With more than 1000 hours of airings on PBS stations across the country, garnering the highest debut for any artist on public television thus far, a Billboard top-ten Classical Crossover album, an extensive tour schedule of over 80 concerts a year, performing before 100,000+ people and high profile media appearances in print and on television, the universally acclaimed Annie Moses Band soars to new heights in their new release, Pilgrims & Prodigals. The two-disc CD/DVD package is a collection of songs that explores the timeless theme of roaming and redemption and will be available nationwide on September 25.
The band will be seen on PBS stations around the U.S. starting in October for their brand new Pilgrims & Prodigals Public Television concert that will air throughout the fall.
Known for their breathtaking instrumental virtuosity and shimmering layered vocals, the Annie Moses Band is a family act made up of six siblings, with their parents Bill and Robin spearheading the lyrics and arrangements. Annie Wolaver serves as the lead vocalist and violin player, Alex Wolaver accompanies on vocals and violin, Benjamin Wolaver on the cello, Camille Wolaver plays the harp and keyboard, Gretchen Wolaver performs the violin and mandolin and Jeremiah Wolaver handles the Classical and electric guitar. Collectively, they developed 13 diverse tracks blending the captivating styles of classical, jazz, folk and even a frisson of Celtic thrown in for good measure. Eight songs on the album were written or co-written by members of the group. Five other tunes receive inventive re-imaginings that bring fresh new seasonings to familiar standards like “Poor Wayfaring Pilgrim” and “Girl of Constant Sorrow.”
The project’s two pop cover songs – “Love Song” (Elton John) and “I Got a Name” (Jim Croce) – take on unexpected new life.
“Pilgrims & Prodigals is based on the idea that everyone in the world is going somewhere,” observes Alex Wolaver, who for the first time shares lead vocalist duties with his sister Annie. “We’re all on a personal journey. We are all either someone who’s finding our way back home or we’re someone who’s running away from home. Every song on this album tells one of those two stories.”
Recorded in the heart of Music City, Nashville, TN., Alex teamed up with award-winning producer Michael Omartian (Christopher Cross, Michael Bolton, Amy Grant,) to produce the new project that was originally imagined nearly a decade ago. Pilgrims & Prodigals will be marketed and distributed in partnership with Dream Journey, the television production company behind the many highly-popular Public Television Specials. The album is being packaged as a double-disc set, containing the CD plus a companion DVD showcasing the Annie Moses Band performing the entire album in concert.
“Video is very important to us, because what we do as the Annie Moses Band is very visual,” explains Annie. “By including the live concert DVD with the album, people can see us performing and playing each song on the album.”
For more information on Annie Moses Band and Pilgrims & Prodigals and their upcoming Public Television Special please visit www.anniemosesband.com <http://www.anniemosesband.com> .
Fresh off their popular annual Christmas tour, the critically-acclaimed pop/classical family ensemble, the Annie Moses Band, is slated to make their debut at New York City's internationally-renowned Carnegie Hall on Saturday, January 14. Joining them on the stage of the Isaac Stern Hall will be a plethora of promising young performers drawn from the ranks of the Annie Moses Band's annual Fine Arts Summer Academy, as well as The New American Chorus, a 250-voice choir under the direction of acclaimed conductor, Camp Kirkland.
"Performing in a legendary venue like Carnegie Hall is a life-long dream of every musician, and we couldn't be more excited," says Annie Wolaver, the band's lead singer/violinist.
Familiar to television audiences across the country, the Annie Moses Band has seen record-breaking success with their PBS special, Christmas with the Annie Moses Band, which has received more than 1,000 hours of airtime. Their album, This Glorious Christmas, has been listed on Billboard's Top Classical Crossover Albums chart, and a new PBS special, Pilgrims and Prodigals, is slated to release this spring in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
The Annie Moses Band is a family of Juilliard-trained musicians and award-winning songwriters dedicated to virtuosity in the arts. Led by lead singer/violinist Annie Wolaver, the band includes her five siblings: Alex, viola; Benjamin, cello; Camille, harp/keyboard; Gretchen, violin/mandolin; and Jeremiah, guitar and banjo. Add the veteran songwriting talents of their parents, Bill and Robin Wolaver, and you have a dynamic group with roots in classical, pop, and jazz. Together, they are leading an artistic renaissance in the Church through musical excellence, strength of family, and a message of faith, inspiring all generations to join in the discipline, beauty, and excitement of highly skilled musicianship.
For further information, visit www.anniemosesband.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Reunion recording artist The Annie Moses Band recently wrapped up their 2009 Fine Arts Summer Academy, attended by more than 200 students from across the country. Over the course of two weeks at Nashville’s Lipscomb University, Annie Moses Band members, along with a number of music professionals, worked with young artists aged 4 through college, on developing their musical expertise through sessions for strings, brass, woodwinds, guitar, drums/percussion, piano, drama, dance, voice, sound, lighting and video.
The 2009 Fine Arts Summer Academy concluded with the Gala Concert, held at Lipscomb’s Collins Auditorium. Entitled “Diamonds and Dust,” the Concert featured a string orchestra, jazz orchestra, rhythm section, dancers, and choir, all comprised of Academy students. A variety of small groups, ensembles and soloists also performed during the evening, which featured a special guest appearance by popular Christian music artist Michael O’Brien.
"The time spent with students at this year’s Academy achieved a deeper sense of community, a higher level of performance, and a stronger commitment to excellence,” said The Annie Moses Band’s Annie Wolaver. “We saw a renewed resolve in our young artisans to hone their craft with even greater fervor. Nothing brings us a greater joy. The final show was simply spectacular."
The Annie Moses Band is a Christian family of Julliard-trained musicians and award-winning songwriters dedicated to virtuosity in the arts. Led by lead singer/violinist, Annie Wolaver, the Band includes her five siblings: Alex, viola; Benjamin, cello; Camille, harp/keyboard; Gretchen, violin/mandolin; and Jeremiah, guitar and banjo. Add the veteran songwriting talents of their parents, Bill and Robin Wolaver, and you have a dynamic group with roots in classical, pop, and jazz. Together, they are leading an artistic renaissance in the Church through musical excellence, strength of family, and a message of faith, inspiring all generations to join in the discipline, beauty, and excitement of highly skilled musicianship.
