Kentucky Native Rachel Hurt Takes Multiple Honors Including

Overall Vocal and Walt Disney World “Night of Joy” Prize

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – August 9, 2007 – Rachel Hurt from Shep, Ky., is among the several aspiring artists and songwriters who are one step closer to their dreams of a music career after winning multiple honors at the GMA Academy Artist and Song of 2007 talent competition at the 33rd GMA Music in the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo., last week.

GMA Academy Artist and Song of 2007 competition is the official Gospel Music Association (GMA) talent competition for unsigned artists and was held during GMA’s annual Music in the Rockies (www.musicintherockies.com) event July 29 to August 3 and featured six days of educational and professional development seminars and music concerts.

At the conclusion of the week-long competition, Hurt was named GMA’s Artist Vocal Solo 2007 Grand Prize Winner as well as the recipient of GMA’s “Disney's Night of Joy Best of Show Award,” which means she will perform at Night of Joy at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in September. Hurt also was selected to have a song on two upcoming CD projects.

The GMA Academy national competition awards winners in performing and songwriting categories with five Overall Grand Prize winners named for solo, group, band, instrumental and song. The Grand Prize winners receive prize packages worth thousands of dollars and offer priceless opportunities for these artists to pursue their musical goals. Joining Hurt in the Overall Winner category were The Sonflowerz, a worship band from Colorado Springs, Colo., which won Overall Vocal Group; Hollow, a Christian rock band originating from Oklahoma City, Okla., took the Overall Band honors and Clairmont, Calif., native Steve Merrick won the Overall Instrumental award. “How Big Small Can Be,” written by Steven and Amanda Potaczek from Indianapolis, Ind., was named as the Overall Song of 2007 winner.

“We heard a lot of talented artists and songwriters at this year’s Music in the Rockies. We hope that this week has given them the tools and confidence to find their place in music, whether that be as a recording artist, songwriter or worship leader,” said John W. Styll, president and CEO of the GMA.

Hurt was picked by Walt Disney World to have a performance slot at Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Resort (www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy). She will perform as part of a talent lineup that includes 18 Christian recording artists – Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, Flyleaf, Mary Mary, Kutless, Mark Schultz and many more – Sept. 7-8, in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

“This was the strongest group of unsigned talent in years performing at Estes Park – but nobody was stronger than Rachel Hurt, this year's ‘Best of Show’ award winner.” said Brad Ross, talent booking director, Walt Disney World Resort.

Hurt was also the choice of Indelible Creative Group (www.indelibleonline.com) to record a song for its annual multi-artist project, Velocity, distributed nationally by Word Distribution. CCM Magazine will feature Hurt on its CCM New Music Collection, Vol. 2, a sampler CD included in the magazine’s November/December double issue that includes a two-page feature on the CD’s artists.

Kaleb Krueger of New Haven, Mo., was tapped for the Compassion International's Music & Ministry Experience and will be invited to travel with an established Christian artist to a Compassion International (www.compassion.com) third-world destination. This all-expense-paid ministry trip provides a great opportunity to explore the practical integration of music and ministry. Kruger had also placed as runner-up in the Praise & Worship song category for his song “You Are God.”

In addition to the Overall winners, winners were also honored in several categories defined by musical style and/or age. These winners, too, receive prizes including personal consultation meetings with music industry executives, free tuition to next year’s GMA Music in the Rockies and the 2008 GMA Music Week in Nashville, Tenn., and several other product prizes. Those winners include:

Artist of 2007
Vocal One Brock Baker
Phoenix, Ariz.
Vocal Two Rachel Hurt
Shep, Ky.
Vocal Three Scott Holley
Jamaica, N.Y.
Southern Gospel/Country Donna Kay Irving, Texas
Urban Gospel/Hip Hop Albert Hall
Midland, Texas
Vocal Group The Sonflowerz
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Instrumental Steve Merrick
Clairmont, Calif.
Band Hollow
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Song of 2007
Praise & Worship “Run to You” by LeAnn Squier
Denton, Texas
Gospel/Urban/Hip Hop “Magnificent High” by Kierra Gray
Corinth, Texas
Southern Gospel/Country “Burning” by Katie Kapteyn
Lansing, Ill.
Pop/Rock/Alternative “I Am the Sky” by Nathan Otwell
Waxahachie, Texas
Pop/AC/Inspirational “How Big Small Can Be” by Steven and Amanda Potaczek Indianapolis, Ind.
A complete list of winners is available at www.gospelmusic.org or www.musicintherockies.com.
The next GMA talent competition will be held during GMA Academy in Nashville on October 12 and 13, 2007.
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. GMA’s 33rd Annual Music in the Rockies event featured classes, competition, and concerts and distinguished itself with its emphasis on the spiritual soul in addition to the musical soul of the artist. The legacy of artists that have been discovered or birthed from the Music in the Rockies and GMA Academy experience include current American Idol champ Jordin Sparks and fellow Idol finalist Chris Sligh. Additionally, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, BarlowGirl, Babbie Mason, Point of Grace and others are also among the many artists who trace their musical heritage to Estes Park. A daily blog of the event is online at http://www.myspace.com/gospelmusicassociation.