FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 7, 2008

Contact:          Melissa Stock, Northwest Christian College, 684-7337

                        Pat Walsh, The Ulum Group, 434-7021; 513-1236 (cell)

NCC COMMUNITY CHOIR DRAWS NEAR SELL-OUT CROWD

FOR SPRING CONCERT

The Northwest Christian College (NCC) Community Choir presented its spring concert on Friday, April 4, at First Baptist Church in Eugene.  The Gospel and Hymns event drew an audience of approximately 1,250.

Directed by NCC adjunct professor Melissa Stock, the Community Choir consists of more than 65 singers, representing 31 area churches.  The choir was accompanied by seven instrumentalists.  Also performing were NCC’s premier touring group VIRTUE, the NCC Chamber Ensemble and two men’s ensembles.

The NCC Community Choir is in its fifth year, and has rapidly grown in popularity with audiences and participants. “The first six concerts had fewer than 175 in the audience.  Then we were at First Christian Church once and had standing room only of 700 people,” says Stock.  “And at the past three concerts we have had between 1,250 and 1,500 people – what a huge confirmation of what the Lord has done with the choirs at NCC.”

Stock reports that public feedback has been outstanding.  She has received letters, phone calls, e-mails, and a lot of people “just stopping me on the street, at the gym and places like Costco…  they tell me they loved it and want to hear more!”  She says that many people have been excited to learn of the 2007 Christmas CD due to be released this November.

The Gospel and Hymns concert was free admission, although donations were accepted.  CDs from the 2007 Gospel and Hymns concert were being sold in the foyer before and after the concert, with proceeds going toward mixing and mastering the 2007 Candlelight Carol concert CD.  The 2007 Gospel and Hymns CD is still available at NCC’s bookstore, The Lighthouse, through Melissa Stock, or via the NCC Web site at www.nwcc.edu. 

Stock summed up the event, saying, “This was my 10th concert since coming to NCC.  Between the students who have gotten involved with this musical ministry, and the people who drive up to an hour each way to sing with the choir every week, it blesses me more than I can even put into words.”

###