Record company founders to put on concert in Fulda

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FULDA — After selling more than 600,000 CDs, Brian and Jennie Williamson, founders of AriSon Records in Nashville, estimate they have touched the lives of more than 1.5 million people.

On Thursday, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Fulda, will host two AriSon concerts featuring music of Jennie Williamson at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The concert will serve as a kickoff for the school’s celebration of National Lutheran Schoo’s Week, which starts March 4.

“We’re doing this to give the community the opportunity to attend a professional Christian music concert here in the community and to celebrate the blessing of our Christian school,” said Leah Baumann, principal at the school.

According to the AriSon Records website, Brian and Jennie have both experienced hardships in their lives. In 1998, Brian’s first wife, Tatia, was in a fatal car crash; Jennie lost a close friend in high school and later went through a divorce.

Brian and Jennie knew each other before these events and, as they healed, their friendship grew into an eventual marriage on July 1, 2000, in Nashville.

“Since that significant day in Nashville, they try not to take life for granted, knowing that life can change in a split second,” the AriSon Records website explains. “With God as the center of their lives, they live each day as if it were the last.”

In an effort to bring people comfort, Brian and Jennie created AriSon Records in 2004 to give listeners the opportunity to know the comforting presence of God.

Jennie,, who will be singing at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Thursday, has performed at numerous conferences and conventions.

The staff of St. Paul’s learned of her music when she performed at two different Lutheran Education Association conferences, one in Minneapolis and another in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“We thought (the concert) was a good opportunity for the community and the surrounding area to come together and celebrate the love of Jesus and praise him through Christian music,” Baumann said.

Baumann said the event is sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher League.

“The PTL is really good and is always looking for ways to enhance the education experience in our school,” she said.

In the past, the PTL has sponsored a nationally known creationism speaker, Brian Young, but this will be the first time Jennie Williamson has visited Fulda.

Baumann said the event is one that should appeal to the whole family.

“There will be some children’s songs and she even has a CD of hymns out,” she said.

Williamson will perform two concerts on Thursday, and Baumann said the public is invited to both.

Students from St. Paul’s Lutheran School will attend the first concert.

“We also invited other area Christian schools to come to the first concert,” Baumann added.

Baumann said she believes the music performed at each of the concerts will be unique. She added that the students have listened to many of Williamson’s CDs and have sung songs composed by her.

“They are really excited to have her come and hear her live,” Baumann said.

Other activities being hosted in recognition of Lutheran Schools Week include a Scholastic book fair, an open house (in conjunction with pre-kindergarten and kindergarten round-up) and a Grandparent’s Day presentation.

“On Sunday (March 10), the students will also sing in church and will be singing one of Jennie’s songs,” Baumann added.

Previous events hosted by the church during Lutheran Schools Week have been well-attended, and Baumann said she hopes there are similar crowds for these concerts.

Both concerts are free and open to the public, and refreshments will be offered after the 6:30 p.m. event.

For additional information, contact Baumann at (507) 425-2169.

Daily Globe Reporter Alyson Buschena may be reached at

376-7322.

Tags: news, fulda, arison