Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonya McGuire.
Empowering-Enriching-Energizing-Elevating-Electrifying Life-Changing Anointing Sonya McGuire is a preachers’ daughter who learned to sing, act, and appreciate music at a very early age. With music playing such a dominant role in the home, Sonya felt there was no other path for her than to follow the unofficial “family business.” Initially, Sonya chose drums to express her musical creativity and talent. Later she developed a love for singing and directing, and she quickly became the obvious choice for musical director at her father’s church. Her music and direction was inspiring and dynamic. If describing Sonya McGuire in one word, it would be anointed.
Sonya is truly a multi-gifted individual. She is a gospel singer, recording artist, songwriter, musician, and was a Radio Personality for Freedom Radio. Sonya truly has ministry at the heart of all she does. Sonya’s unique ministry and style of praise and worship, has electrified audiences, offering them an original and blessed praise and worship experience. With vocal ability that is comparable to none and marveled by many, Sonya incorporates thought-provoking lyrics with unmistakable jazz overtones into her music. Her organic songwriting abilities blend soul, traditional gospel, jazz, funk, and praise & worship.
Her gift has made room for her to share the stage with artists such as Mariah Carey, Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribett, Donnie McClurkin, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Fred Hammond, Kim Burrell, Marvin Sapp, Natalie Wilson and S.O.P., Israel Houghton, Karen Clark –Sheard, Rizen, Youthful Praise, Mary Mary, the Georgia Mass Choir and most recently, has toured with and opened for Pastor John P. Kee on the It’s Your Season 2016 tour. A notable collaboration with Corey “Coco Brother” Condrey’s Stand Project introduced one of her most popular singles, “Should’ve Thought About It,” to audiences across all 50 states. Sonya has also graced TBN’s Praise the Lord, The Bobby Jones Gospel Show, NBC’s First Coast Living, The Word Network and TCT’s TV – I’m Just Saying.
Sonya’s passion for music and self-mission to win souls for Christ is at the heart of her ministry and transcends racial, cultural, and even language barriers. In 2005, Sonya’s music ministry spread internationally as she was commissioned to deliver several concerts during a twenty-one-day European tour. The presence of God was so prevalent during her performances that they became much more than just a concert, they evolved into worship and unbelievable praise experiences. She has also ministered in 18 cities in Asia, from Japan to Malaysia, with plans to expand wider. As a result, Sonya has toured annually & has released a European Christmas DVD of her ministry overseas.
Sonya shares her gift, conducting choir workshops, conferences, and music seminars throughout the United States. Sonya has received numerous awards and nominations from 2008 throughout 2019 to include Best New Female Artist at the YGEA Awards, Best New Artist at the Gospel Choice Awards, Nominated Stellar Awards, Best Female Singer for the Gospel Choice Awards, Best Urban Contemporary Solo Artist and Best Rhythm & Praise Solo Artist for the Prayze Factor People Choice Awards. Nominated Female Vocalist of the Year with The Steeple Awards. With all her accomplishments, she is yet a faithful servant in her community.
Sonya is the founder of four community organizations including Sing for a Cure, which assists those who are battling cancer or have lost loves one’s to cancer. At the last event we were able to give $8,000 in scholarships to students from high school through college whose parent was battling cancer or who had passed away from cancer. Psalms of Thanks, which serves as a vehicle that provides food, and clothes to those individuals that are less fortunate, Project Think, an adolescent and teen empowerment movement, and Blessed to be a Blessing, serving the community, meeting their needs and empowering families. Sonya has experienced monumental success of her chart-topping first Project “My Journey,” and is currently working on her sophomore album “We Praise You” to be released later this year.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I thank God for my journey; Including some pains, heartaches, mistakes, and trials, yet still full of triumphs and victories. I honestly could write a book about this thing called life. I once preached a message entitled: “It happened, but there’s no evidence.” From divorce to cancer, to my daughter being on life support for 21 days, to my mother being given six weeks to live. To look at me, you wouldn’t believe it because I don’t carry the inward scares outwardly. A lot of the things that I have experienced just since February of 2020 would have caused some to have a nervous breakdown or to be sitting in a mental institution. However, because God does all things well, I’m still standing with the testimony of victory. Ministry and musically speaking, God has blessed me regardless of the losses that I’ve taken with an entire album being taken from me and sold all over the entire internet without my knowledge. Yet through all of the pressure, it produced some of the most heartfelt and life-changing music that God blessed me to create. I’ve come to realize that as long as there is breath in my body, that God is still writing the next chapter of my life.
Please tell us about SM Ministries.
We provide scholarships, gift cards, and meal vouchers for these families. At this event, artists from all over come together, donating their time and lending their gifts, which is to raise funds for those who are battling cancer. At the last event, we were able to give $8,000 in scholarships to students from high school through college whose parent was battling cancer or who had passed away from cancer. Every year this event gets bigger and bigger from the support of our community.
Psalms of Thanks, which serves as a vehicle that provides food and clothes to those individuals that are less fortunate during the holidays and throughout the year. During this time, we put together with care packages for the homeless and those less fortunate. These bags consist of toiletries, pillows, blankets, food, and sometimes clothing. Ministry goes beyond the walls of a building and we believe that helping to fulfill the needs of others is where we as a community should start.
Project Think, an adolescent and teen empowerment movement in which we aim to provoke positive decision making during a not so positive time. We mentor young people and put on events that are geared towards creating a positive thinking pattern. Our goal is to help the youth to realize that every decision that they make now affects what happens later in their life. Blessed to be a Blessing, is where we adopt families during Thanksgiving and Christmas, providing food and some of the desired Christmas list items. We are called to serve, created to worship, and making a difference in our community.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that being transparent, loving how I desire to be loved, and remaining true to who I am is what my key to success is. I believe that every seed that you sow is what grows in your front yard. With that being said, I show what I desire to see and that’s unconditional love. I’m ALWAYS for the underdog because I like to see people win. It bothers me to see someone that could lend a hand but refuses to help someone in need. I believe in giving upcoming artists opportunities that were not provided for me. I’m probably one of the most consistent people that you’ll ever meet and in my opinion, that is definitely a key factor in this field. Knowledge and knowing the ins and outs of this career is also key. I have a motto that I live by and that is simply that whatever it is that your doing, it must make: 1. Good Sense, 2. Common Sense, 3. Money Sense. If it makes non of the three senses, then it makes no sense. Those are three important factors that have carried me along on this journey and kept me safe and grounded. I believe that every seed that you sow has to come forth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.reverbnation.com/SonyaMcGuire
- Phone: 678-995-5284
- Email: sonyamcguiremusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sonyayolandm
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSonyaMcguire.music
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/SonyaMcguire1
- Other: www.soundcloud.com/SonyaMcguireMusic
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