The Art & Soul of Music continued feature
Katelyn, Allison, Melissa, and Kristin Hinson reside in Lancaster,
South Carolina, with their parents Jimmy and Ashley. To learn more
info, see a calendar of events, and purchase music, visit www.thehinsongirls.com.
84
APRIL 2016
Story by Ashley Elvington • Vintage Daisy Photography
AS THEY RESEARCHED BLUEGRASS MUSIC,
ing in the studio. “This is one of the hardest tasks
the girls discovered a reoccurring message: God’s
we have tackled together as a band. Although very
Word. “We noticed gospel was almost always a part
exciting from beginning to end, this process is te-
of every bluegrass set we watched. It really inspired
dious and one of the most difficult challenges we
us to prayerfully seek God’s will for our family and
have faced together. From the song selections and
trust Him to lead our path.” They, too, wanted to
extended band practices, to the microscopic
spread His Word through music. “Music touches
analysis of each instrument track and vocal
people in many different ways. We believe God has
recording, every aspect of this process is tiresome
given us talents through music, and we want to be
and lengthy. However, we quickly found that the
sure to give our talents back to Him. We have been
results are worth every minute. This process has
told on several occasions that we bring joy to church
taught each one of us about the benefits of hard
families. That is what we hope that everyone who
work, not giving up, and pushing through to the goal.
hears our music experiences when they hear us play…
Just as soon as we get our latest project in our hands
the joy of our Lord!” Their second trip to the Interna-
and begin to enjoy hearing encouragement from our
tional Bluegrass Music Association inspired Katelyn
fans, we quickly forget the long days, late nights, and
and Allison to write their first song, entitled “I Am
early mornings that were put into the recording
So Blue.” Katelyn and Allison have written two other
process and begin to plan for the next project!” says
songs so far, “My Hero” and “Second Chances,” which
Kristin.
Kristin helped write as well for their aunt’s wedding.
Kristin will be graduating this May from Winthrop
This song holds special meaning to the girls. Katelyn
University with a degree in mathematics. She has
shares, “That was the only gift she wanted from us.
also been accepted into graduate school and has
We had the hardest time getting started with this,
plans to begin in the fall. Melissa and Allison graduate
and it wasn’t until the week before the ceremony
high school in June and will attend college in the fall.
that we finally found the right words and were able to
Melissa plans to attend Winthrop to study business,
complete the song. From the first line to the last,
and Allison plans to study biology and animal scienc-
this song describes our aunt’s and uncle’s story and
es. Katelyn is only a sophomore in high school, but
how they found each other again. The bridge at the
she plans on taking college courses to further solidify
end even includes the proposal our uncle made. It’s a
her dreams of studying music after high school. No
beautiful love story with real characters and true love
matter where each may end up in life, these sisters
that we have watched within our family.”
are grateful for the experiences they’ve had together.
According to Katelyn, the girls love seeing the re-
“Through our experiences in this band ministry, we
actions of audience members at live performances.
have learned more about the true meaning of life.
“When the lights are on us and we hear the crowd
it’s not always about doing what is the most fun or eas-
clapping and whistling as we finish a song… We love
iest, but more importantly about doing what is right.
the feeling of this atmosphere.” “Our favorite plac-
We have learned to trust in Jesus for our future. When
es to perform include a wide variety of venues. The
we go through disappointments, we have learned to
common link to each of these is the engaged audi-
pick ourselves up and keep moving forward. Life is
ence. The venue size is exciting to consider, and the
not about us. It’s about bringing glory to the Kingdom
new opportunity is also encouraging, but it’s the in-
of God. We have been given many different talents
volvement and participation of the audience that
within our family of six, and we have been bless-
makes performing so much fun.” As for the girls’
ed to find a way to use each of them together as a
most cherished song to perform, that’s an easy one.
family to glorify His Name. We are humbled by life’s
Kristin shares, “‘How Great Thou Art,’ mainly because
experiences. Our failures do not define who we are,
of the meaning behind the song. The connection we
and our successes cannot carry us to tomorrow. It’s
feel with the audience as we sing this song and the
our faith in Jesus Christ that makes it possible for us
way Katelyn sings the words make this our favorite to
to face tomorrow and keep doing what we are doing.
share with others.”
If things change for us tomorrow, we can all say we
Of the three CDs they’ve recorded so far, the girls’
involvement extends past showing up and perform-
were blessed to have this opportunity to learn and
grow together.”
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