocky Mountains. Last week, winners were named at the 31 st Annual GMA Music in the Rockies ' Spotlight 2005 and Song of 2005 competitions.

"There was a lot of excitement generated at this year's event, with many key industry tastemakers talking about the impressive level of talent that entered in the Spotlight and Song competitions. I suspect a few of these young artists will find their way to development and songwriting deals before too long. Perhaps some of them will experience great careers in Christian music because of this experience,” said John. W. Styll, president of GMA.

There were a total of 13 categories for this year's competition – eight finalists in Spotlight and five finalists in Song. From those winners, four Grand Prize winners were named for Spotlight Vocal, Spotlight Band, Spotlight Instrumental and Song. In addition to a performance slot on the main stage on closing night of the Music in the Rockies concert series, the Grand Prize winners receive prize packages which include musical equipment, free studio time and professional performance consultation. The total packages are worth thousands of dollars and offer priceless opportunities for these artists to pursue their musical goals.

An urban-flavored quartet of sisters known as Witherspoon were named the Spotlight Vocal 2005 Grand Prize winners. Coming to Estes Park from the Seattle area, sisters Erica, Krista, Tasha and Tamara also placed first in Urban Gospel and took home second place in the Vocal Group Spotlight categories. In addition, Krista and Tamara's song "I'm Good," placed first in the Urban/Gospel/Hip Hop Song category.

Taking their name from the Hebrew word for "worship," Shachah, made up of Earl Mergelsberg, Brenden McPeek, Jesse Morales, Joshua Wagner and Bryan Whitley, captured the Spotlight Band 2005 Grand Prize . From southern California, the band's "I Will Not Die Today," took third place in the Urban/Gospel/Hip Hop Song category.

Daniel Yarbrough, a drummer from Oklahoma, won the Spotlight Instrumental 2005 Grand Prize and Colorado's Megan Isaacson's "My Worship" was named Song of 2005 and also claimed first place in the Praise & Worship/Choral Song category.

New to the Music in the Rockies' competitions for 2005 was a partnership between the GMA and Walt Disney World Resort. Executives from Walt Disney World spent the week at Music in the Rockies and presented Spotlight winner Witherspoon with its “Disney's Night of Joy Best of Show Award” to perform at Night of Joy at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. in September.

Ministry partner Compassion International, created a “Music & Ministry Experience” for another blessed aspiring artist. The international child development organization conducted personal evaluations and watched the competitions, and then invited Cindy Johnson of Winston-Salem , NC to travel with an established Christian artist to a Compassion International destination. This all-expense paid ministry trip will provide a unique opportunity to explore the practical integration of music and ministry.

Following is a list of all the winners for GMA's Music in the Rockies:

Spotlight 2005 Overall Grand Prize Winner
Witherspoon
(Erica, Krista, Tasha and Tamara Witherspoon)
Federal Way, WA

Song Of 2005 Grand Prize Winner
“My Worship”
Megan Isaacson
Westminster, CO

Spotlight Band 2005 Overall Grand Prize Winner
Shachah (pronounced sha-KAH)
(Earl Mergelsberg, Brenden McPeek, Jesse Morales, Joshua Wagner and Bryan Whitley)
Costa Mesa, CA

Spotlight Instrumental 2005 Overall Grand Prize Winner
Daniel Yarbrough - drums
Owasso, OK

Contemporary Christian Vocal (Adult Contemporary/Inspirational/Pop/Rock)
(3 Winners Chosen From Different Age Groups)
Nate Huss
Scottsdale, AZ

Morgan Guin
Burleson, TX

Mary Witherspoon
Niagra Falls, NY

Vocal Group
John & Debbie (John and Debbie Boller)
Cedar Rapids, IA

Southern Gospel Vocal
Morgann McClanahan
Mavisdale, VA

Urban Gospel Vocal
Witherspoon
Federal Way, WA

Band Vocal
Shachah
Costa Mesa, CA

Urban/Gospel/Hip Hop Song
“I'm Good”
Tamara Witherspoon, Krista Witherspoon
Federal Way, WA

Southern Gospel/Country Song
“King James Version 401K Plan”
Greely Baggett, Jr.
Moore, OK

Praise & Worship/Choral Song
“My Worship”
Megan Isaacson
Westminster, CO

Pop Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Song
“Jesus Reigns”
Susan Gray
Houston, TX

Pop-Rock/Alternative Song
“Healing Sound”
Hector Reyes Miller and Wilfredo Reyes Miller
Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Disney's Night Of Joy Best Of Show Award
Witherspoon
Federal Way, WA

Compassion International's Music & Ministry Experience
Cindy Johnson
Winston-Salem, NC

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 Awards ä, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.