By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

 

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - The award-winning Campbellsville University Chorale, under the direction of nationally recognized Dr. Tony Cunha, will be performing at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Huntington, W.Va., at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 20.

The ensemble is on a multi-city tour as it prepares for a mission of Christian music in Brazil later this spring.
“We are so very pleased to have this wonderful Baptist choir coming to our church,” said Locust Grove pastor Randall Robertson. “They will be bringing a powerful message in music to our community.”

 

The 38-member chorale is an internationally comprised group with students from more than six countries with students majoring in music and also those who are non-music majors.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our church to experience this singing phenomenon,” Dawn McComas, choir director for Locust Grove, said. “It will provide a sterling example of the potential we all have incelebrating the word of God through music. We are excited about their being here.”

Based at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Ky., the singing group travels throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions as well as international venues. Previously, they sang in Europe.

This year the chorale will be going to director Cunha's native country of Brazil.

“This is a tremendous honor for our singers to be welcomed in my home country,” Cunha said. “We will be performing in more than a dozen locations before combined audiences of thousands. These young artists will be representing our American culture and Christian values to whole new set of listeners.”

The Brazil national television network will also be featuring the chorale.

The group is practicing for the tour and will be featured later this month with Grammy Award-winning Larnelle Harris March 25 at Ransdell Chapel on CU's campus.

“We are humbled that the Locust Grove congregation is willing for us to perform for them as a dress rehearsal for these upcoming events. It is a blessing to be in West Virginia, especially in the home county of our university president and the home church of our vice president,” Cunha, who serves as associate dean of the CU School of Music and assistant professor of music.

CU president, Dr. Mike Carter, is a native of Westmorland, graduating from Vinson High School and attending Marshall University. He is in his 12th year at Campbellsville University. Dr. Keith Spears, member of Locust Grove, is CU's vice president for regional and professional education.

Locust Grove Baptist Church, located at 2888 Route 75 Huntington, W.Va., is situated between Spring Valley Drive and Buffalo Creek Road on Route 75, approximately seven miles from the Kenova (Exit 1 of I-64).

For more information about the Campbellsville University Chorale and the School of Music, e-mail music@campbellsville.edu or call 270-789-5237.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.