Internationally acclaimed pianist Huntley Brown of Aurora rocked St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurora Friday evening, March 7. Several hundred people attended.
With children’s choirs and vocals by daughter Nadia Brown, Brown headlined an annual fundraiser for Covenant Christian School in Aurora. Brown is chairman of the Aurora K-12 private school’s board of directors.
Freewill donations were accepted. In an offering appeal, motivational Andrew Williames asked attendees to contribute toward a $50,000 goal.
Covenant Principal Dr. Nina Bissett, retiring for a second time, was honored by Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. He presented a city council proclamation declaring March 7 as “Dr. Nina Bissett Day” in Aurora.
Retiring from Covenant for a second time, Bissett plans join a son in South Korea. After working in Wheaton and Nashville, Tenn., public schools, Bissett joined the newly-formed Covenant in 1980. She has worked without pay the last few years.
In a Beacon-News interview, Brown said, “Dr. Bissett’s faith, prayer life and encouraging spirit are a testimony to her faithfulness. She has shaped leaders who are now changing their respective industries and environments. And the world is a better place as a result.”
Joe Petit and his Sonic Sanctuary Band joined Brown and three Covenant children’s choirs for the event. Rev. Jamin Becker, senior pastor at Impact Church, offered closing remarks and a prayer to conclude the celebration.
A native of Jamaica, Brown is the pianist for Ruth Graham and Friends Ministries and also ministers with the Franklin Graham team. He performed at a Bill Gaither Homecoming concert and was the regular crusade pianist for the recently retired Dr. Ralph Bell, an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Association.
In 2011, Brown was the featured guest pianist at Carnegie Hall with the Milal world symphony orchestra and choir. In 2010 he was inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall Of Fame, the youngest artist to be inducted into the hall. He was appointed musical ambassador for CTS TV in Seoul, South Korea in 2009 and was named the Top Caribbean Gospel Instrumentalist in 2005 and 2006.
—Al Benson