How Great Thou Art

The Stuart Hine Trust has asked EMI CMG Publishing and Hope Publishing to direct publishing administration in the United States for How Great Thou Art, one of the greatest hymns in the English language.

Rack Room Shoes

Rack Room Shoes has partnered with Shoes That Fit, a nationally known non-profit organization dedicated to helping underprivileged children.  Through the program, Rack Room seeks to provide shoes to needy children.

Billy Porter

In a testament to its enduring popularity, Time by Billy Porter and Brian Steckler has been choreographed for a second time for Dick Clark's SYTYCD.

Comporium

Comporium continues to upgrade its high speed internet service for its North and South Carolina customers permitting faster download speeds of up to 7 mpbs.

Walton

A new video produced by Eric Whitacre's virtual choir of Walton-published Lux Aurumque recently exceeded one million views on YouTube.

City of Salisbury

Fibrant, the branded name for the City of Salisbury's new fiber to the home network will soon be offering cutting edge communications technology to citizens of Salisbury.

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announces Symphony on the Prairies series

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra recently announced its Symphony on the Prairies series of programs featuring 12 weekends of summer concerts showcasing a broad spectrum of music.

Billy Elliott, featuring keyboardist Joseph Joubert, wins Best Musical, nine other Tony Awards

The Broadway musical Billy Elliott made a strong showing at the recent 2009 Tony Awards receiving Best Musical, as well as 9 additional Tony awards.  Joseph Joubert has served as keyboardist for the production since the play opened.

Church music publishers tap FBMC's Stephen Bock as President

Stephen Bock, President of the Fred Bock Music Company, assumed the presidency of the Church Music Publishers Association at its annual meeting in Ojai, California earlier this year.

Hinshaw composer, Mack Wilberg CD hits #1 on Billboard charts

Hinshaw composer, Mack Wilberg, has received numerous accolades for the recent released CD of American Folk hymns and spirituals titled "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," which recently reached #1 on Billboard magazine's classical music chart.

Michael McElroy reprises Collins' role in Rent national tour

Broadway actor, Michael McElroy, reprised his role as Tom Collins in the national tour of Rent.  McElroy was one of the original cast members of Rent when it first opened on Broadway.

Apple Baking Company launches Cheerwine cake 

Apple Baking Company has been delighted by the response to its new Cheerwine cake which it produces under license from the Cheerwine Bottling Company.

Duncan Murrell's Story on Cover of Harper's Magazine

Duncan Murrell's (see Rattlejar) riveting article on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, "In the Year of the Storm:  The Topography of Resurrection in New Orleans" was chosen as the cover story in a recent issue of Harper's  Magazine.

New TV Series from Firebird and WTVI

The Firebird Arts Alliance has completed taping of a television series through WTVI in Charlotte.  The series called "New South Crossings," celebrates Charlotte's diversity through music by pairing musicians from jazz, gospel, praise and other types of bands that would not usually play together.  The results are amazing.

New Book Profiles Courageous Children

Axel Dahlberg and Janis Russell Love (see Shadow Writer), have written an uplifting book about children living with serious illness.  "Forever Hellos, Hard Good-Byes:  Inspiration, Wit, and Wisdom from Courageous Kids Facing Life-Threatening Illness" (Free Spirit Press) tells the stories of young people (ages 7-21) who try to live normal and hopeful lives in spite of their situation.

Biebl's Ave Maria
to be Performed at Pope's Visit

Franz's Biebl's Ave Maria  published by Hinshaw Music will be performed during Pope Benedict's visit to New York City in April.  The piece will be part of the Celebration of the Eucharist at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 19, 2008.

Billy Porter's "Time" Featured on Dick Clark's, So You Think You Can Dance

Dick Clark's reality dance competition show, "So You Think You Can Dance," which airs on the FOX network, featured Billy Porter's song "Time" as the music for a contemporary dance number choreographed by Mia Michaels.

'Chanticleer' First Vocal Ensemble Recognized by Musical America

The vocal ensemble Chanticleer will receive the 2008 Musical American Award for "Ensemble of the Year."  The ceremony will take place at Lincoln Center in New York City on December 13.  Chanticleer, led by Music Director Joseph Jennings, is the first vocal group to receive the award, which has historically been given to instrumental ensembles.

The City of Salisbury Approves New Logo

The City of Salisbury has approved a new logo that will be used on a wide variety of signage, print materials, and promotional media.  The logo highlights Salisbury's history and diversity and invites visitors to come and explore the varied aspects of the city.

Wall Street Journal credits composers and Chanticleer's Joseph Jennings with success of ecumenical Mass

A new Mass, written by five composers and arranged by Joseph Jennings for Chanticleer has received initial accolades in an extensive Wall Street Journal review.

