Riverside, Calif. (April 1, 2016) – The Collinsworth School of Music released its first Small Groups album, "When I Laid It Down," in March for CD distribution and now it is also available by digital download through iTunes.

Eight vocalists and three instrumentalists recorded songs for the project; the album is composed of 13 Christian contemporary songs. 

"We were looking for the best blend tonally with all eight voices," said Dr. Judd Bonner, dean of the Collinsworth School of Music. "The strongest vocalists that could also blend the best together and make the most dynamic group were chosen." 

CBU has five vocal Small Groups, each with seven to nine members per team that perform in local churches and other venues several times each month. Additionally, each summer, two student-led groups travel across the U.S. on an eight-week concert tour, singing and ministering in churches, schools and summer camps. Now audiences that hear the Small Groups in concert will have the opportunity to take similar music home.  

CBU composition graduate students Connor Smith ('15) and Desmond Clark ('14) collaborated to write and arrange six songs for the new album.   

"It's an unbelievable blessing and gift to know that my God-given talents and my bachelor's degree are being put right back into ministry," Clark said.

"The opportunity to have my music recorded is huge to me," Smith said. "My songs have now gone beyond myself and they've gone beyond the people I can sing to and it's cool to be a part of that."