19th emPower Music Festival June 26-30, 2024

emPower Music Festival Schedule

Wednesday:  June 26

Music store opens at 3 pm

Registration Opens:  3-5pm.  Pick up your badges.

5:00-6:30 pm:  Dinner (included in registration)

7:00-8:00:  Welcome singalong by emPower House Band, Reverend Jim Blake, CEO of Unity Village; Reverend Mark Fuss, Vice President of Outreach and Overseer of Unity Archives.

8:00-9:00:  Grace Note Award presented to Blair and Meredith Tabor by Unity Worldwide Ministries Music Team followed by short concert by Blair Tabor.

9:30pm-Posi Jam or Song Circles

Thursday: June 27

8:00-9:15 Pathway to Inner Peace (guided labyrinth walk) with Juliet Millard and Kim-Char Meredith.  Limited to 12 people.  Sign up sheets in the bookstore.

Start your day with an early morning peaceful walking meditation at the beautiful new Unity Labyrinth.  Deepen your labyrinth experience with a three part process of releasing, receiving and returning to share your process with the group. Certified Labyrinth Facilitator Juliet Millard will guide us through this deepening experience. Juliet and Kim-Char will lead the group in some labyrinth chants that invite Spirit to accompany us on this walk. In the center there will be a brief silent meditation, and we will take the “short walk” out to return to complete a personal Labyrinth Log about our experience, and to share with the other participants. Wear loose comfortable clothing, perhaps a hat, sunblock and bug spray. Limited to10-12 participants.

9:00-9:45: Greet the Day: Inspiration and Music

10:00 am – 11:30 am – Rickie Byars Workshop:  UJIMA! We Are Better Together or Hold My Hand While I Run This Race!

Both titles speak to the power of our relationships with each other; healing the sense of separation that keeps us apart; learning how to communicate effectively to inspire and encourage greater Giving, greater Loving and Greater Joy… PERIOD!

11:45 am – 1:00 pm:  Lunch (included in registration)

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Concurrent Workshops

1. Melinda Wood Allen: emPower World Chorus

We come together for just 3 rehearsals to learn great Posi music, model effective rehearsal techniques, have a blast singing together,    and perform Saturday night.  Attendance at all 3 rehearsals is required to perform.

2.  Jeff English:  Music for Meditation

Join Jeff as he offers suggestions on how to play music that is appropriate underscoring during the meditation: what to play, and when to play, using an acoustic piano or keyboard. We’ll also explore transition music to make your service as seamless as possible.

3. Glen Roethel:

3-5pm: Free time OR

1.   David Roth: Co-writing a Song of Love
   We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again.  Join David in a lightning quick collaborative co-write for a health-challenged child through the Songs of Love Foundation in New York.  Together in this one session we’ll write a complete song from beginning to end based on a profile David receives from this amazing and life-changing organization for whom David has been creating songs for 22 years.  34,000 (not a typo) families have received these custom-made songs since SOL began in 1996, and David will tell you nothing he’s ever done related to music has had more meaning.  All levels.  Bring a willing spirit, a sense of humor, and a sense of the greater good.  Within a couple weeks after our session, David will send you a finished recording of the song, the very same one that goes to the family.

     2. Patricia Bahia: From Blank Page to Brand New Song – A Songwriting Playshop to Kickstart Your Creativity. 

There are a myriad of ways to start a song, because there are at least as many ways to start a song as there are songwriters. But sometimes when we sit down to write a song, our mind can go blank and we just can’t think of anything, or we think of so many different things to write that we get overwhelmed with options, or we might put so much pressure on ourselves to write a great song that no idea feels good enough to even start. Whatever the issue is for you, a prompt can give you the kickstart you need to get inspired, focused, and out of your own way. In this upbeat, interactive playshop, we will play with song starter prompts and techniques to beat blank page syndrome. Bring your writing tools of choice and your phone or other portable recording device to capture all your ideas.

 5:00-6:30 pm:  Dinner (included in registration)

7:00-8.30 pm: Concert by Rickie Byars and the PosiDream Girls (Misa Malone,  Candida Rose)

9:00pm-11:00pm: Namaste Café hosted by Richard Mekdeci.  Your opportunity to share one song with the conference body.  Limited to 25 participants.  Sign up when you register.

Friday: June 28

8:00-9:15 Pathway to Inner Peace (guided labyrinth walk) limited to 12 people.  Sign up sheets in the bookstore.

