Concerts
Summertime GospelFest
This concert is how GospelFest Ministries began! Since 1999, Shawn has been producing the Summertime GospelFest concert in central Illinois. This concert features a large community-wide choir as well as the GospelFest Singers and pianist Tracey Phillips from Nashville, TN, and is held usually in late June.
In the past, we’ve enjoyed such guest artists as Buddy Greene, Ben Speer, Allison Durham Speer, Reggie & Ladye Love Smith and Stephen Hill.
The 2012 Summertime GospelFest was held in June at Grace Church in Morton, IL. "GospelFest Jubilee!" and was patterned after a 1940s radio broadcast! In addition to the GospelFest Singers (in period costuming) and the GospelFest Choir, we were joined by the debut of the "GospelFonics Orchestra," a live 7-piece band adding some big band flavor. Central Illinois favorite, Mr. Lee Ranson, was our radio announcer, and we even gave away a free Crosley arch-top radio to a lucky caller during our trivia time! What a ball we had!
This year's concert will be the 15th annual Summertime GospelFest! It will be held Tuesday, July 2nd at Five Points in Washington, IL, and will be a Patriotic GospelFest. We'll be celebrating our country's birthday and the freedoms that we have in Christ!
Christmastime GospelFest
This concert has become a holiday favorite for many throughout central Illinois! The GospelFest Singers help celebrate our Savior’s birth with uplifting and toe-tapping southern gospel Christmas music, including “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” “Jesus, What a Wonderful Child,” “I'll Be Home for Christmas” as well as original Christmas songs “Tiny Little Baby” and “An Old-Fashioned Christmas." These two songs have recently been recorded by the historic Chuck Wagon Gang.
The 2012 Christmastime GopspelFest will take place at Five Points in Washington, IL, on Saturday, December 1st at 7:00pm. In addition to the GospelFest Singers, our special guests this year will be Ben Waites and Allison Speer! Ben is a former student of mine from the Stamps-Baxter School of Music and lives in Louisiana. He has a wonderful solo ministry throughout Louisiana and our audiences will just fall in love with him.
Allison Speer is no stranger to the GospelFest stage. She last joined for Christmastime GospelFest in 2008, and mos recently for the Speer Family's 90th anniversary celebration in 2011. A regular on the Gaither Homecoming videos, Allison has a wonderful voice and a heart for communicating the gospel.
This year will also feature a song I co-wrote with Allison, "Ring the Bells of Christmas," and a new song I co-wrote with Stephen Hill (just a few months before his passing), "We're Coming Home for Christmas."
Tickets are on sale now and are $20 each. Students high school and under are $10. Groups of 10-24 are eligible for $18 tickets, and 25 or more tickets are only $15 each.
An Evening with Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby was one of America’s greatest hymnwriters. Having written such classics as “To God be the Glory,” “He Hideth My Soul,” and “Blessed Assurance,” Fanny Crosby’s texts have spoken to generations. The GospelFest Singers present this program that takes a look at Fanny’s life: her triumphs and tragedies, and how God used this woman to communicate the gospel so effectively. This program is great for a church’s Sunday evening service, luncheons or any special occasion.
The GospelFest Singers
This small ensemble of singers developed out of the Summertime GospelFest concerts. They are available for concerts, luncheons, fairs and other special events and can provide a mini-GospelFest concert or “An Evening with Fanny Crosby.”
Shawn Degenhart
Shawn is also available for solo concerts and incorporates his love of southern gospel music into an unforgettable evening of favorites.
For more information or to book Shawn or the GospelFest Singers, please contact the ministry office.