Grace College Worship Arts Professor Performs Original Album
February 13, 2025 at 6:28 p.m.
WINONA LAKE — Grace College Assistant Professor of Worship Arts Dr. Wally Brath recently performed his original jazz Psalms project, “Connexion,” at the 2025 Calvin Symposium on Worship.
The annual conference, held at Calvin University, is for pastors, worship leaders and musicians in the local church who want to grow in their theological understanding and practice of worship.
“It is always a privilege to lead worship in any context, but I was very encouraged by the way the participants at the conference engaged with the Psalms,” said Brath. “I arranged the Psalms thematically to tell the metanarrative of the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. Many people gave feedback that they were deeply moved at the experience of singing through the Psalms in such an expressive way.”
Brath was familiar with the conference, having attended on and off for many years and bringing worship arts students occasionally.
After accompanying singer and songwriter Rachel Wilhelm last year at the conference, the Calvin Symposium board invited Brath to lead a service of his jazz Psalms this year, according to a news release from Grace College.
Brath performed on Feb. 6, alongside Nikki Lerner, the original singer on the project, along with Greg Tardy on clarinet and saxophone, Rob Linton on bass, David Lerner on drums, Shana Brath on violin and a chamber string group from Calvin.
The concert attendees were provided with a booklet of Brath’s sheet music so that the participants, many of whom were musicians, could read the music during the service and sing along despite not hearing it before.
In addition to the service, Brath taught a breakout session at the symposium titled "The Swinging Psalter: Using Jazz and Improvisation to Expand the Emotional Range of Our Musical Language for Worship."
Brath has traveled internationally as a worship leader, musician and educator. After earning a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, he earned a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology from Liberty University and a Doctorate in Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.
Brath is a member of the Society of Ethnomusicologists and the International Council of Ethnodoxologists.
“Dr. Brath is such a blessing to Grace,” said Dr. Kim Reiff, dean of the School of Arts & Humanities. “With a pastor’s heart, Dr. Brath combines theology and artistry in such a way that one feels a sense of peace just being in his presence. With the incredible gift of music, Dr. Brath teaches, leads, and mentors our students. His collaborative efforts have created songs that blend harmony and rhythm in such a way that the listener is inspired upon hearing the first note.”
“Connexion: A Jazz Psalter” may be purchased as a vinyl LP or CD at wallybrath.com. The Vinyl album is $35, and the CD is $15.
To learn more about the worship arts program at Grace, visit the website at www.grace.edu/programs/worship-arts/.
WINONA LAKE — Grace College Assistant Professor of Worship Arts Dr. Wally Brath recently performed his original jazz Psalms project, “Connexion,” at the 2025 Calvin Symposium on Worship.
The annual conference, held at Calvin University, is for pastors, worship leaders and musicians in the local church who want to grow in their theological understanding and practice of worship.
“It is always a privilege to lead worship in any context, but I was very encouraged by the way the participants at the conference engaged with the Psalms,” said Brath. “I arranged the Psalms thematically to tell the metanarrative of the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. Many people gave feedback that they were deeply moved at the experience of singing through the Psalms in such an expressive way.”
Brath was familiar with the conference, having attended on and off for many years and bringing worship arts students occasionally.
After accompanying singer and songwriter Rachel Wilhelm last year at the conference, the Calvin Symposium board invited Brath to lead a service of his jazz Psalms this year, according to a news release from Grace College.
Brath performed on Feb. 6, alongside Nikki Lerner, the original singer on the project, along with Greg Tardy on clarinet and saxophone, Rob Linton on bass, David Lerner on drums, Shana Brath on violin and a chamber string group from Calvin.
The concert attendees were provided with a booklet of Brath’s sheet music so that the participants, many of whom were musicians, could read the music during the service and sing along despite not hearing it before.
In addition to the service, Brath taught a breakout session at the symposium titled "The Swinging Psalter: Using Jazz and Improvisation to Expand the Emotional Range of Our Musical Language for Worship."
Brath has traveled internationally as a worship leader, musician and educator. After earning a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, he earned a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology from Liberty University and a Doctorate in Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.
Brath is a member of the Society of Ethnomusicologists and the International Council of Ethnodoxologists.
“Dr. Brath is such a blessing to Grace,” said Dr. Kim Reiff, dean of the School of Arts & Humanities. “With a pastor’s heart, Dr. Brath combines theology and artistry in such a way that one feels a sense of peace just being in his presence. With the incredible gift of music, Dr. Brath teaches, leads, and mentors our students. His collaborative efforts have created songs that blend harmony and rhythm in such a way that the listener is inspired upon hearing the first note.”
“Connexion: A Jazz Psalter” may be purchased as a vinyl LP or CD at wallybrath.com. The Vinyl album is $35, and the CD is $15.
To learn more about the worship arts program at Grace, visit the website at www.grace.edu/programs/worship-arts/.