The Catholic Sun :: Phoenix Diocesan Newspaper

Even if the music really speaks to parishioners during Mass, the only affirmation churchgoers often give musicians is occasional applause after the closing song.

The United Catholic Music and Video Association set out to change that eight years ago by establishing an annual awards ceremony. This October, the Unity Awards comes to Phoenix.

Some of the ground crew met last month to begin planning the event and sketching out how Catholics throughout the Phoenix Diocese can play an important role.

“It’s just like the Grammy’s, except for Catholics,” said Julie Carrick, who is part of the ground crew on behalf of the Carrick Ministries Foundation.

Carrick, a past Unity Award recipient in several categories including “Artist of the Year” in 2004, is especially grateful to have this type of program. She once turned down a recording contract in Nashville because it would have prevented her from identifying herself as Catholic.

The awards show follows a format similar to the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards, which honors contributors to Christian music. The Unity Awards honor Catholic work in various genres that span 50 categories. Examples include contemporary, devotional, country, rock, rap and Spanish.

“Their songs usually speak about how God works in their life,” said Susan Stein, the UCMVA representative at the planning meeting. “Those lyrics speak to us and they have the style of music that you like.”

Unlike the Doves, the UCMVA also recognizes the “Spoken Word Recording of the Year.”

While several artists will perform throughout the awards ceremony, organizers are still finalizing the list.

The event generally concludes with a networking reception and Mass at midnight. It may also feature a series of workshops for professional development.

“This is something very special that’s going to happen in Phoenix,” Stein said of the awards presentation. It draws Catholic artists from throughout the world.

“It’s a night of entertainment as well as spiritual uplifting,” Stein said. “Music bypasses the brain and goes straight to the heart.”

She expects a full house and hopes Phoenix Catholics will attend. Organizers especially encourage youth to come because they can network with artists and talk with industry representatives including publishers and distributors.

Catholics can also help select the winners by joining the UCMVA. Stewardship members, the entry level into the association, can vote for the winners.

“What we need is for people who have to listen to us to really give us an honest critique,” said Kurt Carrick, a local Catholic who performs with his wife Julie.

Members who join at the professional level can make nominations. Forms will be available in July.

Past winners include a handful of local artists. The Carricks, Tom Booth and Matt Maher are among them.

“The Catholic music scene in our diocese is quite varied in its styles, idioms and languages,” said Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, who often listens to Catholic CDs in his car.

Phoenix’s vibrant Catholic music scene helped bring the awards to Phoenix. They were previously held in the East and Midwest.

Other Unity Award honorees such as rapper Righteous B and the bilingual rock band, Who Do You Say That I Am, recently performed at local diocesan events.

This year’s awards show will be Oct. 6 at the Orpheum Theater.