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| "First Instrument is a diverse group with members hailing from Brazil Chile, Indonesia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and the United States. They have joined their voices in a unique blend of Contemporary Christian a capella music and released a self-titled album September, 1999. These seven Union College (Lincoln, Nebraska) students have only been singing together since October 1998, but already have taken the Lincoln community by storm with their Take 6 jazz-pop sound. They have also gained notoriety by performing twice at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, for which they received standing ovations. Since that time the group has received numerous singing invitations, including back-to-back performances at Unite 99 and Unite2000." (quoted from UNITE2000.com) |
| Copyrighted: APKawiley 111201IA52803 (c). All rights reserved. Used by permission. |
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| Written by: Tompaul Wheeler, Insight Magazine Courtesy of Insight Magazine Reprinted with permission. Copyright � 2000 by the Review and Herald � Push play on First Instrument's self-titled debut, and you'll first be hit with 73 seconds of vocally-backed poetry. Using their voices alone-humanity's first musical instruments--this a capella jazz group tells you that though the world is pretty rotten, God has a plan to use us as His "first instruments." First Instrument is Adrian Donovan, Antonio Cano, Arthur Pangemanan, Cleiton Goncalves, Jonathan Bilima, and Lyndon Carriger. "We want people to know that God calls each of us to be His first instrument," says Jonathan Bilima. "Another thing is that no matter what we may be going through, we've got a friend in Jesus who will take care of it." Hailing from Union College, First Instrument draws style from its diverse ethnic background, with members from Indonesia, Brazil, Africa, and America. Each member contributes rhythms drawn from his own musical heritage. Says Jonathan, "When people see us onstage working together, it really speaks volumes on its own." The album continues with acapella jazz arrangements of both classic hymns and spirituals and their own new songs. Songs like "Do Right" and "You've Got a Friend in Me" explore God's relationship with us. The album concludes with a tuneful prayer, "The Person That You Are." "It's disappointing as a Christian when you're not the best you can be," says Jonathan. "Our prayer is that God will change us into the person that He is." In the song's words, "Lead and guide my footsteps into righteousness o Help me to become a shining star o But if my eyes should stray, bring me back today o And turn me into the person that you are!" |
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| Throughout the years, as these college students moved thru the dynamic of hectic college life and career, First Instrument has undergone a slight change in members and vocal structures: The original members/founders in vocal structure order: Jonathan Bilima (1st tenor), Adrian Donovan (1st tenor), Hans Westermeyer (2nd tenor), Antonio Cano (2nd tenor), Cleiton Goncalves (baritone & percussion), Innocent Nzamutuma (baritone), Arthur Pangemanan (bass). In 2000, Lyndon Carriger of Omaha, NE, replaced Hans as a 2nd tenor and Raune Oliveira replaced Innocent Nzamutuma as a baritone. The current members at this point (Spring 2001) are: Jonathan Bilima (1st tenor), Adrian Donovan (1st tenor), Lyndon Carriger (2nd tenor), Jason Moses (2nd tenor), Raune Oliveira (baritone & percussion), Arthur Pangemanan (bass). |
| First Instrument have traveled extensively in the past to share and preach the gospel using our voices to numerous churches around the country, academies and boarding schools, and several universities. We have visited over 10 states within a 2 years period, and have sold over 1,400 copies of our first (demo) album. Our second full album is on the way and we ask that you would include this in your prayers. Some of the places that we have visited in the past including University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI), Azure Hills SDA Church (CA), LaSierra University (CA), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (NE), Concordia University (NE), Midland Lutheran College (NE), 2000 Adventist Winterfest at Copper Mt. (CO), UNITE'99 and UNITE'00 in Riverside (CA), Mapplewood Academy (MN), Midland Academy (KS), Broadview Academy (IL), Sunnydale Academy (MO), Enterprise Academy (KS), LomaLinda Academy (CA). This list does not include the numerous churches, weddings, and events in various states (NE, IN, IL, IA, MI, MN, OH, CA, KS, MO, SD, CO, etc.) that invited us to perform and share God's words through our unique a capella music. We'd like to thank you all for your supports in forms of prayers, words of encouragements, financial contribution, by buying our CDs, and even for just being our great groupies. :) |
| Singing is our passion and we believe that God is using us as His instruments to minister to other using our voices (acapella), the first musical instrument created on earth. We believe from what we have seen that our ministry has reached people from all age, gender, race, and color, as we are also very diverse in our music and backgrounds. Many have received blessings from our ministry therefore we invite you to contact us to minister through our unique acapella music in your area/school/church. |
| Note: FI have been receiving lots of emails from fans who constantly asked about the official website--www.firstinstrument.org--that has been down for several weeks. FI management apologizes for this and promises that a new and updated version of the official website will be online soon. Keep us in your prayers. FI's most recent performances include: Mile High Acad Youth Rally in Denver CO, Campion Academy (CO), and the great Men's Choirs Festival at the Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE. We also had a privilege to perform with One Voice on a benefit concert for Sickle-Cell Anemia Foundation and we raised over $700 from the concert. This was followed by the unforgettable 2001 FI Summer Concert Tours where we hit the SDA campmeetings in Arkansas (Ozark Academy) May 29th - June 3rd, Maplewood Academy, Minnesota (June 7-11), and the last gig was at the Central States Conference (Kansas City, MO) June 14-17. For information on booking First Instrument, please contact: First Instrument Ministry c/o Jonathan Bilima 4029 South 48th Street, Lincoln NE 68506 ph. (402) 483-1522 OR (402) 486-2932 or you may also contact me by E-mail (click on logo): |
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| If you have a website and would like to support First Instrument by providing a link to our site, please copy the First Instrument icon below (right click and "Save Picture As") and then after you upload the saved image to your homepage, place this HTML code of img src tag between the a href tag: <a href="http://geocities.com/slingadeink/fi.html "><img src tag></a> Let me know if you have any questions. I'm also willing to link your site through this site. |
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