Contact: Office of Marketing & Communications

Office: 417-328-1803

Mobile: 417-399-7918

E-mail: scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, MO – Southwest Baptist University’s 36th Annual Church Music Workshop will be held this Thursday through Saturday, February 4-6.  Headlining the event is five-time Dove Award winning song-writer, arranger, and record producer Robert Sterling, whose songs have climbed to the top of Christian Pop, Southern Gospel, and inspirational radio charts, recorded by artists such as Point of Grace, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Gold City, and Sandi Patti.

Other clinicians include former SBU Director of Choral Studies Dr. Duncan Couch, concert pianist and music minister Jeff Bennett, and Missouri Baptist Convention worship specialist John Francis.  Participants for the workshop will come from churches across the region.

Two public concerts will be offered during the workshop.  On Thursday evening, February 4 the SBU Chorale and Orchestra will join the choir and orchestra of First Baptist Church to present “The Music of Robert Sterling.”  The concert, under the direction of Sterling and Couch, will begin at 7:30 pm in the worship center of First Baptist Church.

Friday evening’s concert will feature song-writer Robert Sterling, John Francis and the Missouri Music Men and Brass, SBU voice faculty member Elizabeth Maben, and concert pianist Jeff Bennett.  Friday’s concert will be held at Meyer Recital Hall on the SBU campus and will begin at 7:30 pm.  Both concerts are free and the public is encouraged to attend.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 13 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 14 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past three years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918. Visit the SBU Office of Marketing & Communications online at www.SBUniv.edu/news.

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