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Press Release - September 27, 2004
ALI MATTHEWS NOMINATED FOR
PRESTIGIOUS CGMA COVENANT AWARDS
Stratford singer/songwriter, Ali Matthews has received National recognition in the form of multiple nominations from The Canadian Gospel Music Association (CGMA). In their own press release, last week the CGMA announced its Covenant Awards Finalists for 2004, their 26th annual Awards show.“The Covenant Awards are recognized as Canada’s Christian music Industry Standard Awards,” states CMGA President Gary Dix. Nineteen categories are represented including Rap/Hip Hop/Dance, Urban, Contemporary Gospel, Country/Bluegrass/Southern Gospel, Praise & Worship, Inspirational, Pop Contemporary & Modern Rock Alternative.
Ali Matthews has received an impressive five nominations including Inspirational Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.
The Awards will be presented on October 16, 2004 in Toronto. Almost unbelievably, this will mark the first time that Canada's Gospel Music Industry Awards ceremony has been held inside Canada's largest city, and the excitement is starting to build towards what many hope will be the best Covenant Awards ever!
The show will include performances from the Toronto Mass Choir, Kelita and The Torchmen among others. Former winners of the awards have included Carolyn Arends, Steve Bell, Downhere and, a Stratford group, Lost Coin. Michael Bannerman, lead singer and founding member of Lost Coin confirms that a win at the Covenant Awards brings with it a significant amount of prestige and opportunity. He offers his fellow Stratfordite his best wishes, adding, “Ali’s music is a lot like her faith…raw, intimate and infectious. Her songs not only entertain - they inspire.”
Matthews’ third CD, “Where You Remain” was recorded and co-produced by Rick Francis at his Stratford studio. The disk was released to a sold out crowd at the elegant Church Restaurant on May 8th, 2004. Since it’s release, the CD has garnered national praise from listeners and critics alike. Her single, To Know You was used as a soundtrack for a promotional DVD for Save the Mothers, a charity working to assist women in poor countries around the world.
On hearing the news of her nominations, Matthews responded, “It is an incredible thrill to receive this kind of recognition from professionals on the ‘inside’ of the Industry. It really validates all the years of hard work.”
Matthews received two nominations for Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year for Where You Remain and Hunger Mountain. Her Christmas song, Emmanuel is up for Praise & Worship Song of the Year and the CD has been nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year. Matthews is most excited about her nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. ”I love to sing more than anything, so it feels great to know that people aren’t just being nice – they really do like my voice!”
A complete list of finalists is available at www.cgmaonline.com and tickets for the show are available at www.yourTICKETzone.com
Ali can be reached at ali@alimatthews.com or (519) 272-9658
More information on Save the Mothers is available at www.savethemothers.org www.savethemothers.org
©2004 Copyright Ali Matthews
