"The Mission"

The mission of the Gospel Music Workshop of America is to propagate the gospel message of Jesus Christ through the art of Music and to advance awareness, promote education, and formal study of the methods of gospel music. The Houston Chapter GMWA is actively reaching out into the community to positively impact churches, ministries, individual church workers, and laymen through the gospel music form.

Founded in 1967 by the late Rev. James Cleveland, the Gospel Music Workshop of America is the largest artistic organization of its kind in the world with 75,000 members in more than 185 chapters in the United States, United Kingdom, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.  The first GMWA convention was held in Detroit in 1968 at King Solomon Baptist Church with 3,000 delegates attending.

Active membership includes professional and amateur gospel vocalists, instrumentalists, composers, arrangers, directors and producers.  About 75 percent of the recordings on Billboard Magazine's gospel charts are written, arranged, produced and/or performed by GMWA members.

The GMWA meets twice a year. A board meeting is held in the spring and the annual convention session is held at a major venue beginning on the second Sunday of August. The conventions include workshops and musical performances during the week and attract 12,000 to 15,000 registrants annually. The convention’s National Mass Choir, which is made up  of 2,000 to 3,000 vocalists from Chapters around the world, produces a new recording each year after only 16 hours of rehearsal.  GMWA offshoots who also record include GMWA Women of Worship, GMWA Men of Promise, and the GMWA Youth Choir.

 
Benefits of Membership in GMWA

If you’ve been a member of GMWA before, you know what a valuable opportunity this membership provides. If you’re new to the GMWA family, take a few minutes to review the wealth of privileges GMWA members enjoy. So, if you aren’t a member, consider how much you are missing:

GMWA Keeps You Informed

The GMWA is the largest organization of its kind providing a venue and outlet for viable contributions in the world of gospel music. Becoming a member puts you in touch with the world of gospel music, keeps you abreast of the changes and movement within this genre of music, and provides education and awareness about gospel music ministry.

GMWA Keeps You Connected

About 75% of all music on the recordings on Billboard Magazine’s gospel charts are written, arranged, and/or performed by GMWA members. Your membership gives you a great networking opportunity to connect to gospel music artists, performers, and contributors. It’s the best way to make contacts in the industry.

GMWA Provides Assistance
 
Scholarships, grants, public education, college hours, and degrees are just some of the ways that that GMWA reaches into the global community to enhance the quality of life for its membership. Your membership gives you access to all the possibilities these and other programs have to offer. Many of the Houston Chapter members have been recipients of these great offers. 

 
GMWA Answers Questions