Play Today, gone tomorrow

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Graduand’s parting gift a published song

Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

Ben Milis’s grandmother bought him the first in the Play Today praise and worship series for Christmas in 2005.

Ben Milis and Lyell Heise play Ben’s song, “Worthy,” from the new Play Today 5. Credit: Brenton Stacey.

Ben Milis and Lyell Heise play Ben’s song, “Worthy,” from the new Play Today 5.
Credit: Brenton Stacey.

The arts and teaching graduand, only 14 at the time, had seen the book on display earlier in the year. “I thought, That looks awesome. I could not wait to open it.” Play Today 5 now includes one of Ben’s songs.

“Worthy” is one of 15 in an expanded list of songs, three of which are by new composers—Jason Cook and Lisa Holland won the Institute of Worship Prize at the Manifest Creative Arts Festival in 2012 and Marian Moroney is an assistant to the director of the institute.

Dr Lyell Heise, a senior lecturer in the School of Ministry and Theology at Avondale College of Higher Education, and Valmai Hill, a piano teacher, coordinated production of the book in their roles as director and as assistant to the director of the institute. They do so to give young piano players the confidence and motivation to participate in the praise and worship at their local church.

“But we still give more experienced players enough room to improvise,” says Ben. He should know—he helped arrange and typeset some of the songs.

Play Today 5 launches in Ladies Chapel this Saturday (December 7) from 4 pm.