Thanks to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and Walt Disney World, Indianapolis artist/songwriter Jake Brothers had the music experience of a lifetime when he shared the stage with Flyleaf and Jars of Clay at Night of Joy at Walt Disney World (www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy) last weekend.

Brothers arrived in Orlando via Nashville where in August he won multiple honors at GMA IMMERSE (www.experienceimmerse.com), the Christian music industry’s premier training experience and talent competition. At the four-day competition, hundreds of artist and songwriting contestants from all over the United States and Canada competed for grand prizes which included the “Disney Best of Show” award and performance slot at Night of Joy at Walt Disney World.

As the recipient of GMA’s “Disney's Night of Joy Best of Show Award,” Brothers performed at the Walt Disney World® Resort for one of the top Christian music events in the country. In addition to performing during the same event as artists like Jars of Clay, Chris Tomlin, P.O.D., Superchick, Newsboys, Kutless, Leeland and Flyleaf, Brothers received a vacation package for Disney World.

At GMA IMMERSE, Brothers competed as both as solo artist and as the Jake Brothers Band. While Brothers won the Disney award, his band was also chosen as GMA’s Band winner.

The GMA Artist & Song of 2009 National Competition is the Christian and gospel music community’s premier talent competition for unsigned artists and songwriters that has in recent years seen entrants like Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman, BarlowGirl and American Idol 2007 winner Jordin Sparks go on to successful music careers. Fellow American Idol finalist and another former GMA competition winner Chris Sligh hosted this year’s competition finals.

More than 600 Christian artists, songwriters, worship leaders – and those that want to be someday – gathered last week in Nashville to IMMERSE in a four-day event presented by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) that is the Christian music industry’s premier training experience and talent competition. The event, held on the campus of Belmont University, offered unparalleled training, professional and personal feedback, one-of-a-kind concerts and a sense of community to uniquely equip creative Christians to impact culture through music both in and out of the church.

Next year, GMA IMMERSE is scheduled for July 28-31, 2010. Complete information is available at www.experienceimmerse.com.

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of more than 3,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.