June 4, 2014 - Geneva College
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June 4, 2014

Picture of June 4, 2014

new_song.jpgNew Song, a music and drama ministry of Geneva College, will kick off its tour by singing at the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh on July 3, 2014. This summer, the group will also makes stops in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Ontario, Canada.

The 2014 members are: Justin Addicott, a senior music education major from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania; Caleb Cress, a junior music education major from Ambridge, Pennsylvania; Trisha Johnson, a senior music education major from Saltsburg, Pennsylvania; Rose Lundy, a junior music education major from Vienna, Virginia; Maggie Rose Smith, a sophomore Spanish and human services major from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; Amie Speers, a senior music education major from Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania; Garrett Stevens, a sophomore music education major from Three Springs, Pennsylvania; Kenny Van Duzer, a senior music and Christian ministry major from Prince Frederick, Maryland; and Becca Wethered, a junior music and Spanish major from Bristow, Virginia.

For 36 years, New Song has traveled across the world under the direction of Geneva's own Louise Copeland. This year, New Song is also excited to introduce additional director Lindsay Shaffer, a 2011 Geneva grad, to the tour. "Lindsay will be helping me with the training of New Song and will be on the entire tour," says Copeland. "She is a fine musician, has the ability to teach as well as perform, and is very organized-an invaluable tool when setting up New Song tours."

Copeland adds, "The students and the directors have the opportunity to meet and stay with many different people over the summer tour, and these folks often leave lasting impressions on our lives. I have been told so many times about how the students have really ministered to their host families and others with whom they spent leisure time."

She is not the only one who enjoys spending time with various families. Addicott says, "My favorite part is traveling to many different homes and meeting great families who love the Lord and who invite me into their lives for a few days at a time."

Van Duzer echoes the sentiment: "Staying with host families gives you a chance to hear different people′s stories and experience different homes."

While the tour takes a lot out of the students and directors involved, Copeland says the effort pay off. "Seeing the impact on many Geneva College students who have served faithfully as New Song members has made the work worthwhile. All those miles in a van with nine other people, staying with strangers who become friends, not getting much time for relaxation, being away from family for weeks at a time-these things fade into the background compared to the rich experience of seeing students grow, mature, and blossom through their time in New Song."

New Song′s summer tour schedule

Information about New Song

Geneva College invites students to accept the challenge of an academically excellent, Christ-centered education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and seven graduate degrees, Geneva has programs that place students at the forefront of higher learning. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God′s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today′s world.

Jun 4, 2014