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LONGEST-RUNNING TALENT COMPETITION GETS UNDERWAY THIS WEEKEND: Aspiring Artists Gather in Mountain Resort of Estes Park for 32nd GMA Music in the Rockies

(July 28, 2006)

Aspiring artists and songwriters from all over the country will journey this weekend to the Rocky Mountain resort town of Estes Park, Colorado to find out if they might join this notable list of successful gospel music recording artists who launched their careers at the gospel music industry’s longest-running talent competition. GMA’s 32nd Annual Music in the Rockies (www.musicintherockies.com), which begins Sunday, July 30 and continues through August 4, features six days of educational/professional development seminars and music concerts, but it is the GMA Academy Artist & Song of 2006 competition, the official Gospel Music Association (GMA) talent competition for unsigned artists and songwriters that draws so many aspiring artists.

The national competition held at the GMA Music in the Rockies, will include live performances for artists competitors – from preliminary stages through the finals. Songwriter competitors submit their entries for screening prior to the event and semifinals and finals are held on-site. Overall grand prizes are awarded for Vocal Solo 2006, Vocal Group 2006, Band 2006, Instrumental 2006, and Song of 2006.

The Academy Song of 2006 National Finals takes place on Thursday afternoon, with awards for all categories presented at the end of the competition. The Academy Artist 2006 National Finals takes place on Friday evening on the main stage, as part of the evening concert series during GMA Music in the Rockies. Awards for all Artist categories, including the grand prizes totaling more than $50,000 will be presented at the close of the concert.

In addition to the National Competition Prize Packages, there are a number of unique prizes awarded by event sponsors and chosen independently of the GMA Academy competition.

One winner will be chosen for a spot on Indelible Creative Group's (www.indelibleonline.com)annual multi-artist project, Velocity, distributed nationally by Word Distribution. The Velocity CD features independent artists from grassroots ministries around the country a wider platform to share their message as well as musical and songwriting talent.

One competitor will be awarded a performance slot at Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Resort (www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy) by Disney officials who will be at GMA Music in the Rockies to personally choose the Night of Joy winner. That artist will perform on the same stage with MercyMe, Casting Crowns, BarlowGirl, Kirk Franklin, tobyMac, Smokie Norful and other top Christian and gospel artists during Night of Joy, September 8-9, 2006, in the Magic Kingdom® at Walt Disney World Resort. The prize includes an all-expense paid vacation, including accommodations at a select Walt Disney World Resort, travel/airfare, Disney park hopper passes and Night of Joy tickets for the winning artist! (Press Release)

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