Recording project successful despite late launch

Tara Lyn Hart is providing the entertainment at the seminary’s Chocolate, Wine and Roses Valentines Day dinner.

by James Morgan

It was a perfect start for Perfect Holiday. Tara Lyn Hart’s new Christmas CD, released just in time for Christmas 2010, not only has begun raising money for Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario, but it has also returned the award-winning performer to personal and radio playlists across Canada.

According to Tara Lyn’s husband Perry, a student at CLTS, at least 650 CDs were sold out of the 1,000 produced, and it is still unknown how many people purchased singles online through Amazon or itunes. He notes that 90 radio stations received the single Perfect Holiday nationwide and as of December 19, airplay was confirmed at 30 of them. Of those, eight reported playing it more than once with a collective total of 33 times. Not surprisingly, one of the stations that reports playing the song more than once is CHRE in St. Catharines, home of Concordia seminary. One station, CHAT, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, even added a second track to its playlist.

“I was really happy with how it went,” says Tara Lynn about the reception the CD has received so far.

“The real payoff will be next year,” says Concordia Dean of Students Dr. William Mundt, noting the two-year project has broken even and is starting to raise funds for the seminary. Sales and further releases to commercial radio will continue in time for the 2011 Christmas season.

Tara Lyn says considering significant publicity for the CD did not begin until October, she is quite pleased with the attention it has attracted and adds Christmas music is “something that doesn’t really get outdated,” meaning the potential for further sales are strong in the future.

The Christmas CD will also be on sale at the seminary’s upcoming Valentine’s Day fundraiser at Hernder Estate Winery, 1607 8^th Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario on February 11, where Tara Lynn Hart will be performing. The doors open for Chocolate, Wine, and Roses at 6 p.m. with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for both dinner and the evening’s entertainment are $30. Tickets for just the entertainment portion of the evening are $15. To purchase a ticket, call the seminary and dial extension 22, or make your request by email.

Even though Christmas is over for another year, sales of the CD are not. Perfect Holiday is still available for $12 by calling Concordia seminary in St. Catharines at 905-688-2362, or by emailing Concordia@brocku.ca .

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