Hardin-Simmons University’s Chapel Band performed a special worship service on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. During the service, they recorded their three original songs “Detours,” “Here I Am,” and “Every Reason.” The songs will be put onto Spotify, Apple Music, Prime Music and YouTube during the next month.
“There was a lot of work put into these originals,” Jackson Dyer, a sophomore worship leadership major from Granbury, said. “The final mixing and editing can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, but it makes the music so clean and enjoyable.”
During their time at HSU, students that participate in the chapel band have the opportunity to participate in the songwriting process. With the help of Tiffany Stotts, instructor of worship leadership, they plan out the music for each instrument and singer on the stage.
“Since a lot of us are music majors, we had people understand music theory really well while we were writing and composing,” Dyer said. “Putting into practice the concepts we are learning about in class was helpful both by helping me better understand them while improving implementation.”
At the event, most of the students in the chapel band performed together on a uniquely full stage. They were also able to showcase their unique abilities in different ways, such as Marissa Lacefield, a sophomore music education major from Argyle, playing cello for the first song.
“It’s really magical to hear the differences in voice and instrument technique that each student has,” Jonathan Durance, a sophomore math and computer science double major from Canada said. “They each have worked very hard to get to the level of skill that they play and sing with. Worshiping with our band is a great glimpse at Heaven.”
For many attending the event, it was a blessing for them, ending a long couple of weeks of exams.“I don’t think I realized just how much I needed that worship night until it happened,” Ashleigh Power, a sophomore chemistry major from Hurst, said. “It was really stressful preparing for the first round of exams in classes this year and feeling like there wasn’t enough time in the day. God has really blessed HSU with our outstanding musicians.”