Ministers of Music
Honored In Awards Program

2007 Award Winners

2008 Ministry of Music Awards

Hamilton, Ohio [September 23, 2007] -- Four religious music directors have won honors in the 2007 Ministry of Music Awards program, the National Religious Music Week Alliance announced today.
 
The awards are given each year to ministers of music for developing outstanding religious music programs within their places of worship. This year three Awards of Distinction and one Award of Merit were granted.  
 
Winners of Award of Distinction plaques include:  Christopher Deibert, St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, , South Amboy, NJ; Ronald Vanasdlen, St. Cyprian Catholic Church, Riverview, MI; and Joe Pat Cox, Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL.  Mr. Cox also won an Award of Distinction in 2002.

The Award of Merit winner this year is Elizabeth Chapman, First Baptist Church, Mayo, SC.   Ms. Chapman won Awards of Merit in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and  an Award of Distinction in 2006.

The National Religious Music Week Alliance is the only organization giving national recognition to ministers of music for the work they do within their congregations. The awards program is now completing its seventh year  To date some 200 men and women  have received national acclaim through these awards.
 
“Our aim is to recognize men and women for exceptional performance in the ministry of music,” said Kevin Samblanet, Vice President of Awards.  “By focusing on the accomplishments of these leaders, we encourage and support the work of all ministers of music.”

 The Alliance also offers $10,000 in scholarships each year for college students studying for the music ministry.
 
The group’s principal goals are to support and enhance the music program in all places of worship; to give special thanks to the talented men and women who provide music for their congregations throughout the year; and to encourage these musicians to reach out into the community, drawing more people to the worship of God through music.
 
National Religious Music Week is observed the last full week of September each year.

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