Lubbock Christian University’s (LCU) singing group Best Friends has been nominated for a Contemporary Acapella Recording Award (CARA) for the eighth time in the last decade.
The group’s album Solid Rock (2022) is the group’s seventh release to be nominated for Best Religious Album. Best Friends was first nominated to receive a CARA Award from the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) in 2013. This selection is notable because of the hundreds of professional, amateur, and collegiate groups throughout the country and all around the world. In 2019, the group’s 2018 release Risenwas named Best Religious Album.
While the group wasn’t selected to win the 2023 award—renowned Christian Music Hall of Fame group Acappella won with their reunion album Acappella 40—the streak of national recognition alongside such elite competition showcases the amazing talent of the students and directors who pour so much into the Best Friends ensemble year after year.
“Receiving an 8th nomination from the Contemporary A Cappella Society (Casa.org) has been such an honor for Best Friends and for Lubbock Christian University,” shared Dr. Philip Camp, Professor of Music, Director of Choirs, and Director of Best Friends.
“Best Friends was the only collegiate group out of the four groups who received nominations,” he added, noting that the other nominees—Radiance A Cappella, who won Best African album, 7th Element, a professional group out of Orlando, Florida, and the powerhouse winners Acappella—were all professional or semi-professional groups.
According to their website, “The annual Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA) recognize the best of recorded a cappella music. We are the only truly global a cappella recording awards. Every year since 1992, hundreds of albums are considered in this celebration of the highest quality a cappella recorded around the planet.”
LCU students Abriana Fernandez, Caleb Cates, Truett Corder, Luke Henderson, Maddy Henderson, Daisy Jarvis, Logan Parks, Kyra Yeager, Gavin Ward, and Devon Wilborn comprised the group who recorded Solid Rock, representing departments from across LCU’s campus. Dr. Camp has directed the group for the past four years alongside Technical Director Nathan Anderson, (’08) who has co-directed the group for the past 15 years. Alumnus Kris Schmitt (’04) also assists each year with recording and mixing for the album.
“While we weren’t chosen as the winner, having LCU out in front of a broader audience, showcasing our talented students and bringing glory to God is always worth it,” Anderson shared.
Dr. Camp added similar sentiments. “I believe that many will look up our music and will be blessed and inspired as a result. I’ve even been told that a song from our recording helped to completely turn lives around after going through some rough circumstances. If the nominations give our music more exposure resulting in more looking to the Lord, this is the real reason to celebrate.”
Best Friends, now in its 40th year, has represented LCU in national and international venues since 1983. The group often leads worship for youth rallies, retreats, and other worship events, and also performs concerts for community and church gatherings. The group also leads worship at LCU’s high school summer camp Encounter, which will take place June 11-16—evening worship is open to the public.
The group’s latest recordings are available on Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other popular streaming music sites.
Learn more about Best Friends, their music, and upcoming concerts and tour dates.