SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Evangel University’s touring ensemble, HeartSong, will record a live album and video on Friday, March 13, 2015. The concert is free and open to the public.
HeartSong will perform in the Robert H. Spence Chapel Auditorium. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
HeartSong is comprised of 12 singers and nine instrumentalists. According to its founding director, Dr. Bonnie Jenkins, their repertoire covers a variety of styles including contemporary worship, gospel and traditional.
“For the first time, the group will be recording original music,” said Jenkins, a professor of music at Evangel. “We will record four songs written by current members of the group, including the title song, We Give You Praise.”
The four original songs are:
- We Give You Praise, written by drummer Christian “C.J.” Harrison, a senior music industry major from Youngstown, Ohio. He serves as HeartSong’s band leader.
- Love Lifted Me, written by vocalist Matt Garon, a junior worship leadership major from Detroit, Michigan.
- Restore, written by vocalist Brendan Kendall, a junior music industry major from Kansas City, Kansas.
- Still, written by vocalist Nick Daas, a sophomore worship leadership major from Orlando, Florida.
“I prefer a live concert recording session, because of the energy level — the audience is a vital part of the process,” said Jenkins. “This will be more than just a concert, though. It will be a worship experience.”
Harrison is co-producing the event as a part of his senior project as part of his music industry major. This will be the HeartSong’s 10th album since the group was founded in 1993.
HeartSong travels throughout the Midwest on weekends and does extended tours during spring and summer breaks at Evangel. They have been in every state in the U.S. with the exception of Alaska.
“We have also traveled overseas to such places as Barbados, Amsterdam and Brussels,” said Jenkins. “Last spring featured several concerts in Rome, Italy, including one at the Coliseum.”
Their last album, “Nothing Is Impossible,” peaked at number 51 on the iTunes Christian and Gospel Top 100 chart.
Jenkins holds a Ph.D. in music from the University of Missouri-Columbia, an M.S. in music from Missouri State University, and a B.M.Ed. from Evangel University.
For more information on HeartSong, including booking opportunities, please contact Dr. Bonnie Jenkins, (417) 865-2811, ext 7334.
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