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The Calling is a vocal group that began in the fall of 1994 as a result of two soloists who longed to form a ministry team. Their ministry is based on thankfulness to God for His ever-abounding grace in each of their personal lives. The Calling is Donna Stanley and Christine Callahan from the Elmira, NY area. Both artists are married and each has one daughter. They seek to stay rooted in their family and their faith above all. As soon as the two started singing together, they knew that not only was this going to be a successful ministry team, but would also go on to become an enduring friendship. Donna and Chris had always felt a definite calling on their individual lives to minister the love and grace of Jesus Christ through music to the unbeliever and the church, thus the fitting name, The Calling. Both artists grew up singing in church from the time they were little girls, and received valuable spiritual and musical training. Chris' parents were elders in their church and directed the choir. Donna came from a similar background, and was part of a very musical family and church. Both continue to serve in various ministries in their home church including the worship team. Donna and Chris also share similar musical backgrounds. With this, much of their ministry is reaching out to those who may be hurting with songs reflecting healing and triumphs through Jesus Christ. The mission of The Calling is to see healing and salvation in the hearts of individuals, as well as relationships in the body of Christ. Their original songs include lyrics of hope, comfort and encouragement. The goal of The Calling is to see others in the body of Christ touched and healed by God's gift of music, and to see them encouraged to draw closer to each other and to the Music Maker. The hope of The Calling is that others will see their team as living testimonies, and as a result, put their trust in the Lord. "He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God, may shall see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3 The ministry of The Calling started out very quickly, as both artists already had a following as soloists in the Northeast area of the country. They immediately released a recording project their first year, which generated more concerts, including an appearance at VisionFest, and more opportunities to see the ministry expand. More opportunities followed, such as sessions doing radio jingles, and singing back-up vocals on projects for other artists, exposing The Calling to an even wider musical audience and field of ministry. This has also allowed the group to advance into a variety of musical genres, adding a slight eclectic sound to the group. This feature has also allowed The Calling to minister to a variety of individuals and communicate across many musical preferences. Their songs are a weaving of energetic, gutsy vocals, along with quiet ballads and soaring two-part harmony. A concert with the Calling will leave you breathless as you experience the energy and passion of this team. If one were to place the style of music by The Calling into a category, it would be adult contemporary with edgy blues and British rock influences. Their style would especially appeal to fans of Bonnie Raitt, Ashley Cleveland, Point of Grace, Wynonna Judd, Ashton/Becker/Dente, and even Susan Ashton. One worship leader described The Calling as "Gut-level music from sincere hearts." The Calling is excited to announce their second recording project entitled Passages. Passages include 13 original compositions on Open Studios Music label. The Calling has a vision that their scope of influence would continue to widen, and that they can reach greater numbers of individuals in the Christian and mainstream market with their message. Their hope is to be full time in their ministry of music, for it is what gives them most fulfillment ... it's their calling. THE CALLING - BACKGROUND Both musicians in this duo started their performance experience at a very early age, as both began singing and performing in their church by the age of 10. This period of time in their lives also included performance in choirs, small groups, choirs, solos, and theater, as well as professional vocal and piano training. As they moved on to college, they began traveling with college Contemporary Christian bands (1985-1989). In the years that followed college, both artists began their own individual singing ministry to local churches (1988-1994). Donna even did a stint as a Christian radio DJ during this time, and worked in Christian music retailing. Both artists came together to begin their new ministry team, more opportunities opened up, including appearances at Christian music festivals (including VisionFest), coffeehouses, state fairs, Bible conferences, and churches all over the northeastern section of the U.S. Their performance experience even spilled over into opportunities to sing back-up vocals in appearances with many other Christian Musicians such