SMAC is a 20+ yr convention based by Dorinda Clark-Cole to coach gospel singers, musicians, and creatives.
SMAC gives hands-on teaching, from figuring out the best songs to mastering trendy manufacturing strategies.
Dorinda can also be debuting signature ‘BAM’ wings with LOL Burger Bar and a brand new single, “Higher” with The Choir Room.
The “Rose of Gospel Music,” Dorinda Clark-Cole, joined Jekalyn Carr to announce the upcoming Singers, Musicians & Arts Convention (SMAC), operating August 5–8 in Birmingham, Alabama. From Women Evening with psalmist Melvin Crispell III to a Youth Showcase that includes a reside marching band, SMAC is the place gospel’s subsequent era will get outfitted.
If you happen to’ve ever felt like your present wanted extra than simply observe—prefer it wanted sharpening—Dorinda Clark-Cole constructed one thing only for you.
The Clark Sisters legend and SMAC founder sat down with Jekalyn Carr to share particulars concerning the upcoming Singers, Musicians & Arts Convention, a brand new single, and a really thrilling meals partnership that has the gospel neighborhood buzzing.
What Is SMAC—and Why Does It Matter?
SMAC—the Singers, Musicians & Arts Convention—has been going robust for over 20 years. Dorinda Clark-Cole based it with one mission: to equip and sharpen gospel singers, musicians, and creatives at each stage.
“The Bible says iron sharpens iron,” Dorinda defined to Jekalyn. “So the extra information you get, information is energy. The extra you get, the extra you’ll be able to form of implement in your native church buildings.”
This isn’t a convention the place you sit within the again and watch. SMAC coaches artists on tune choice, stage presence, easy methods to work trendy tracks and drum machines, and easy methods to determine what style and magnificence really matches their voice. Dorinda shared a narrative a few gifted younger lady at a previous SMAC who was fearful and shy—till Dorinda took the time to redirect her to the best tune. The room went loopy.
“You ain’t simply at no common convention,” Dorinda stated. “We gonna provide the go-tos on easy methods to do issues proper.”
SMAC 2025: All the pieces You Must Know
📍 Location: Birmingham, Alabama📅 Dates: August 5–8🌐 Register: dorindaclarkcole.com
This might be SMAC’s third or fourth yr in Birmingham, and the momentum is constructing. Dorinda notes that town attracts attendees from Atlanta and throughout the South—a area filled with undiscovered gifting.
Women Evening: Melvin Crispell III Takes the Psaltery
The opening evening of SMAC is Women Evening, that includes feminine musicians main worship—with psalmist Melvin Crispell III because the evening’s featured artist. Dorinda known as Melvin one in every of her private favorites, which is all of the endorsement you want.
Proper after the service, there’s a particular Musician Showcase that Dorinda says you merely must see in individual. “You will have by no means seen” something prefer it, she promised. She didn’t give too many particulars—which implies that you must be within the room.
Youth Showcase: The Subsequent Era Steps Up
Saturday is all concerning the youth. Dorinda has been watching younger singers take over social media, and he or she desires to provide them an actual stage. The Youth Showcase will characteristic younger expertise and—sure—a reside marching band. For gospel audiences who know what a marching band can do to a crowd, that alone is definitely worth the journey.
Why Music Choice Is a Superpower
One of the crucial underrated elements of SMAC is the tune choice teaching. Dorinda has a present for matching a singer to the best materials, and he or she walks attendees via that course of in actual time. “You possibly can’t ship when you don’t know what tune matches you,” she stated merely. And when she picks the best tune for somebody? “The viewers goes loopy. They’re like, that’s the tune for you.”
New Music: “Higher” with The Choir Room
Dorinda additionally teased a brand-new single known as “Higher”—a collaboration with The Choir Room, a multicultural singing collective that gathers voices from all over the world into one area.
The tune got here out of a spontaneous inventive writing session the day earlier than the choir room recording. “To see how all of these voices got here collectively and the way God allowed that tune to actually be uplifting,” Dorinda stated, “like I believed it will.” The only is dropping quickly, and from the best way she described it, it seems like precisely what the Physique of Christ wants proper now.
The “Bam” Wings Are Actual—and They’re Coming to SMAC
Right here’s the second gospel Twitter has already been speaking about. LOL Burgers, an Atlanta-based restaurant, has partnered with Dorinda Clark-Cole to create a signature sizzling wing: the “Bam” wings. They usually’re debuting at SMAC.
Dorinda didn’t maintain again on her love of rooster—in essentially the most iconic approach attainable. “My mom used to say on a regular basis with the sisters… ‘when you feed my ladies some rooster, they’ll sing for you.’”
The Bam wings might be launched on the convention, however when you’re in Atlanta earlier than August and might’t wait, LOL Burgers is already open and prepared for you.
A Legacy Nonetheless Being Written
Twenty-plus years in, Dorinda Clark-Cole isn’t slowing down. She’s strolling a mile a day, doing Oculus exercises in resort rooms, and nonetheless discovering inventive methods to serve the subsequent era of gospel artists. SMAC is her present to the neighborhood—and this yr’s convention in Birmingham is shaping as much as be some of the highly effective but.
Register now at dorindaclarkcole.com earlier than spots refill. Whether or not you’re a singer, musician, or inventive simply determining your present—come get sharpened.
Dorinda Clark-Cole Talks Upcoming SMAC Convention, New Music & Her “BAM” Wings
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