From Arts Fellowship Orlando to the Apollo: Emmanuel’s Story

Making God’s Invisible World Visible Through Art

As I begin co-leading the 2026 cohort of Arts Fellowship Orlando, I am deeply grateful for the many ministry partners who enable me to do this fulfilling work. Each September, when the application portal opens, I find myself wondering if God will again bring together a new class of artists. And every year, as the deadline approaches, applications pour in from artists eager for the kind of theological and spiritual formation that happens within our artistic community.

One of these artists, Emmanuel Garilus, a saxophonist and member of the 2025 fellowship, composed his first original piece, “My King,” during the six-month program. Here’s how Emmanuel describes the impact of AFO in his life:

Arts Fellowship Orlando deepened my relationship with Christ. It also gave me the language to better explain my art to others—how it connects to my story, my journey, and my place in the world. It helped me grow as a speaker and a leader in the arts, and it reinforced the truth that my music is more than just talent or performance. It is a calling. Each time I minister through music people have the chance to receive healing and connect with Christ. AFO also gave me something just as important—community. I gained friends and fellow artists to walk alongside me as well as valuable feedback that shaped the original song I composed throughout the fellowship titled “My King.

Following the AFO Showcase last June, Emmanuel went on to win Amateur Night at the Apollo in NYC! As the grand prize winner, he was invited by Coke Studios to spend a week recording in their Los Angeles studio. After he arrived, the producer expressed to Emmanuel that it would be great if he had an original work he could record. Emmanuel shared that he had recently composed an original piece—something made possible through his time in the fellowship. Coke studios went on to produce the work with a full orchestra. Click here to listen.