A junior psychology major is selling an original piano album on iTunes with proceeds benefiting her summer mission trip.

When it came time to raise money for her World Wide Witness trip to Harare, Zimbabwe this summer, Caroline Nikolaus, junior psychology major from Illinois, knew that sending out fundraising letters would not be enough, so she decided to put her musical talents towards a good cause and recorded an entire album of original piano pieces.

“I’ve wanted to make an album for a while and had the music to do so,” Nikolaus said. “This mission trip game me the motivation to finally record and release because it was going to be for a purpose and good cause, not just to make me feel better about being an artist.”

Nikolaus began piano lessons in kindergarten and continued until she reached high school. Along the way she also picked up playing clarinet and guitar. By the time she started her senior year, she was in jazz band, wind ensemble, choir, show choir, church choir and the praise team for her youth group.

“My family is a singing family, we grew up belting it in the kitchen, car and everywhere else,” Nikolaus said. “It’s in my blood and I thank God he’s given me these talents to play.”

Although Nikolaus has been on several mission trips before, including places such as: Honduras, Oregon, Poland and Bulgaria, this will be the first mission trip that will last longer than two weeks. She is hoping that this experience will help decide if she is interested in more long term mission work.

While she is in Zimbabwe, she will be working with local organizations and churches to help with orphan care, vulnerable children care, youth ministry and compassion ministry for a time span of two months.

The album entitled Speak the Language – A Mediation features eight songs and is available on iTunes for $7.92. Reviews posted on iTunes state that this album is “a perfect study and relaxation mix” and “Caroline is a magnificent pianist!”