as Damaris Carbaugh, Cynthia Clawson, Greg Long and Allison Durham Speer (to name a few), as well as several other mainstream musicians. Furthermore, The Calling has appeared on recording projects doing vocals/background vocals for artists in the mainstream music field in a variety of genres including country, pop, rock, jazz and even appeared on a CD by Grammy award winning Mark Buza! These two artists have a great amount of experience when it comes to the recording studio as a result of their own recording projects, in addition to working on projects with other artists. Their experience also includes recording radio jingles (from shopping malls and community colleges...to insurance agencies)! and doing radio-commercial spoken voice-overs. As a result of this varied experience, the Calling has been exposed to an impressive lineup of musicians (vocal and instrumental) and people from several areas of the music field from which they have learned so much. In addition, they have had exposure to a variety of experiences than span several different categories of the music field. THE CALLING - NEWS RELEASE An area recording artist, "THE CALLING" is pleased to announce the release of its second recording project Passages. One member, Christine Callahan lives in Elmira, NY, the other member, Donna Stanley, is from Gillett, PA. This duo began in the fall of 1994 as a result of two established solo artists wishing to form a team with similar vision and musical preference. You might put their style of music in with those such as Wynonna Judd or Bonnie Raitt with lots of edgy blues and also a few British rock influences. Their songs are a weaving of gutsy vocals, along with quiet ballads and soaring two-part harmony. As soon as the team began singing together they knew that not only was this going to be a successful musical venture, but also an enduring friendship! Since they were little girls, both Donna and Chris have been singing. Their debuts were both in their home churches. Both also came from very musical families and were weaned on much singing and various styles of music. Growing up, these two had also put in a little time in theatre and radio announcing. Due to the fact that both musicians grew up with very difficult childhoods, their music reflects messages of hope, encouragement, and comfort with many spiritual overtones. These spiritual overtones also reflect that both had their start singing gospel music, so the message of such music carries through in many of their compositions. All music on the CD Passages is original, with lyrics being written by one or both artists, giving this project a very personal flavor. To date, the Calling does many of its concerts in churches, local coffeehouses, and music festivals all over the eastern United States. Fans of country, rock, and gospel all flock to their concerts enjoying both the enthusiastic music and the message of hope. You may have even heard the Calling unaware on local radio jingles for advertisements from insurance to shopping malls as well as back-up singers lending their vocal expertise on recording projects of other musical artists! This release of Passages has been anticipated by fans for over 2 years, and the group is excited to share this great accomplishment. MP3's found at site Highway of Light Highway of Light was conceived as a result of a conflict between a few brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. I wrote this song out of sadness and frustration that children of God have such a hard time sometimes dwelling together in unity. It seems we can't just agree to disagree sometimes, why must we always "go to the wall" on the gray areas when the WORD gives us the black and white? We seem to like to make the gray areas black and white too, and if someone else disagrees we make it a spiritual thing. In other words...we judge in an unbiblical way. We can't be the Holy Spirit in everyone's life, and try to bring them along in their spiritual walk as quickly as WE would like. We need to live together in unity, major on the majors, minor on the minors, listen to the Holy Spirit in our lives, and PRAY for others! Lets ...give each other plenty of room to fail...and lets give every chance for love to prevail...on this Highway of Light .....Donna Passages Passages was is song written to a piece of music composed by a friend of mine, Guire Webb, a very gifted composer and pianist. It was such a beautiful piece, and it just relaxed me when I listened to it, as much of Guire's music does. I always seemed to get real nostalgic and reflective when listening to it. I began to think of the passages I had been through in my life that stand out as my most favorite ... the best memories one can have, and I would dwell on these while listening to the music. So I just decided to write about those things, and the lyrics to the song came out in not more than a half hour...one of those few easy songs that just feel like they are meant to be, I guess. I remember the day I played it for Guire, he had no