Start your day with an early morning peaceful walking meditation at the beautiful new Unity Labyrinth.  Deepen your labyrinth experience with a three part process of releasing, receiving and returning to share your process with the group. Certified Labyrinth Facilitator Juliet Millard will guide us through this deepening experience. Juliet and Kim-Char will lead the group in some labyrinth chants that invite Spirit to accompany us on this walk. In the center there will be a brief silent meditation, and we will take the “short walk” out to return to complete a personal Labyrinth Log about our experience, and to share with the other participants. Wear loose comfortable clothing, perhaps a hat, sunblock and bug spray. Limited to10-12 participants.

8:30-9:15: Greet the Day: Inspiration and Music by Rickie Byars

9:30-11:30: Concurrent workshops:

1. Melinda Wood Allen: Ho Hum to Hallelujah: Choirs & vocal ensembles are a great way to grow your church—in numbers, in spirituality, commitment, volunteerism & community. Good choirs serve the congregation, support the minister’s message, create involvement & support of your music department, & excitement at your Spiritual Center… the operative word being “good.” “Bad” choirs can do the exact opposite.   Melinda Wood Allen grew her choir at Unity of Fort Worth from a barely tuneful group of 8 members to a 75-strong vocal ensemble who sang at Carnegie Hall. In this process she experienced all the headaches, blunders, pitfalls, & ALL the joy & fulfillment of turning a group of disparate people into TEAM of One Voice–& she shares what she learned along the way—from rehearsal techniques to music resources to handling conflict, creating community & delivering excellence.   If you love your choir & want to grow it; if you can hardly stand your choir are ready to scrap (or totally revamp) it; if don’t have a choir but are interested in starting one—this workshop is for you!!
2. Richard Mekdeci: What’s A New Thought Song?
   Language is as important in our music as it is in our sermons. In order to define our unique theology and differentiate our music from traditional church music, it should reflect the sometimes-subtle nuances that make a song “New Thought”. We will discuss what “New Thought” is and compare some of our most used songs to the criteria we create. Participants are invited to bring their own songs to examine or suggest songs for comparison.

11:30 am – 1:00 pm:  Lunch (included in registration)

1:00 – 2:30 pm:  Concurrent Workshops

     1. Melinda Wood Allen: emPower World Chorus

We come together for just 3 rehearsals to learn great Posi music, model effective rehearsal techniques, have a blast singing together, and perform Saturday night.  Attendance at all 3 rehearsals is required to perform.

     2. Rev Blair Tabor: Prosperity, Music and the Subconscious Mind

Come learn a simple 5-step process for reprogramming your subconscious mind with ideas and feelings of prosperity.  Prosperity is     not about accumulating stuff, but an awareness of being in a vibrational flow of energy.  Music, as you know, moves us to experience life in a new way.  In this workshop, we will practice tuning into love, joy, life and abundance and allowing our good to flow and expand.

3. Sue Riley: Imaginative Imagery (a creative process workshop)

A mental picture is worth a thousand words.  How can we draw the listener into our song with imagery and details, and get them to connect with our story?  When we perform our songs live we have the opportunity to connect with folks through our music.  What makes our songs stand out from others and makes them something that the listener will remember and want to hear again?  A song rich in imagery can paint a picture in the listeners’ head which they can adapt to their own memories.  Ahhhh, the possibilities are endless!  Be poetic!  Combine your lyrics in new and magical ways! This creative process workshop will focus on adding more imagery to your writing and you will be writing from prompts.  Please bring pen and paper and prepare to capture the songwriting ideas that this class can generate.

  3-5pm: Free time OR

1. Greg Tamblyn: LYRICS – Make Every Word Count

   Some people could care less about lyrics. They get into the groove and the feel and that’s all they need. The lyrics are almost irrelevant. And that’s okay.  But for folks like us who write Posi songs, lyrics are important.  So let’s explore some useful tips and tricks to get songs started and get them finished, while making them memorable and meaningful.  Bring a song or idea you’re working on and if there’s time, we’ll help you with it. Writing materials are a must, so please bring them.

   Note: two hours is just barely time to scratch the surface, so I’ll give you some helpful references.

2. David Roth: Grain of Salt:  Got some unfinished business with a song-in-progress?  Do you love playing and talking about music?  Here’s our interactive and participatory workshop once more for any songs or parts thereof that you might wish to have some input on.  We’ll hear these works right where they are and become a collective think-tank about what’s working so far and what might benefit from a closer look.  It’s also an opportunity to hone your listening and feedback-giving skills as we work with each songwriter and ponder the many elements – lyric, rhythm, chord progression, key, arrangement, etc. – that make a song click.

