Christian Performing Artists' Fellowship
Encyclopedia
The Christian Performing Artists' Fellowship (CPAF) is a non-profit, trans-denominational Christian ministry, dedicated to the classical performing arts world. CPAF is based in Winona Lake, Indiana, home of evangelist Billy Sunday
, Youth for Christ
and was the location of many early Billy Graham
crusades. Co-founded in 1979 in the D.C. Area by Artistic Director and author of Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers, Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh
and his wife Barbara, and by Trombonist, James Kraft and his wife Mary Jeane, it is one of only two organizations in the United States dedicated to this particular mission field.
. Their increased popularity gave way to performance opportunities outside of not only the D.C. Area, but the United States. In 1992, in their very first overseas excursions, CPAF took part in Jerome Hines' opera I Am the Way at the Bolshoi Theatre
in Moscow, Russia. They began to gain national acclaim in magazines and their notoriety continued to increase with their annual Christmas production of Handel's Messiah, which they performed for fourteen consecutive years. In 1996, the Asaph Ensemble was invited to Israel to perform on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem Square. Coverage on their presentation was shown around the world on CNN and other television networks.
CPAF was solely a volunteer organization from 1984 until Dr. Kavanaugh and his wife began CPAF as a full-time ministry in 1988. As CPAF increased, so did its vision and the Masterworks festival
(MWF), a month-long intensive summer training program for classical performing artists, was developed to carry out the vision of CPAF through younger generations. The first MWF took place in 1997 at Houghton College
, Houghton, New York. In the summer of 2002, MWF moved to Grace College
in Winona Lake, Indiana. After two successful summer festivals there, MWF and CPAF permanently relocated their headquarters to Winona Lake. In 2004 MasterWorks Europe was established and took place in London, England. Since then, non-USA MasterWorks Festivals have also taken place at Winchester, England and Zhengzhou, China. Plans for MasterWorks Festivals around the globe are currently in the process of development.
In addition to the MasterWorks Festival, CPAF sponsors the Second Sunday Series, a series of once monthly, community concerts in which performers share their faith through classical music, drama and dance. CPAF has begun numerous Bible Studies and prayer groups throughout colleges and performing arts arenas around the United States.
.
, Piano maintenance, Recording and the supporting areas of General Production. The internships assist in the productions that appear in the MasterWorks Festival.
Billy Sunday
William Ashley "Billy" Sunday was an American athlete who, after being a popular outfielder in baseball's National League during the 1880s, became the most celebrated and influential American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th century.Born into poverty in Iowa, Sunday spent some...
, Youth for Christ
Youth for Christ
Youth for Christ is the name of a number of previously unaffiliated evangelical Protestant religious campaigns which led to the creation of Youth for Christ International in 1946....
and was the location of many early Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
crusades. Co-founded in 1979 in the D.C. Area by Artistic Director and author of Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers, Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh
Patrick Kavanaugh
Patrick Kavanaugh is a composer, conductor, and the author of many books, including Music of the Spheres , The Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers , Worship - A Way of Life , Raising Musical Kids , Music of the Great Composers , and Spiritual Moments with the Great Composers ,...
and his wife Barbara, and by Trombonist, James Kraft and his wife Mary Jeane, it is one of only two organizations in the United States dedicated to this particular mission field.
History
CPAF publicly debuted in 1984 with a series of evangelistic concerts, performed by their group The Asaph Ensemble. The concerts featured musicians, opera singers and dancers. In 1987, as the popularity of their concerts increased, they began booking shows at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and featuring prominent guest soloists such as Metropolitan Opera singer, Jerome HinesJerome Hines
The American Jerome A. Hines was a basso opera singer who performed at the Metropolitan Opera from 1946 to 1987...
. Their increased popularity gave way to performance opportunities outside of not only the D.C. Area, but the United States. In 1992, in their very first overseas excursions, CPAF took part in Jerome Hines' opera I Am the Way at the Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
in Moscow, Russia. They began to gain national acclaim in magazines and their notoriety continued to increase with their annual Christmas production of Handel's Messiah, which they performed for fourteen consecutive years. In 1996, the Asaph Ensemble was invited to Israel to perform on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem Square. Coverage on their presentation was shown around the world on CNN and other television networks.
CPAF was solely a volunteer organization from 1984 until Dr. Kavanaugh and his wife began CPAF as a full-time ministry in 1988. As CPAF increased, so did its vision and the Masterworks festival
Masterworks festival
The MasterWorks Festival is a month-long intensive summer training program for classical performing artists. It is held in Winona Lake, Indiana, home of evangelist Billy Sunday, the birthplace of Youth for Christ and the location of many early Billy Graham crusades. It was co-founded in 1997 by...
(MWF), a month-long intensive summer training program for classical performing artists, was developed to carry out the vision of CPAF through younger generations. The first MWF took place in 1997 at Houghton College
Houghton College
Houghton College is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. The college is a member of both the Christian College Consortium and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities...
, Houghton, New York. In the summer of 2002, MWF moved to Grace College
Grace College
Grace College is an evangelical Christian college located in Winona Lake, Indiana. The college is associated with Grace Theological Seminary and the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.-Accreditation:...
in Winona Lake, Indiana. After two successful summer festivals there, MWF and CPAF permanently relocated their headquarters to Winona Lake. In 2004 MasterWorks Europe was established and took place in London, England. Since then, non-USA MasterWorks Festivals have also taken place at Winchester, England and Zhengzhou, China. Plans for MasterWorks Festivals around the globe are currently in the process of development.
Ministry
The three unique characteristics of CPAF's ministry are Evangelism, a very high standard of Excellence, and work within the Classical Performing Arts.In addition to the MasterWorks Festival, CPAF sponsors the Second Sunday Series, a series of once monthly, community concerts in which performers share their faith through classical music, drama and dance. CPAF has begun numerous Bible Studies and prayer groups throughout colleges and performing arts arenas around the United States.
Arts Administration
In 2004, CPAF established an intern teaching program. The year-long program is designed for young performing artists to train, both spiritually and artistically, in arts administrationArts administration
Arts Administration is the business end of an arts organization responsible for facilitating the day-to-day operation of the organization and fulfilling its mission...
.
Production
CPAF also trains young performers and theatre technicians through a number of technical internship programs held in the summer including, Production, Orchestra Management, PhotographyPhotography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, Piano maintenance, Recording and the supporting areas of General Production. The internships assist in the productions that appear in the MasterWorks Festival.