Grace to Add Worship Arts Major in Fall
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Walter Brath will join Grace’s School of Arts and Sciences faculty in the Department of Visual, Performing and Media Arts as assistant professor of worship arts and program director of performing arts, according to a press release from Grace.
The worship arts major is designed to prepare students for the modern music worship setting and to support a primary pastor or worship minister within the worship environment, the release states. With proficiencies in keyboard, voice, percussion and guitar, students will combine musicianship with courses in worship music history, theory, theology and spiritual formation, along with the live performance and production in their emphasis area.
Brath will use his experience as an undergraduate music professor and background in the worship music ministry to lead in building the new worship arts program. He will implement new academic opportunities for students to develop skills that will fuse musical talents with leadership, technology, visual art and design or theatre arts.
“Being a leader in the worship arts is so much more than knowing the latest worship song or technology,” said Brath in the release. “My life’s passion is to give students the vision and skills to think theologically, to be trained in their area of interest and have the ability to effectively lead others.”
Brath has traveled internationally as a worship leader, musician and educator. He has trained worship teams and has conducted orchestra and adult and children’s choirs. Brath anticipates using his 27 years of experience as a worship pastor and educator to equip and embolden students in worship arts, according to the release.
“Through the new worship arts program at Grace College, students will acquire skills for diverse musical styles and expressions used in a variety of modern worship settings. They will explore the ways in which audio/visual technology is utilized in today’s churches, studios and schools,” said Brath. In addition to music theory, instrumental and vocal training, students will “acquire an understanding of the relational dynamics of a team and necessary leadership skills,” he said.
Brath holds a bachelor of music in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a master of arts in ethnomusicology from Liberty University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in worship studies and is a member of the Society of Ethnomusicologists and the International Council of Ethnodoxologists.
Kim M. Reiff, department chair of visual, performing and media arts at Grace College, said in the release, “We are thrilled to have Professor Brath step into this significant role. As a proficient musician and an experienced worship leader in cross-cultural settings, he exemplifies our belief that music, as a form of worship, is fundamental to human creative expression and is without cultural boundaries. He will serve our students well as they learn how to use their musical gifts to serve others.”
For more information about the new worship arts program, visit www.grace.edu, email [email protected] or call 866-974-7223 or 574-372-5100, Ext. 6021.
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Walter Brath will join Grace’s School of Arts and Sciences faculty in the Department of Visual, Performing and Media Arts as assistant professor of worship arts and program director of performing arts, according to a press release from Grace.
The worship arts major is designed to prepare students for the modern music worship setting and to support a primary pastor or worship minister within the worship environment, the release states. With proficiencies in keyboard, voice, percussion and guitar, students will combine musicianship with courses in worship music history, theory, theology and spiritual formation, along with the live performance and production in their emphasis area.
Brath will use his experience as an undergraduate music professor and background in the worship music ministry to lead in building the new worship arts program. He will implement new academic opportunities for students to develop skills that will fuse musical talents with leadership, technology, visual art and design or theatre arts.
“Being a leader in the worship arts is so much more than knowing the latest worship song or technology,” said Brath in the release. “My life’s passion is to give students the vision and skills to think theologically, to be trained in their area of interest and have the ability to effectively lead others.”
Brath has traveled internationally as a worship leader, musician and educator. He has trained worship teams and has conducted orchestra and adult and children’s choirs. Brath anticipates using his 27 years of experience as a worship pastor and educator to equip and embolden students in worship arts, according to the release.
“Through the new worship arts program at Grace College, students will acquire skills for diverse musical styles and expressions used in a variety of modern worship settings. They will explore the ways in which audio/visual technology is utilized in today’s churches, studios and schools,” said Brath. In addition to music theory, instrumental and vocal training, students will “acquire an understanding of the relational dynamics of a team and necessary leadership skills,” he said.
Brath holds a bachelor of music in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a master of arts in ethnomusicology from Liberty University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in worship studies and is a member of the Society of Ethnomusicologists and the International Council of Ethnodoxologists.
Kim M. Reiff, department chair of visual, performing and media arts at Grace College, said in the release, “We are thrilled to have Professor Brath step into this significant role. As a proficient musician and an experienced worship leader in cross-cultural settings, he exemplifies our belief that music, as a form of worship, is fundamental to human creative expression and is without cultural boundaries. He will serve our students well as they learn how to use their musical gifts to serve others.”
For more information about the new worship arts program, visit www.grace.edu, email [email protected] or call 866-974-7223 or 574-372-5100, Ext. 6021.
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