idea what I was turning on the tape for...he listened, I turned off the tape, and he just sat there in silence... I wasn't sure if that was bad or good! Then he finally said something like, "I'm just taken back by it, that's really great!" This is one of my favorite songs oon the project. I thank Guire for allowing us to lend the lyrics to the song and also for coming and playing it at the studio when we recorded it. We never got sick of hearing him play it over and over as he rehearsed it while we sat in the booth. Its just one of those pieces of music you don't get tired of, no matter how many times you hear it. .....Donna What Would You Say? Growing up was a dark time for me. Even though I grew up in a strong Christian household, I made many wrong decisions. My decisions took me down a road that led me away from God, even finding myself drawn to dabbling in the "dark side". I became depressed and suicidal, much like David felt in the Psalm when he knew he had broken the Lords heart. Conviction weighed hard on my heart and I thank GOD for the friends from church, and especially my family for loving me through this dark time. When I first shared the concept of this song with Donna, I explained how I wanted to get peoples attention with the lyrics, to almost shock them into listening to my testimony, but then shock them again by adding to the end of each stanza, "I've been healed!" With her talent she brought this testimony alive and when we do this song -- so many can relate! "What would you say if I told you that I liked living life out on the edge? What would you say if I told you that I thought I would be much better dead? "What would you say if I told you that I can't hide this joy that I now feel? What would you say if I told you...I've been healed!" .....Chris Faithful Friend Again, this is a song that came out of a painful experience ... of a friend who betrayed me, broke my heart, and left me feeling as if there was no one in the world I could trust anymore. Then I heard the Lord whisper to Me, "I'm the only truly FAITHFUL FRIEND you have...lean on Me. From there I began to heal." Although, I have to admit, as an individual I have been hurt so deeply so many times by people that I tend to be very guarded in my relationships and don't very easily open up to people. It takes a long time to gain my trust. But I know that I can always pour out my deepest secrets to the Lord and He will always keep them to Himself and never betray my confidence. He is truly a Faithful Friend to me, my ONLY faithful friend I can always rely on. "Wounds of a friend hurt most deep, trying hard at forgiveness ... no more tears to weep. I try to go on, can't give up, wont stop searchin'...longin' so much for a faithful friend." .....Donna Reflections Today, my life is encircled by Christ. Although those who know me best know where I am, there are still individuals who like to remind me a few too many times of where I had BEEN. They sometimes seem to lose focus of how FAR I HAD COME! Of the vast healing God has done! This song is about my plea for others to try to see me as GOD sees me ... healed, cleaned ... no longer held in bondage to my past. I have refused to allow Satan to keep me down. I pray that as one listens to this, they can push off Satan and accept what God has for them! If only people could see me like they see Paul...the contrast of his past being such a testimony of the miracle of the great work of God in an individual's life! "As the water reflects the face, a man's heart reflects the man...I need you to see what's inside of me that through my eyes I really am!" .....Chris Peace I'll always remember one thing while writing this song...I burned my finger!!! Well, I better explain. I wrote the lyrics to this song during the time I was pregnant with my daughter, Olivia. I had many sleepless nights with my pregnancy, and I use to go down and lay on her soon-to-be bed in her bedroom downstairs when I could not sleep. On this particular night, it was raining with thunder and lightning (one of my favorite things)! and I was writing with only the light of a candle ... kind of a mood-setter during a storm. I was feeling so cozy and warm and PEACEFUL in the midst of. Most people who comment on this project will comment that they like the lyrics to this song best of the ones that I wrote. It really does give you a sense of peace when you need to feel peace... "Then I feel You in the drops of the rain, touching softly...tender beat chase my pain...gentle healing, heavy feelings wash away." Oh yeah... I burned my finger when I went to pick up the glass candleholder ... in case you wondered! .....Donna Check out the artist's website: http://www.thecalling.info Track List: 1. Highway of Light 2. Lay it Down 3. Son Rise 4. Bright Side 5. Take A Ride 6. I'll Take you 7. Passages 8. I'm Humbled 9. What would you say? 10. Faithful Friend 11. Reflection 12. Eternity 13. Peace Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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