Geneva College presents Festival of Faith and the Arts: The Shape of Faith

Dr. Luangkesorn will debut a new work by composer Dr. Shawn Okpebholo.

BEAVER FALLS, PA (01/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Geneva College is proud to announce the debut performance of their latest commissioned work by Nigerian composer, Dr. Shawn Okpebholo, titled PSALMOI KAI HYMNOI KAI OOEDAI PNEUMATIKAI (Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Psalms) on Thursday, February 16 in John White Chapel of Old Main at 7:30 p.m.

The evening will include introductory comments on the composition process by Dr. Okpebholo, a performance of the approximately 15-minute piece by Geneva Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Sha Wang Luangkesorn, a question and answer time with the composer, and a reception following.

Dr. Okpebholo, theory and composition professor at Wheaton College–Conservatory of Music, is being brought to Geneva through the generosity of Henry and Lucille Carson's gift to the Faith and the Arts program. Members of the Carson family will be in the audience for this debut performance.

The composition is a work in three movements: I. Ede Ede (Nigeria); II. Bringing in the Sheaves (American); and III. Jisasi Fukemino (Papua New Guinea). Dr. Okpebholo drew from three radically different areas, culturally, geographically and musically. This piece is a musical painting of several universal functions of sacred music among the global church: music for praise and worship, music for evangelism, and music as a catechetical function.

Dr. Luangkesorn says of PSALMOI KAI HYMNOI KAI OOEDAI PNEUMATIKAI, "It is a piece that calls for clapping and singing on the pianist's part, so it is challenging, beyond simply its technical difficulty."

During his visit, Dr. Okpebholo will also meet with faculty and students from Geneva's Department of Music.

The Festival of Faith and the Arts concert is free and open to the public.

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College's philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).