AUSTRALIAN GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS DELIVER MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES WHILE SECTOR EXPANDS
US performer takes top honors at Australian gospel music awards
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA 22 November 2003
AUSTRALIAN GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS DELIVER MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES WHILE SECTOR EXPANDS
During an evening of star-powered performances, the Australian Gospel Music Awards celebrated five years of record growth as accolades were spread nationally.
US born singer, Francine Bell took top honors with the 2003 Yamaha Golden Gospel Award recognising lifetime achievement in the sector.
Known for her poise and elegance on stage, the Newcastle Conservatorium singing teacher has toured extensively in the US and France, plus performed at the Sydney Opera House and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. She also appears as the aptly named Councillor Grace in The Matrix Revolutions.
Bell said that she was "really excited" to be part of the awards at a time when Australian Gospel Music is gaining significant marketplace success.
Organisers say that Gospel Music is the fastest growing sector of the Australian music industry generating $25-30 million annually and representing 4.9% of total industry sales.
"In the past six years, the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) has accredited 14 gold and platinum gospel awards, most of these being Australian artists," says awards organiser Kelvin Fahey.
Ms Bell praised the winners of other categories including CCC Youth, the youth band of Christian City Church Oxford Falls in Sydney who won the Independent Recording Artist Award.
Bell described the leader of CCC Youth, Nikki Fletcher as "a star waiting to go kaboom".
CCC Youth performed its groundbreaking gospel radio hit 'Dream Maker' at the awards.
Last year's winner of the Yamaha Golden Gospel Award, Jimmy Little returned to the awards performing 'Royal Telephone', the song that brought him national success forty years ago this month.
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of six awards for gospel songwriting.
Sponsored by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Yamaha Music Australia, the Australian Gospel Songwriting Awards honor the countrys leading gospel songwriters.
The winners in each category were:
Best Gospel Song - Take The Time - Cynthia McCracken
Runner Up - With All My Heart - Jan Bentley
Outstanding Gospel Lyrics - Precious Lord - Debra Dicembre
Outstanding Gospel Music Award - Arise - Eric Ossebaar
Judges Commendation Gospel Song - Lead Me Home - Merelyn & David Carter
Youth Gospel Song - In Faith - Michael Paynter
Awards Chairman Hans van de Zandt said the gala awards presentation was an amazing" night for gospel music.
I cant remember a more exciting show with so many stand-out performances," van de Zandt said.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The Australian Gospel Music Awards and the Australian Gospel Songwriting Awards are presented annually at the National Gospel Happening music and arts festival held in Canberra each November 2003.
The Australian Gospel Music Awards and the Australian Gospel Songwriting Awards recognise achievement in all genres of contemporary Christian and Gospel music throughout Australia.
The Yamaha Golden Gospel Award is the sector's peak honor awarded to performers and personalities that have contributed significantly to the development of Gospel Music in Australia.
ABOUT APRA
The Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) was established in 1926 as a non-profit organisation to collect and distribute copyright royalties for composers, lyricists and music publishers. Run by and for its members, APRA promotes local music and is an advocate on music industry issues.
ABOUT YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA
Yamaha Music Australia is the nations largest supplier of musical instruments and related sound and recording systems. The organisation is a major provider of music related education through its Yamaha Music School network, and aims to popularise music by supporting performer development in Australia.
CONTACTS
Wes Jay - +61 4 1738 0340
wes@woodlandsmedia.com
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