5:00-6:45:  Dinner (included in your registration)

7:00-9:00pm:   Mega Posi Palooza Concert featuring past Posi Award Nominees and recipients

9:30-11:30: Pajama Jam Late Night Acoustic Music Showcases – taking place in the education wing.  Acoustic music in themed rooms (with COVID protocols)  Wear your favorite pajamas to this musical jammy party. Snacks and cash bar.

Saturday: June 29

8:00-9:15 Pathway to Inner Peace (guided labyrinth walk) limited to 12 people.  Sign up sheets in the bookstore.

Start your day with an early morning peaceful walking meditation at the beautiful new Unity Labyrinth.  Deepen your labyrinth experience with a three part process of releasing, receiving and returning to share your process with the group. Certified Labyrinth Facilitator Juliet Millard will guide us through this deepening experience. Juliet and Kim-Char will lead the group in some labyrinth chants that invite Spirit to accompany us on this walk. In the center there will be a brief silent meditation, and we will take the “short walk” out to return to complete a personal Labyrinth Log about our experience, and to share with the other participants. Wear loose comfortable clothing, perhaps a hat, sunblock and bug spray. Limited to10-12 participants.

8:30 am-9:15 am: Inspiration and Music

9:30 am – 11:30 am: Concurrent Workshops

1. Kim-Char Meredith: Creating Lyric Videos

2. Claudia Carawan (and pianist Lucy Kilpatrick) Songs for Special Services
If you plan & program music for your spiritual community this workshop will introduce you to new thought songs for special services. Claudia & Lucy will move through the calendar year (from January – December) sharing new thought songs for specific themed and/or holiday services including: White Stone, Burning Bowl, Martin Luther King, Women’s History, Burning, Earth Day, Easter, Independence Day…all the way to the Christmas season. Time permitting those in attendance will also be able to suggest songs that work well for special services and (together) we will generate a master list of new songs for special services.

11:30 am – 1:00 pm: Lunch (included in registration)

1:00 – 2:30 pm:    Concurrent Workshops

1. Melinda Wood Allen: emPower World Chorus

We come together for just 3 rehearsals to learn great Posi music, model effective rehearsal techniques, have a blast singing together, and perform Saturday night.  Attendance at all 3 rehearsals is required to perform.

3:00-5:00pm:  Song Circles – Share a song with your fellow attendees in this safe format.  We ask that there be no critiques, just an opportunity to share your amazing songs with fellow attendees.  Limited to 15 participants in each circle.  Sign up sheets in the conference bookstore. Song circle leaders: Harold Payne and Greg Tamblyn

5:00-6:30:  Conference Banquet (included in meal ticket)

 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Our emPower World Chorus opens the evening, followed by a Concert featuring the 2024 Finalists.  Celebrate the top rated songs and videos from 2024.

 9:00 pm-11:00 pm: Namaste Café hosted by David Roth.  Your opportunity to share one song with the conference body.  Limited to 25 participants.  Sign up when you register.

Sunday June 30

A wonderful opportunity to celebrate Sunday morning at the Unity Chapel.  Rickie Byars will be giving the music and the message.

Bios:

David Roth is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist who has taken his songs, experience, and expertise to a wide variety of venues in this and other countries full-time for more than three decades.  His work has found its way to Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, the Kennedy Center, Peter, Paul, & Mary and Kingston Trio CDs, NASA’s Goddard Space Center (his song “Rocket Science” sailed on the space shuttle Atlantis in 2009), the Rise Up Singing and Rise Again (sequel) songbooks, the Kerrville (TX) New Folk Award, and 15 CDs on the Wind River and Stockfisch (Germany) labels.  David’s also received 5 Posi Awards over the years and Unity’s Grace Note for Lifetime Contribution to New Thought Music.  www.davidrothmusic.com

Harold Payne is a multi-platinum and Posi award winning songwriter who has written songs for such diverse artists as Rod Steward, Patti Labelle and Carlos Santana as well as with longtime collaborator Bobby Womack; literally from Peter, Paul & Mary to Snoop Dogg. He is a master improviser who combines prepared customized material and “on the spot” songs to create a pinnacle moment at concerts, special events and conferences that truly entertain, inspire and involve the audience and he describes his process in the TEDx Talk “Preparing for Spontaneity.” Harold is the 2021 recipient of the Unity Worldwide Ministries “Grace Note” award.

