TRI-STATE MOVEMENT
Choir - When anointed choirs come together, something powerful happens. In recent years, gospel music's growing mainstream appeal has caused a raise in popular community and album choirs, but a decline in the development of the church choir, its workshop team, and its musicians. How can we shift the interest back to church ministry?

As part of the Association's commitment to the development of church music we set up a means for regional recognition. Yearly at the Tri-State conference, choirs attend our choir invitational to be inspired by each other and gain strength from one another. The intent is to have choirs strive for excellence through competition and at the same time encourage one another in ministry.

Choir Initiatives
*This coming year we desire to have a contingent of qualified, anointed directors that can be mobilized to go out and help struggling or beginning music programs.
*Utilize our brand new website as an online training tool and an avenue through which directors and musicians can communicate, answer each others questions, and offer advise on particular issues.
*To develop a training series for choir development at various stages in church growth.

Youth
It is unquestionable that young people are our greatest assets for the present and the future. Countless reports suggest that kids that are involved in music at any level have an increased sense of respect for themselves and their future. The church has realized that it is now time to make a valuable music investment in our children's future. The question then is "how do we positively impact the lives of young people, both in and out of the church through gospel music"?

The Tri-State Association felt it was important to respond to the appeal of the young and do its part to make their future a brighter one. In its second year in existence, we hosted the Tri-State Youth Competition, awarding kids for their achievement in music. With the support of Assembly- woman Hill-Hooper's office and four school districts in our area, we accepted the challenge of being another positive influence for our young people. Local officials have also encouraged us to extend the arm of Tri-State to more young people in an even more substantial way.

Youth Initiatives
*Extend the scope of our youth competition to include training sessions at different times throughout the year.
*Offer Music Scholarships to kids for academic and artistic merit to Colleges and Universities.
*Set-Up a music resource database for youth fellowship and empowerment online.

Training
Many of us know what it is like to get up and sing in church. Most of us wish we had more professional training to back up our worship experience. What if there was a way by which people could connect to training programs that inspired and empowered them? What if their was forum by which answers could be found to any question pertaining to gospel music?

Music empowerment is vital to church growth in the 21st Century. The church faces the challenge of coming up to the level of the comparative gospel and secular artist. At the most basic level, that growth begins with the gathering of relevant information and training that yield results. Education and exposure can elevate and develop the latent substantial talent that may be dormant in our churches. We desire to empower both the individual as well as the body of Christ as a whole.


Training Initiatives
*Add two additional workshops throughout the course of the year for specific music development. *Develop web based curriculum of musical concepts and requested information.
*Develop email response training that can answer specific questions.
*Develop a database of music training professionals, to whom we can refer interested parties.

THE RESULTS
“A fresh youth scene in our community”
“Recognition at Last!”
“Excellence, gospel singing at its best.”
“Great professional exposure for up and coming gospel singers.”
“Wow! Money! Tri-State here I come.”

ENDORSEMENTS
New York State Assembly Member–Earlene Hill Hooper
Incorporated Village of Hempstead–Mayor James Garner

Concert
We have given Him wonderful music, but what He is hungry for is praise and worship. Exposure has made us professional worshippers. We know how to create a good feeling, but there must be a return to unadulterated worship. The kind of worship that pleases God. The movement has began. Will you join us? Annual Gospel Concert / Award Show at Calvary Tabernacle. Over 700 people will come together to shake Calvary Tabernacle. For Ticket Info please call 516-292-3685. Your ticket price is $30.00.

CASH AWARDS
1st Place Prize Youth         2nd Place Prize Youth           3rd Place Prize Youth      10 Consolation Youth 
Vocal grant $1000.00        Vocal grant $300.00          Vocal grant $200.00        Prizes $50.00 each

Awards
The nineties solidified gospel music as a mainstream money making genre in popular music. As the music went out into the streets, the body of Christ lost many talented musicians and singers in the process. As a result, many of the talented young people in churches became less interested in impacting their local ministries. They went in search of personal music success. How do we shift the focus back to developing music in the church and at the same time fulfill personal music goal?

Tri-State's desire is to create a regional platform for recognition that showcases the efforts of faithful music ministers. We seek to give pastors and church bodies the opportunity to elevate their own people, allowing an outlet for recognition that will foster a more excellent music ministry in the long run. Elevation should come through faithfulness to the kingdom of God and not through record companies hype. There will come a day when children will desire the position of Church Music Minister above any other, and we desire to be a part of making it happen.

What we desire to do in the future?
*Continue to make the Tri-State Music Award a nationally recognized award of gospel music merit award.
*Utilize the world wide web to receive new applicants and promote the achievements of award recipients.
*Create a winners packet that allows the winner to develop a musical product based on their area of expertise.

Service Awards Nominations.
Do you have a Choir Director or Music Minister you think is worthy of honor? Submit their information and bio to us at rtstewart@cometocalvary.com, awards will be presented at Tri-State 2008