Duck Commander Cruise features 30-member University of Mobile band
MOBILE, Ala. (Christian Examiner) -- When a sold out Duck Commander Cruise sails from Miami this fall, a group of college musician is set to share the stage with some familiar celebrities – the Robertson Family from the reality TV show "Duck Dynasty" and popular entertainers Ricky Skaggs and Lee Greenwood.
The University of Mobile RamCorps, a Christ-centered 30-member high-impact visual brass and percussion ensemble is scheduled to perform on the Carnival cruise ship "Victory" and at two Ports of Call – Nassau and Freeport Bahamas – during the Oct. 22-26 cruise.
"The Duck Commander family thought it was a good fit and opportunity to bring RamCorps to come on board to share their message and their faith," said Mark Brannon, CEO of the Memphis-based travel company Premier. The company promotes its travel industry company as one that is "family friendly."
Brannon said Premier handles events that are typically Christian or faith-and-values oriented. Premier has worked with artists and personalities such as Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac, Scotty McCreery and Casting Crowns.
"We really do see ourselves as more of a ministry than a pop ensemble," said Kenn Hughes, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental studies, Jazz Band and RamCorps at the University of Mobile.
RamCorps presents a unique explosion of music and theater with intense, choreographed musical experiences achieving high levels of excellence in performance. It is one of more than 20 performing ensembles in the University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts.
The group performed 142 times during this past 2014-2015 academic school year, giving concerts in churches, schools and public venues across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and North Carolina. RamCorps has traveled internationally on musical missions trips to areas such as Jamaica, Turks and Caicos islands, and in Socchi, Russia during the Olympics.
Brannon saw RamCorps perform at a church in Memphis, Tenn., and he knew Hughes through Global Missions Project where Hughes is ministry director for the non-profit committed to ministering to people through music. Brannon, who plays trumpet, is a member of the Board of Directors for Global Missions Project, www.globalmissionsproject.com.
Brannon said he wanted RamCorps to perform on the cruise because the musical group is unique.
"There is nothing like the energy of a 30-member instrument band," said Brannon. "Other bands don't have the quality and the message they have."
In addition to playing for guests on the cruise ship, the UMobile ensemble will be performing at schools and churches while in port in Nassau and Freeport Bahamas.
"I hope I can get them on another cruise," Brannon said.
Press release provided by University of Mobile. For more information, visit www.umobile.edu or call enrollment services at 1-800-WIN-RAMS or 251-442-2222.