Service at heart of singer's debut album

An Avondale College student from the Lake Macquarie campus is currently recording her debut album to help promote overseas volunteer service.

Charlene Luzuk, an international development studies major, calls the album Dai Jo Bu, which means "it's alright" in Japanese.

The seven-song LP offers heartfelt, easy listening Christian music. Ms Luzuk is the writer of all but one of the songs. She composed most of them during "testing" times in Japan, while serving as a volunteer English teacher. "God really inspired me to write the words to most of the songs," she says. The theme of one song is the Sabbath. Ms Luzuk wrote another for a best friend's wedding.

At the suggestion of others to record, Ms Luzuk vowed she would produce the album for God's glory if she were given the means to do so. "It's my way of telling people about God," she says.

Students Maggie Aitorea, Leesa Fletcher and Malvinas Meza also sing on the album, accompanied by Jason Davis (drums), Ben Gibbs (bass), Matthew Jeffs (piano), Rey Lecciones (violin) and Dale Willis (guitar).

Ms Luzuk has so far been able to bring some of her own money to the recording table, however, at the halfway mark, there is still about $2500 in costs to be considered. "I'm trying not to worry about the money, and I'm leaving the rest in God's hands."

All proceeds from the sale of the album will first cover production costs then fund an overseas volunteer service trip in 2007. Ms Luzuk is familiar with the struggles to raise money for a volunteer trip after spending a year-and-a-half in Japan. She says, "I want to help other people raise the money to be able to go overseas and volunteer."

Contact Ms Luzuk (email charlene.luzuk@gmail.com) to offer your support.