The Young and the Talented

The first two aren't yet 20 years old, but all three are gifted with musical maturity.

Jaci Velasquez

Female Vocalist of the Year
New Artist of the Year
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
(On My Knees; Heavenly Place)
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

This year's Cinderella has got to be newcomer Jaci Velasquez. Taking the radio charts by storm, her single "If This World" zoomed to the top in just eight weeks. And her ten-track Heavenly Place, released in May, exploded into the top ten on the sales charts. That's reason enough to turn a pumpkin into a coach, but when you add the fact that Velasquez is only 17, it's glass slipper time for sure.
An ordinary teenager with lots of energy, talent, and ideals, she has an extraordinary voice. Jaci relates, "I know what I want out of my ministry. I want to go and reach people my age. . . I know where I stand with the Lord." (ACL 2/97)

Rebecca St. James

Female Vocalist of the Year

Christian musical artists who describe their work as a mission would do well to examine 40 Days with God: A Devotional Journey, the new multimedia project from fast-rising Rebecca St. James. With just two albums and a few hits to her credit, St. James has evolved her musical career into a missions outreach perfectly designed to reach a youthful audience that's not much younger than she.
The video clips of interviews with St. James are well-chosen, presenting both a serious, message-centered St. James and a fun, open personality this disc's target youth audience will find easy to relate to, Australian accent and all. (ACL 12/96)

Sarah Masen

New Artist of the Year
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

Plato's philosophy and the poetry of John Donne are not the usual inspiration for today's Christian artist; yet the long-ago thinker and poet are important to Sarah Masen, who is not your customary musical artist. Masen, at 21, is a full-time student of literature and history. The singer's thoughtful pop/alternative music reflects the refreshing qualities of faith, wonder, awe, and hopefulness. Masen wrote nine of the album's [Sarah Masen] ten songs. "I wanted everyone. . .to be as happy as I am when they listen to it," she says. "Isn't that what kindergarten taught us? To share our treasures?" (ACL 5/97)