First round nominations for the 2nd Annual En Sound Music Awards have been announced. At the end of the 1st round voting period (August 5th), the five artists with the most votes in each category will move on the the second and final round. From the five artists in each category, the ones that receive the highest number of votes will walk away with an ESMA trophy. Those results will be revealed on Saturday, September 22nd at the Robert Treat Hotel Grand Ballroom in Newark, New Jersey where this year's event will be held for the second year

Female Vocalist of the Year
 
Cynthia Jones
LaRue Steward
Sharrond King
Niyoki
Kendall King
George Ann Skelton
Shirley Murdock
Michelle Bonilla
Dana Mackey
Lisa Scott-Bailey
Coko
Badiyah
Hope Askew
Ann Nesby
Kaira

Micah Stampley
Hersey L. Coles
Sean Simmonds
Robert Finney
Euclid Gray
Julius Petty
Asaph Womack
Harold B.
Dwayne Woods
Javen
Dave Pettigrew
Wallace Smith
Daniel Austin
Fuzzy
Justin Shaw

Choir of the Year
 
James Hall Presents: The Voices of Citadel
Rev. Stephanie R. Minatee & Jubilation
Kergyma Community Choir
Pastor Steven R. White & Oracles of Praise
Professor Wilbur Belton & The LADWEC Mass Choir
Todd Curry & Focus
The Voices of Praise
Yvette Flunder & The Fellowship Mass Choir
Bishop G.E. Patterson & Congregation
Clint Brown
J.C. Thompson & Beyond Blessed

Best Caribbean/Reggae Album
 
"Blessed Redeemer" - Spanna
"Victory: Worship From The Island II" - Junior Tucker
"Elevation" - Sherwin Gardner
"To The Foundation" - Christafari
"What Do I Do?" - Bola
"On The Shout" - DJ Nicholas
"Various Artist" - Gospel Reggae Platinum

Best Contemporary Christian Male Vocalist
 
Sean Smith
Jerimae
Robert Pierre
Wahba
Dave Pettigrew
Phil Keaggy
The Violet Burning

Best Contemporary Christian Female Vocalist
 
Barbara Angel
Ashley Cleveland
Cheri Keaggy
Bree Nobel
Kim Dexter
JJ Heller
Christina Paul
Jazmin

Best Contemporary Christian Album
 
 "Before The Daylight's Shot" - Ashley Cleveland
 "Determined" - CO3
 "Healing Waters" - Bree Nobel
 "Something I'm Supposed To Be" - Dave Pettigrew
 "Surrender" - Christina Paul
 "Sword of The Spirit" - The Damascus Experience II
 "Because he First Loved Us" - Cheri Keaggy
 "The Sky Is Dark In Comparison" - Wilderness of Tekoa
 "So This Is it" - Kim Dexter
 "Only Love Remains" - JJ Heller
 "God Let Me Change The World" - Barbara Angel
 "Real" - Sean Smith
 "Control" - Tracing Days
 "Slow Down" - Matt & Sherry McPherson
 "Dream Again" - Phil Keaggy
 "A Reason To Live" - The Steve Merrick Band

Album of the Year
 
 "A Fresh Wind, The Second Sound" - Micah Stampley
 "The Essence of Your Pressence" - Larue Steward
 "Feels Good" - Take 6
 "With Praises from The Heart" - Dana Mackey
 "The Truth" - Tina J.
 "Soul, Peace & Love" - Liz McComb
 "In The Spirit" - Ann Nesby
 "Healed Without Scars" - Bishop David G. Evans
 "Praise Around The World" - Clint Brown
 "The Return" - The Anointed Pace Sisters
 "My Everything" - Niyoki

Best Jazz Album
 
 Damon Terrell - "In My Life"
 Thomas Jones - "You Are The One"
 Tyrone Burkett - "In The Fullness of Time"
 Courtney Fadlin - "Hymnology"
 Lionel Jones - "Papa jones..."
 Chris Robinson - "This Is Chris Robinson"
 Wilbur Nichols - "Just Remember"
 The Williams Brothers - The Jazz Album
 Overfloe - "O Positive"
 Pamela Joi George
 Take 6 - "Feel So Good"
 Jacqueline Dyles Peters - "Intimacy"
 Richard Braithwaite with Joseph Roberts - "The Jazz Hymnal Volume One: The Duets"

Best Holy Hip Hop Album
 
Richie Righteous - "Welcome To Censorship"
Pettidee - "Resurrections"
Lyricist - "Lyricist"
Twyse - "Who Is twyse?"
Gospel Ganstaz - "The Flood"
Rev. A.R. Bernard Presents: "God Conscious"
Japhia Life - "Fountain of Life"
Zion - "Fields of Dreams"
Megellan - "Healing Infected Verses"