Glen Roethel is a one-of-a-kind artist, gifted vocalist, and wonderfully musical acoustic guitarist. His rich baritone-tenor, effortless fretting, and vibrant personality light up stages solo, in an ensemble, and when he accompanies others. He is an award-winning songwriter and a real crowd-pleaser, having electrified juried showcases for Folk Alliance, S.M.A.F., Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Cape May Singer-Songwriter Fest, Posi Music Fest, and more. Glen sings memoirs, anecdotes, tender love songs, and anthemic calls for unity and empowerment. He is a beloved national PosiMusic artist, a popular instructor at SummerSongs songwriter retreats (summersongs.com), a record producer, and a sing-along master.

Greg Tamblyn’s funny inspirational songs and hilarious-to-poignant true stories elevate audiences and individuals in the best possible way:  He helps us see the best in ourselves, and laugh at the rest of ourselves. The result is a healthy dose of comic, lasting stress relief.
Greg brings over 30 years experience as a humorous motivational speaker, inflicting himself on fun-loving, forward-thinking folks across North America and countries as far away as Singapore and Australia. His audiences range from mind-body wellness groups, counselors and social workers to healthcare, and corporate stress and wellness events.

Patricia Bahia   A nine-time Posi Award recipient, songwriter, and singer with hundreds of song placements in TV shows, promos, films and ads, Patricia wrote her first song after a cancer diagnosis prompted her to leave her career as a lawyer, trade her briefcases for guitar cases, and start living her bucket list life as a songwriter. Her songwriting credits include TV shows such as Pretty Little Liars, Riverdale, Nashville, Love is Blind and Selling Sunset; and promos and ads for brands such as Google Pixel, Target, Optimum, and Aetna Health. A songwriter in service, Patricia often shares her uplifting music at centers for spiritual living, unity centers, and music festivals and conferences, delivering uplifting messages of hope, unity and empowerment wherever she goes. After twenty years of writing songs, she says “it still feels like magic to go from blank page to brand new song.” 

RICHARD MEKDECI ( mek – DEE – see) Rev. Richard Mekdeci is an ordained Unity Minister (2018), as well as co-founder of empower Music & Arts.  He was part of the Unity Worldwide Ministries Music Team for 15 years, as well as the Music and Creative Arts coordinator for Unity Village retreats for 6 years.  Richard has visited dozens of Unity churches around the world speaking, facilitating workshops and performing his music. He has seven albums of mostly original songs which are well-known throughout the Unity movement.
He is also co-author with Sue Riley of the book “Music In Ministry – A Handbook for New Thought Music Directors”. Richard currently does consulting on all aspects of church music and serves as Minister of Music at Unity Renaissance in Chesapeake, VA.

Sue Riley believes in the power of music to touch hearts and heal lives.  As one of the co-founders of emPower Music & Arts, Sue helps host the yearly empower Music Festival and Posi Awards recognizing excellence in songwriting for artists who create songs with messages of peace, interfaith, and joyous living.  A prolific singer-songwriter, Sue has created 8 CDs of original, award winning, uplifting positive music. Her newest CD “There Are Moments” was produced by Glen Roethel and released in 2020, just in time for the Covid shut down. Timing is everything (this is an example of looking for humor in everyday life). Sue is a grateful member of the Summersongs Board of Directors as well as a board member of Unity Worldwide Ministries.

OUR GOAL: A ZERO COVID FESTIVAL

At emPower Music & Arts, we are proud of the Posi Tribe we’ve created together over the past 18 years. We have an unspoken shared credo that we act for the greater good of all and honor all individual’s choices and viewpoints.
We know that the Covid virus is still very much active in the world. And we know that we do not live in a bubble. We are gathering from all over the United States, staying in different hotels and coming together for meals. We are also gathering for the joy of singing together and sharing ideas.
Nevertheless, our goal is to have a Zero Covid Music Festival. That means our intention is that all who came here without Covid will leave here without Covid!  In an abundance of caution we have moved the pajama jams to large classrooms, made the pajama jam food self serve.

OUR COVID POLICY

• Help us achieve this goal by masking up when you are in the Music Store or in classes.
• Social distance, when possible, for our concerts and open mics.
• We will have wipes to clean the mikes, stands, and other shared instruments.
• Wear a mask if you are having a prolonged conversation with someone.
• Be extra vigilant while here to protect yourself and to extend that kindness to the rest of our community.
• We suggest bringing a couple of home tests in case you need them and some extra masks.

We affirm an inspiring, life-changing and SAFE experience for all of you attending the 18^th Annual emPower Music Festival.

Refund Policy for Festival 

Refund Policy:  100% refund minus $40 admin fee until March 31st, 2024; 

50% refund from April 1-May 15, 2024.  No refunds after May 16, 2024.