The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has named “In These Uncertain Times—A Concert for the Human Family” as Best Event and Live Stream Video in the 26th Annual Webby Awards. The May 2021 concert was an artistic collaboration created by The Episcopal Church Office of Communication and Racial Reconciliation and Justice Team.
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the digital arts and sciences academy, is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the internet.
The inaugural event in the Concert for the Human Family series—filmed under strict COVID-19 protocols at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral—paired pianist, composer, and musical director Kory Caudill of Nashville, Tennessee, and Baltimore-based hip-hop artist Wordsmith, for an uplifting journey through the human experience of love, grief, loss, and hope for beloved community. The event presented a musical commentary on social reckoning in the United States and a pandemic that has touched every corner of the world.
“Honorees like The Episcopal Church are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the internet,” said Claire Graves, president of The Webby Awards. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from more than 14,300 entries we received this year.”
Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received entries from all 50 states and 70 countries this year.
“Thank God for this extraordinary honor and for the hard work, vision, and sheer talent of The Episcopal Church’s multimedia team, led by Jeremy Tackett; musicians and leaders like Kory and Wordsmith; and the church’s reconciliation ministry team,” said the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, canon to the presiding bishop for evangelism, reconciliation, and creation care. “With new in-person tour dates coming this spring, we hope more people join the movement to harness the power of music and stories for the sake of healing and beloved community.”
Learn more about Concert for the Human Family, including upcoming events, videos, and more.
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which nominates and selects The Webby Award winners, is composed of internet industry experts including Kerstin Emhoff, co-founder and CEO – PRETTYBIRD; Colleen DeCourcy, president, Wieden+Kennedy; Arlan Hamilton, founder and managing partner – Backstage Capital; John Hanke, founder and CEO – Niantic; Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator – 1619, The New York Times; Renita Jablonski, director of audio – The Washington Post; Mikael Jørgensen, founder and CEO – &Co; Monica Lewinsky, activist, fashion designer and producer; Swizz Beatz & Timbaland, music producers and co-founders – Verzuz; Vanessa Pappas, COO – TikTok; Daniel Reynolds, vice president, Digital Media – Disney; Dara Treseder, SVP, head of global marketing and communications – Peloton; and Maya Watson, head of global marketing – Clubhouse.
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The Episcopal Church welcomes all as it seeks to follow Jesus Christ into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationship with God, each other, and the earth. As a member church in the worldwide Anglican Communion, The Episcopal Church is part of the world’s third-largest group of Christians and has around 1.8 million members across 109 dioceses and three mission areas in 17 nations or territories. Learn more at episcopalchurch.org.