Feb. 22, 2012
For Immediate Release

By Natasha Janes, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - The Campbellsville University Orchestra, University Chorale and Concert Chorus will be premiering a new composition, “Jesus, Our Joy,” on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Ransdell Chapel at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, Ky.

The event is free and open to the public.

“Jesus, Our Joy” is a musical setting of a poem written by Gióia Júnior, a Brazilian poet, radio and television announcer, politician and Baptist deacon. The English version of this poem was written by David W. Hodges, a musician and lyricist who served in Brazil as a missionary for 30 years.

Ralph Manuel, the composer divided the poem into four sections which form the basis of the four movements of “Jesus, Our Joy,” and each movement highlights a specific emotional facet of the work.

The concert will also feature the University Orchestra under the direction of Dr. J. Robert Gaddis, dean of the School of Music and professor, and Wansoo Cho, instructor in music. The Orchestra will perform Richard
Wagner's “Prelude to the Opera: The Mastersingers of Nurenburg” and Edvard Grieg's “Peer Gynt Suite” which includes audience favorite “In the Hall of the Mountain-King.”

This concert is presented in part by the Central Kentucky Arts Series.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.