Best Traditional Album
 
 Deborah Barnes - "The Truth"
 Bishop George Livingston - "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down"
 The Gospel Incredibles - "One Moment To Be Saved"
 The Anointed Sons of Jersey - "Christian Race"
 Jennifer Evans - "Delayed But Not Denied"
 The Brooklyn Allstars - "Live In Atlanta"
 Youngblood & The Gospel Seekers - Live
 The Blind Boys of Alabama with Sam Butler, Jr
 Endurance - "He'll Make A Way"
 The Flint Cavaliers - "Reborn"
 Minister Greg Harris - "Live"
 The Gospel Sensations - "I Must Tell Jesus"
 Harvey Arnold - "You're In The We Number Too"

Best Traditional Gospel Performance
 
 Jennifer Evans - "Take Me To The Mountain"
 Deborah Barnes - "The Truth"
 Yvonne Cobbs-Bey - "My Soul Loves Jesus"
 Jubilation - "What A Mighty God We Serve"
 Bishop G.E. Patterson & Congregation - "Get Right Church"
 Bishop John H. Heath - "Church Medley"
 Endurance - "God Can Make It Better"
 Blind Boys of Alabama - "Travelling Shoes"
 

Best Compilation Album
 
 Gospel Jams, Volume One
 Bil Carpenter Presents: An Uncloudy Christmas
 The New Soul
 Gospel Connection Project, Volume One
 Called 2 Worship - A Praise and Worship Experience
 Songs From The Voice, Volume One
 Still Encouraged
 Gospel Reggae Platinum

Best Urban Soul Album
 
 "Soulology" - Cynthia Jones
 "True Story" - Sean Simmonds
 "Thank You" - Julius Petty
 "Relationship" -Darryl Henry
 "New Life" - Asaph Womack
 The New Soul (Compilation)
 "In Rare Form" - Rawsrvnt
 "Heaven" - Carmen Hope
 "Count It All Joy" - Meka King
 "My Everything" - Kaira
 "Lord More Personal" - Joseph
 "The Chronicles of Wallace Smith" - Wallace Smith
 "Believer" - Javen
 "Soulfood" - Shirley Murdock

Best Group
 
 The Anointed Sons of Jersey
 Undra Hill & Company
 The Rance Allen Group
 Amar
 Blase
 Nu Life
 Christopher L. Gray Plus Favoured
 Lyric Sings
 In-A-Way
 A7
 Take 6
 Fred Martin & The Levites Group
 The Anointied Pace Sisters
 The Bradby Girls

Best Praise & Worship Album
 
 Bishop Leonard Scott - "Hymns & Church Songs Live"
 Micah Stampley - "A Fresh Wind: the Second Sound"
 Clint Brown - "Praise Around The World"
 Lisa Scott-Bailey - "How Excellent"
 The Anointed Pace Sisters - "The Return"
 Yvette Flunder & The Fellowship Mass Choir
 Dwayne Woods - "Introducing Dwayne Woods & When Singers Meet"
 Bishop David G. Evans - "Healed Without Scares"
 LaRue Steward - "The Essence Of Your Presence"
 Bishop John H. Heath - "Get Right Church"

Artist of the Year
 
 Niyoki
 Tina J.
 Ann Nesby
 Dwayne Woods
 Javen
 Sean Simmonds
 Micah Stampley
 La Rue Steward
 Take 6
 Wallace Smith
 Lisa Scott-Bailey
 Bishop David G. Evans
 Clint Brown

Best Inspirational Song
 
 "The Essence Of Your Presence" - Larue Steward
 "I Love Me Better Than That" - Shirley Murdock
 "Let Go" - Dwayne Woods
 "Are You A Letter" - Euclid Gray
 "Never Let You Go" - Micah Stampley
 "Rance Allen" - Closest Friend
 "Soul Glo" - Sean Simmonds
 "Redeemed Woman" - George Ann Skelton
 "Am I Good Enough?" - Christina Paul
 "Ashley Cleveland" - Streams of Mercy
 "Call Him" - Alice Hicks
 "I'll Go" - Sharrond King
 "My Soul Doth Magnify" - Kendall King
 "The Truth" - Deborah Barnes
 "Worship Medley" - Meka King

Best International Gospel Artist
 
 Nu Life (United Kingdom)
 Barbara Angel (Poland)
 Carried Away (Canada)
 Liz McComb (Fance)
 Skylla (Australia)
 Spanna (United Kingdom/Jamaica)
 Christina Paul (India)
 Nigel Soyer (Canada)
 Sherwin Gardner (Trinidad & Tobago)
 DJ Nicholas (Jamaica)
 Siani (United Kingdom)

Song of the Year
 
 "Clap Your Hands" - Coko
 "The Essence of your Presence" - Larue Steward
 "Echoes From Heaven" - From The New Soul Compilation CD
 "Jesus Is" - Daniel Austin
 "Sean Smith" - Man of Meaning
 "The Truth" - Deborah Barnes
 "My Sould Doth Magnify" - Kendall King
 "Never Let You Go" - Micah Stampley
 "Lead Me To The Rock" - Rev. Stephanie Minatee & Jubilation
 "Streams of Mercy" - Ashley Cleveland
 "Take Me To The Mountain" - Jennifer Evans

To cast your vote, please log on the www.ensound.net and click on "The En Sound Music Awards" link at the bottom of the homepage.

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