John Rutter receives CBE from the Queen

Cited "for services to music," John Rutter has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's 2007 Honours List.

Ford funeral includes stirring performance of Morningstar's The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford included a stirring performance by the National Cathedral Choir of Michael McCarthy's The King of Love My Shepherd Is, published by MorningStar Music.

BR Productions' Michael Rafter instructs Hugh Grant for Music and Lyrics

With the able piano instruction of BR Productions' Michael Rafter, Hugh Grant was able to make his performances look effortless in the recent film Music and Lyrics.

Hinshaw composer, Dan Forrest named ASCAP young composer award recipient

Hinshaw composer, Dan Forrest was part of a distinguished group of rising stars named by ASCAP as a recipient of the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award.

Rattlejar edited The Widow of the South, a NY Times bestseller

The Widow of the South, freelance-edited by Rattlejar's Duncan Murrell, has achieved strong sales, reaching the NY Times Bestseller List in its first week of publication.

Collegium now distributed by Koch Entertainment

John Rutter and Collegium Records have signed an exclusive US distribution deal with Koch Entertainment International, the largest independent record distributor in the US.

Dreamworks SKG taps TMTE's Tesori for Shrek: The Musical

TMTE's Jeanine Tesori is presently writing the musical score for Dreamworks SKG's planned Broadway production of Shrek: The Musical.

New Billy Graham Library dedicated on BGEA grounds

A host of dignataries were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the new Billy Graham Library dedicated at BGEA's Charlotte campus.

PBS Affiliate WTVI to air BBP's new inventor's series

Regional auditions continue for Bouncing Brain Productions' new series on inventors to be broadcast in 2006 by PBS Affiliate WTVI.

Joseph Joubert and Hinshaw's Linda Twine in the Color Purple

Hinshaw Music composers Linda Twine and Joseph Joubert are serving as music directors for Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple which recently opened on Broadway.

Leuschner Debut Christmas CD Released

American Idol sensation and Succession Records' recording artist, Lisa Leuschner, has released her solo Christmas album, Sing Me Home. Lisa's sophomore album is due out in early spring 2005. Lisa, along with Hit Music's Alan Grossman, recently concluded an in-depth interview on Sirius cable radio in New York.

Come live With Me featured on Prairie Home

VocalEssence and Gary Raynor recently performed John Rutter's Come Live With Me, on A Prairie Home Companion.

Caroline Achieves Critical Acclaim

Caroline or Change, by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori has ended a successful Broadway run at the Eugene O'Neill Theater with a Tony award and is presently touring on the West Coast. That's Music to my Ears, Ltd. was originating producer of the musical.

New Chanticleer CD Soars to the Top

Chanticleer's new spiritual/gospel CD, How Sweet the Sound (Warner Brothers Classics), has reached #3 on the Billboard classical crossover charts. The CD features original arrangements by Chanticleer's Music Director, Joseph Jennings.

Arranging Trio Receives Grammy Nomination

Buryl Red, Joseph Joubert and Michael McElroy have received a Grammy nomination as co-arrangers of "Joy to the World," featured on the Great Joy gospel CD by Broadway Inspirational Voices released by Sh-k-Boom Records.

Waddell Signs with Warner Brothers

Brittany Waddell has moved to Nashville from Rowan County, North Carolina, after signing a development deal with Warner Brothers Christian (WORD) Records. MGS Music, who released Brittany’s debut CD, Follow The Call, remains a publisher of her music.

Lord Salisbury Is Back

Downtown Salisbury, Inc. has launched the Lord Salisbury Festival, celebrating Salisbury's self-appointed and colorful goodwill ambassador. DSI has filed for federal trademark protection for the Lord Salisbury name with the United States Trademark Office.

Porter Musical to Open at Public

Broadway actor and solo performer, Billy Porter, has written a new musical, Ghetto Superstar, which will open this February at New York's Public Theater, where Billy is artist-in-residence.

Christmastide in Movie of the Week

Don Fraser's "This Christmastide", published by Hinshaw Music, was prominently featured in TNT's Movie of the Week, The Wool Cap, written by the late Jackie Gleason.

QuitSmart Founder to Speak at National Tobacco Conference

Robert H. Shipley, Ph. D., Director of the Duke Stop Smoking Clinic and author of the best-selling QuitSmart Stop Smoking Program, will be a featured speaker at the upcoming National Conference on Tobacco or Health in Chicago.

60 Minutes II Profiles John Rutter

John Rutter’s fans were delighted by his extensive 60 Minutes II profile broadcast just before Christmas, 2003.