The Performance Division was the first division organized under the auspices of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc (GMWA), and the Convention grew and developed around it.  Over the years, the Performance Division has grown to encompass five standing choirs (the Mass Choir, Men of Promise, Women of Worship, Youth & Young Adult Division Choir and the Contemporary Adult Division Choir), the New Music Seminar and the Backstage Committee.

A primary objective of the GMWA is to give the world a song. The Performance Division is charged with delivering the same through its choirs and the New Music Seminar.  Through these Performance Division arms, songwriters from across the world are able to introduce, teach and perform their compositions before vast audiences.  In a typical year, some 100 original compositions are introduced among the choirs and the New Music Seminar.  Many of today’s gospel luminaries were introduced on GMWA’s Performance Division stage – names such as Pastor John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin, Kathy Taylor, Pastor Quincy Fielding, Evangelist Myrna Summers, Dr. Margaret Pleasant Douroux, and V. Michael McKay.  For many years, the Late Dr. Rodena Preston Williams served GMWA faithfully as our Minister of Music.  We honor her and her decades of sacrificial service. 

The Performance Division also manages the GMWA’s world-renown Nightly Musicals.  During the Annual Convention some 65 performance entities (choirs, ensembles, dancers, etc.) share their gifts and giftedness in worship.  Many of these performance entities are Chapter choirs – the local community choirs established in and through the local chapters of the GMWA.  The process of signing up for and managing the Nightly Musicals (which may have as many as 18 or 20 groups perform on a given night) falls to the Backstage Committee.  The Late Dr. Charles Fold led the Backstage Committee for many years.  We are grateful to God that Dr. Fold’s legacy of excellence continues today.

Church choirs the world over still sing music that came through the Performance Division – “He’ll Never Let You Down” (Steven Roberts), “For God So Loved the World” (Lanny Wolfe), “He Decided to Die” (Margaret Douroux), “No Greater Love” (David Allen), “Order My Steps” (Glenn Burleigh)….and the list goes on.

You’re invited to be a part of the Performance Division by submitting music for review and/or joining one of our choirs and/or signing up to minister on a Nightly Musical.  We are the Convention “Where Everybody Is Somebody.”  The Performance Division welcomes you!

For more information about the Performance Division, please contact Pastor Rodney Teal at tealgmwa@gmail.com or call 571.215.6039.