The Pearl Awards, which honor the Mormondom’s best faith-based music of the past year, were announced last night by the FCMA (Faith Centered Music Association).
The FCMA is a nonprofit foundation that unites musicians and recording artists who are “dedicated to raising quality and awareness of uplifting and faith promoting music within the values-oriented community.” The FCMA also seeks to “grow and expand the audience that listens to and purchases this compelling genre of music.”
Jeff Simpson, the founder of the FCMA, says that the Pearl Awards “recognize excellence across a broad spectrum of musical excellence. Winning a Pearl Award declares an artist or work the very best in faith-centered music.”
This year’s winners include the following:
SACRED RECORDING
Be Still My Soul
Album: Standing Room Only
Artist: Vocal Point
Arranger: Michael R. Hicks
Producer: Bob Ahlander
INSPIRATIONAL RECORDING
I Was Made
Album: Stand in the Light—EFY 2004
Artist: Michael Webb
Songwriter: Michael Webb
Producer: Tyler Castleton & Staci Peters
CONTEMPORARY RECORDING
The Light
Album: Stand in the Light—EFY 2004
Artist: April Meservy
Songwriter: Michelle Tumes
Producer: Tyler Castleton & Staci Peters
SACRED/CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING
If You Could Hie to Kolob
Album: The Light Divine
Artist: Jenny Oaks Baker
Arranger: Kurt Bestor
Producer: Kenny Hodges
INSPIRATIONAL/CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING
The Handcart Song
Album: Bring Them In; Celebrating the Spirit of Trek
Artist: Michael Dowdle
Arranger: Michael Dowdle
Producer: Michael Dowdle
HOLIDAY RECORDING
His Endless Gift of Love
Album: Night of All Nights
Artist: Jessie Clark-Funk
Songwriter: Jeannine Lasky & Masa Fukuda
Producer: Greg Hansen
SACRED ALBUM
In Thy Hands
Artist: Tammy Simister Robinson
Producers: Greg Hansen & Tammy Simister Robinson
INSPIRATIONAL ALBUM
The Sum of All Grace
Artist: Mindy Gledhill
Producer: Kenneth Cope
CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Railroad Blessing
Artist: Sam Payne
Producers: Steve Lemmon and Sam Payne
SACRED/CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Twenty-Five Beloved Hymns of Prayer & Faith
Artist: Michael Dowdle
Producers: Michael Dowdle
INSPIRATIONAL/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Janice Kapp Perry’s Celtic Variations
Creator: Janice Kapp Perry
Producer: John Perry and Greg Hansen
THEMED OR CONCEPT ALBUM
Emma’s Hymns
Artist: Mark Geslison & Geoff Groberg
Producers: Mark Geslison & Geoff Groberg
PRESENTATION OR SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
The Work & The Glory Soundtrack
Artist: Sam Cardon
Producer: Sam Cardon
HOLIDAY ALBUM
O Come Little Children
Artist: Enoch Train & The International Children’s Choir
Producer: Clive Romney & Enoch Train
COMPILATION ALBUM
Echoes of the Sabbath
Record Label: Tantara Records
MALE RECORDING ARTIST
Greg Simpson
FEMALE RECORDING ARTIST
Tammy Simister Robinson
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING ARTIST
Michael Dowdle
GROUP RECORDING ARTIST
Vocal Point
NEW RECORDING ARTIST
Mindy Gledhill
PRODUCER
Greg Hansen
SONGWRITER
Tammy Simister Robinson
PERFORMING ARTIST
Vocal Point
ARRANGER
Michael Dowdle
STUDIO MUSICIAN
Rich Dixon
STUDIO VOCALIST
April Meservy
STUDIO ENGINEER
Steve LeRud
BEST ALBUM DESIGN
Return to Nauvoo (Cindy Ferguson)
RADIO SHOW
Steven Kapp Perry (FM-100)
RECORD LABEL
Sounds of Zion
RETAIL MANAGER
Anette Dahl
(Jorgensen’s — Roy, Utah)