For many Seventh-day Adventists, when they think of a General Conference (GC) session, music is one of the first things that comes to mind. Carefully curated and globally representative, the music featured throughout the event adds depth, beauty, and cultural richness to the experience—reflecting the worldwide church it serves.

Music is featured throughout each day of GC Session: early morning songs in the dome; special music during worships and devotionals; midday concerts at the Ferrara Theatre in St. Louis' America's Center; and evening performances just before nightly meetings. Additional music is provided for auxiliary gatherings such as the women’s ministries convention. All of this contributes to the need for a highly coordinated and carefully scheduled program.

Preparation for the musical programming at GC Session begins at least three years ahead of the event. Coordinating the musical elements of GC Session is one of the most intricate aspects of the entire planning process.

“By the time you see somebody sing up there or play, a lot has happened in the background to make that happen,” says Sam Neves, associate director of Communication at the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Careful Selection of Musical Artists

Three to four years before the session, each of the church’s 13 world divisions is invited to submit a list of recommended musicians. From those lists, an international selection committee made up of experienced musicians narrows down the choices based on audition videos, musical quality, lyrical content, and the diversity of cultures and styles represented.

For this year’s Session, the music committee reviewed more than 800 submissions to choose approximately 200 musical presentations. Each selected piece then undergoes legal review to ensure proper permissions are in place for lyrics, arrangements, and recordings—an essential step given the event’s global broadcast.

The path to the stage can be long—and in some cases nearly a decade in the making. For singer-songwriter Anna Beaden from Australia’s Gold Coast, her GC Session performance was just that.

“It actually probably started in 2015,” Beaden said, recalling her first attempt to participate. That year, she reached out only to learn that applications had closed 18 months earlier. Determined to be ready next time, she put a reminder on her calendar to apply in 2018 for the 2020 session.

She was accepted, but when the pandemic forced a scaled-back event, her performance was shared by video instead. She applied again in 2023 for the 2025 session, completing the same detailed application required of all musicians — one that includes audition videos, lyrics, technical needs, and performance history. After months of waiting, she received the long-anticipated email: she had been selected to perform in person.

“I was jumping out of my skin,” she said. Her song “Unimaginable,” inspired by the promise of heaven, opened the morning program of the 2025 GC Session on July 4.

While Beaden was finally able to fulfill her dream of performing at a GC Session, many musicians who had gone through the same application process and ultimately received an invitation to attend were not able to. Some, such as musicians from Ukraine, were unable to attend due to the ongoing challenges and instability in their region. Others faced challenges obtaining visas to the United States.

“Many large choirs from many different countries were not granted visas,” said Karen Glassford, who helped coordinate the music committee, “which is really sad because we had some of the most jaw-dropping groups you’ve ever seen in your life.”

Some of the musicians who were not able to attend did manage to send videos that are incorporated into the various musical programs of the Session held throughout the day. But Glassford has also been shuffling schedules around to fill the gaps caused by unanticipated absences. Because of this, some of the musicians have had the opportunity to perform more often than they had originally intended.

From early morning to evening, each musical moment helps transform GC Session into more than a meeting—it becomes a global act of worship.

“Music is not entertainment. Music is worship,” said Williams Costa, GC Session music coordinator. “It brings unity, emotion, and connection. Through music, we feel we are part of a global family worshiping together.”

For more coverage of the 2025 General Conference Session, including live updates, interviews, and delegate stories, visit adventist.news and follow ANN on social media.