Busy But Blessed Summer!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Summer has been a busy season for our family but a blessed one as well. The girls attended Orangehaus Music Business Camp at Anderson University in July and had the time of their lives! Their original song was selected to be recorded at Gaither Studios, and their band was also chosen to be the "video band" for the camp. Students from AU's Filmmaking Camp shot a music video of their band performing the girls' original song. What an awesome week -- one they will never forget!

Trey attended Anderson University's String Camp in July as well. He grew immensely as a cellist and made some awesome new friends. The highlight of the camp was a concert in which all of the students played in chamber music groups and a combined orchestra in AU's York Hall. It was a rewarding culmination of a week's worth of intense hard work and practice!

Russ has also been hard at work arranging music for our friends at Muncie South Side Church of the Nazarene and their upcoming taping of a live CD entitled "Worship United." This two night musical event will take place Aug. 17 (at South Side) and 24 (at New Castle First Church of the Nazarene), and will feature an orchestra, choir and several special vocalists, including our own Emma Campbell, Mark Murphy, Jeremy Fox (formerly of Adam's Voice), Andy Cole, Kate Wilson and Kimberly Blair Kline of the Blair Family.

Emma was honored to record at Gaither Studios a second time in July, this time for our good friend Lana Ranahan's upcoming hymns CD. It was so much fun to watch the process as she recorded violin tracks for some amazing arrangements! Can't wait to hear the final product!

In late July, our family was blessed to be the first music group featured in Muncie South Side Church's Summer Outdoor Concert Series. The weather was great (no rain), and the crowd was so welcoming and engaging! 

We're excited for our firstborn, Alyssa, to be starting her first year of college as a Music Business major at Anderson University. I recently attended AU's SOAR (Student Orientation and Registration) with her, where she was able to register for her classes and gain some valuable information about student life. She has a great schedule with mostly music classes -- woo hoo! Can't wait to see how God chooses to use her musical and writing talents for His kingdom!

The "big event" coming up in September will be Emma's debut as a solo violinist with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 6! We are over the moon excited for her and so thankful that God has given her this amazing opportunity. Imagine Emma's surprise when her best friend texted her this picture of her face on a billboard! Wow!

Colors from Grey

Spring has been a busy season here in the Campbell household with several church concerts, symphony concerts (for Emma) and high school graduation for our oldest daughter, Alyssa! We are excited to see what God has in store for her future as she goes on to major in Music Business (with a songwriting emphasis) at Anderson University!

Following in her dad's footsteps (who majored in Music Composition), Alyssa has already begun her career as a composer. Last summer, she was blessed to win the Original Composition category of the Young Hoosier Piano Competition at the Indiana State Fair. She has also written two original songs which we now perform during our concerts. Here's a clip of her original song, "Colors from Grey," shot during one of our practice sessions . We hope this song will remind you that when we let God have control of our lives, He truly can bring vibrant colors from the dark places.