Members of the Campbellsville University Chamber Choir are pictured, in the front row, from left: Dr. Frieda Gebert, associate professor of music at CU, Dr. Ken Winters, president emeritus of Campbellsville University and Kentucky Senator (R) Senate District 1, Megan Massey, MaryGrace Lee, Dana Eberhard, Pam Tennant, and Otto Tennant, vice president for finance and administration at CU. Second row: Cole Torbert, Chanelle Gardner, Sarah Smith, Carmen Drake, Erin Johnson and Rebecca Oliver. Back row: Chris Williams, Allen Brooks, Matt Hodge, Ky. Sen. Jimmy Higdon, (R) District 14; Jonathan McCoy and Tim Howe.

 

March 24, 2010
For Immediate Release

By Ashley Zsedenyi, staff writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University graduate student and Louisville native Matt Hodge, along with CU's Chamber Choir, visited the State Capitol recently to perform for the governor and Congress, and to be recognized for their success.

Hodge gained national recognition for his penning of a Christmas carol for troops, titled “What Is Christmas?” and he and the Chamber Choir were invited to Frankfort to perform the carol, as well as Hodge's latest song “A Hero Always Lives,” for Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives.

“It was an incredible day,” Hodge said. He said both the Senate and House gave a standing ovation following the Chamber Choir's performance.

He said Rep. Bam Carney is working on bringing the Chamber Choir back to Frankfort on June 10 to sing “A Hero Always Lives” for a dedication ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the Capitol building.

“It was such an honor to be asked back,” Hodge said. “It was an amazing day, and the Chamber Choir was brilliant. They are so talented, and I wouldn't have any of this success if it wasn't for them or Dr. (Frieda) Gebert.

“God has blessed me very much this year,” he said. “I have had so many highs for my career in the past few months. I give God all the glory for it.”

Hodge was also recently interviewed by Radio Disney in Louisville about being a songwriter. The 30-minute interview aired in early March.
“It was an honor to be interviewed by them,” he said.

Hodge said he wrote “A Hero Always Lives” for the Louisville community drive, “Doing our Part From the Heart,” a campaign that collects personal gifts for United States servicemen and women as they serve our country.

Soloists performing with the CU Chamber Choir were Chanelle Gardner of Campbellsville and Chris Williams of Columbia, Tenn.

Students in the Chamber Choir are: Carmen Drake of Sonora, Ky.; Sarah Smith of Brandenburg, Ky.; Megan Massey of Science Hill, Ky.; Lindsey Kleyer of Simpsonville, Ky.; MaryGrace Lee of Ponchatoula, La.; Erin Johnson of Russellville, Ky.; Rebecca Oliver of Brandenburg; Dana Eberhard of Wilmore, Ky.; Chanelle Gardner;

Tim Howe of Dry Ridge, Ky.; Chris Williams; Chase Moore of Ferguson, Ky.; Cole Torbert of Brentwood, Tenn.; Allen Brooks of Bardstown, Ky.; Blake Whitlock of Hodgenville, Ky.; Jonathon McCoy of Ekron, Ky.; and Matt Hodge.

Hodge also appeared on WAVE 3 and WHAS 11 news programs in Louisville during the community drive.

He is also co-director of the Campbellsville University female ensemble CU Sound, and has been hired by the singing group The Massey Trio to be their composer, pianist and producer.

Hodge either wrote or arranged nine songs for the CU Chamber Choir for their upcoming spring concert, and is also writing songs for Buzz Cason, a CU trustee and owner of a recording studio in Nashville, that will also be used by Chanelle Gardner on her upcoming demo album.

To hear Hodge's latest song, go to www.youtube.com and search for “A Hero Always Lives” or visit www.matthodge.com to read more about “Doing our Part From the Heart.”

Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 3,006 students who represent 97 Kentucky counties, 30 states and 37 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2010 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South, tied for fifth in “most international students” and fourth in “up-and-coming” schools in baccalaureate colleges in the South. CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges® and to G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.

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