Judson University Choir to perform in Russellville

RUSSELLVILLE -- On Saturday, Jan. 30, the Russellville Community Church will host the Judson University Choir in a concert and worship experience.

The program will begin at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary, located at 103 W. Third St., Russellville. The concert is open to the public, and a free-will offering will be taken to give to the choir.

Following the concert, the public is invited to go next door to the Russellville Community Center and enjoy a meal of chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, vegetable, dressing, salad, dessert and beverage. There will be a separate free-will offering for the dinner that will benefit the community center.

Founded by Dr. Edward Thompson (known as "Dr. Ed") during the very first year of Judson's existence, 1963-1964, the choir has served as one the primary faces of the university for more 50 years, playing an especially crucial role in attracting new students to the campus in the early days of Judson College.

National and international touring soon became a hallmark of the Judson Choir, with regular visits to eastern and western Europe, parts of Asia and the Caribbean. When Dr. Ed retired in 1996, Dr. Dale Voelker took the reins and continued the tradition of choral excellence, expanding the Choir's international presence even farther into South America and China.

Recently, the Judson University Choir has shifted its ministry focus just a bit to become a true worship-leading ensemble, whose concerts feature specific narrative arcs, opportunities for congregational participation, a diverse repertoire, and the use of a wide variety of instrumental accompaniments.

This direction has allowed the choir to co-minister with a number of contemporary Christian worship musicians and bands, including Michael Card, Sanctus Real, The Digital Age, Citizen Way, Bob Bennett and The Brilliance.

The choir tours nationally three times per year and internationally every two or three years. In 2016, the choir will travel to Jamaica.

Judson University is a fully accredited, private Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions in Elgin, Ill. Judson offers degrees in more than 65 different majors/minors for traditional, graduate, and adult students.