NATCHEZ — High Road, an exciting up-and-coming piano/fiddle/vocal duo who enjoys praising God with hymns and original material in the southern gospel and classic country style will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday at Washington Baptist Church in Washington.

The band members, Anna Grace Kimbrough, and Sarah Davison formed this group upon realizing their intense musical compatibility both on and off the stage.

Kimbrough, who plays fiddle and sings is from Meadville. Davison, the pianist and also vocalist in the group, is from Braddyville, Iowa.

Both are graduates of Belmont University’s School of Music in Nashville, Tenn., where they each received a degree in commercial music.

The duo just finished recording their latest CD, “Turn Your Radio On,” which was released in June 2009. The contents of the recording include some classic and timeless hymns and originals written by Kimbrough along with instrumental arrangements by Davison.

Their first CD, “Light of the Cross,” released in the fall of 2008, has been heard by listeners of all ages on several Christian radio stations across the south and midwest.

Kimbrough has been playing music as long as she can remember. She doesn’t remember playing her first instrument, piano, but her violin studies started at the age of 5. Her early performances took place in church where her mother was the music director. Her love for playing hymns, bluegrass, Celtic and country were born during this time, and through the years, she has performed at many different churches, contests, political and executive parties and community gatherings.

Davison has also been playing the piano and singing for longer than she can recall. She would sit at her piano from a very early age and play songs by ear with her father, who played banjo and dulcimer.

This quickly developed her vast catalogue of classic country, ragtime and western songs. Her early years of playing took her to many different opry houses, churches, home gatherings, contests and rodeos in which she blew away anyone who listened to her music.

She has won numerous awards, including National Traditional Female Vocalist in 2001 and third in the World Ragtime Piano Competition.

The two girls have been playing together since Davison asked Kimbrough to play fiddle for a band she had gotten together in the summer of 2008.

Between long rides in the car, and impromptu duo performances on the trip, the two realized that this could not be the last time that they played music together.

They have since initiated and have been encouraged to start a duo and play inspirational and country music. The reaction so far has been overwhelming and an incredible blessing to the both of them. The two, equally gifted, focused and driven, have begun non-stop to make this initiation a reality. They have played shows across Iowa, Mississippi, and Nashville since becoming a group and have steadily increased their fan base one show at a time.

The overwhelming acceptance from strangers, friends, and family reinforces the

quality of performance that High Road desires and practices. Their intimate

performances leave audiences inspired, encouraged and wanting more. “It’s all about

who you’re playing for,” says Anna Grace, “I know that Sarah and I both desire to get

the message of God’s love across to those listening… but more importantly, we want to

glorify God with our music.”

“What a gift music is to so many people, and it is an honor and a thrill to be able to give it all back to the One who gave it to us,” Sarah stated.

High Road’s concerts are soothing and reflective at times with violin and piano instrumentals like Blessed Assurance and Oh the Deep Deep Love of Jesus. However, the girls make an effort to play old standards and bring life and soul to them. “So many young people are not aware of some of these great older hymns and songs, and we try to make them come alive again so they are not forgotten,” Sarah says. A typical concert will feature upbeat country gospel, and a lot of soul music along with instrumental and vocal arrangements the duo has written.

The summer of 2009 will bring them back to Iowa for performances, as well as Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Check High Road out at www.myspace.com/highroadsarahandannagrace or email highroadmusic@gmail.com

The new website www.highroad.com will be coming soon!