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.

The Campbells ~ Year in Music 2013

Just a fun look back at some of the events and experiences of 2013. God has been so good to our family, and we give him all the praise!

We're in the process of recording new original songs by Alyssa and Russ. It's hard work, but very rewarding! Looking forward to 2014, and all the new experiences that God will bring our way.

If you'd like to book us for a concert, wedding or another event, please leave a comment and we'll get back with you ASAP!

Between You and Me...

This song has been a favorite of Russ' ever since DC Talk released it back in 1995. Little did he know he would be arranging it for our family's group almost 20 years later!

This footage was taken during one of our rehearsals at Fellowship Baptist Church in Portland, Indiana. We hope the song's message of confession and forgiveness will prompt you to evaluate any broken relationships in your life and seek God's help in mending those relationships.

"Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." Colossians 3:13

Merry Christmas

Here's a musical Christmas card from our family to yours. May this season be filled with the joy and peace that comes from knowing the Christ of Christmas!

The Day That Love Was Born

Video of an "unplugged" practice session ~ "The Day that Love Was Born"

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Here at the Campbell home, we've not only been busy decking the halls, we've also been hard at work rehearsing for several upcoming Christmas performances. Russ has added a new arrangement to our Christmas repertoire, a beautiful song titled "The Day that Love Was Born" by Christian artist Dara Maclean.

We had the privilege of seeing Dara perform live at World Pulse Festival this past summer, and the girls even got to meet her, get her autograph and have a photo taken with her. They were impressed with how friendly and personable she is!

The lyrics to this soulful song offer a poignant description of the day Jesus burst into the darkness of our world to offer us His light.

He took on our skin so he would forever know what it felt like to be dust.

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:13-14

He remembers us.

The day that love was born

It changed everything

And Jesus the Son, 

The Almighty One

Sent here to redeem.

He came to save, 

Not just to give his life away

You made a way, everything changed

On that glorious day...

The day that love was born.  

This Christmas, let's find joy in this simple fact: He remembers us. He has come to bring us love and light. He has made a way. Hallelujah!

He Changes Not

Jobs, relationships, circumstances, health, finances... In a world full of change, one thing remains constant: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) What a comfort to know that His love NEVER changes!

Russ recently wrote this song (music and lyrics), inspired by a poem from 19th century preacher and poet Horatius Bonar. Hope you are blessed and comforted by the message of this brand new song!