Music at Interfaith UNITY Church

LORI ELWARD, singer, author, and Creative Drama Specialist, has been the Music & Worship Director at Interfaith Unity Church since 2003. She gave her first musical performance at the age of 5, and begin studying piano at the age of 6. Lori has been involved with solo, ensemble, and choral work for most of her life. She received vocal training at Scottsdale Community College, Grand Canyon College and ASU, where she received her BAE in Selected Studies. She has directed numerous youth choirs, including 4 years with the Sunshine Singers of Sunshine Acres Children’s Home. She is also a talented playwright, essayist, and poet, whose works have been published by Blue Mountain Arts and The Arizona Republic.

JAY STEINBERG has been a concert pianist and professional composer since 1973, working in New York, Paris, & Hollywood as a writer, producer, and composer. His work has brought both Oscar and Emmy nominations. Jay has played at countless valley venues since 1985, and has produced four CDs and four original works since 2000 ("Suite for Monet" & "Irish Rhapsody", Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale; "Heartland Suite" for the gala opening of the 2001 Norman Rockwell Exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum). In 2003 he scored the original music and title song for the feature film "Nowhere Arizona."

Volunteer Musicians of Interfaith Unity

Our music ministry could never thrive without the talented people within our congregation who tithe their time and talent and bless us with their gifts.

We are grateful!

Sarah Daykin

Jim Sorensen

Rev. Lorie Miller

Diana Belanger

Saretta Parrault

The God Sisters

and all our Youth who generously share of their musical talent!

JOE BOUSARD has worked professionally in music and theatre for over 40 years. Since 1962 when he moved from Phoenix to New York, he has been a teacher/performer and coach of voice, acting and Musical Theatre. Joe was born in Boston, moved to Phoenix at age ten, and is a graduate of West Phoenix High School and Phoenix College. He received his BA degree in Speech Arts and Theatre from San Diego State College, where he performed and directed operas, plays and musicals. After a stint in the US Army where he furthered his musical career, he went to the “Big Apple”. He continued his work in piano and voice, honing his skills as accompanist and composer/lyricist for a variety of singers, while directing choral groups and producing

Professional Musicians of Interfaith Unity

his own Musical Theatre productions, under his own banner, JBL Productions.

Joe has won awards for Children’s Television (PBS) and is a member of ASCAP, from which he received an annual “cash award for encouragement” for several years. He was listed in JCC’s “Outstanding Young Men of America-1968”. He has been a guest teacher at colleges, secondary schools and professional training schools in the USA and Japan, and continues to make an annual trip to conduct special Workshops and classes at Showa Academia Musicae, just outside of Tokyo. His students have appeared in numerous professional productions and in their own cabaret performances around the world. He recently became a member of Theatre Artists Studio, a new theatre organization in Phoenix, and has performed and created several cabaret fund-raisers for them. His other cabaret and musical performances have taken place at the Herberger Theatre Center – Lunchtime Series, for the past several years.

In 2004, he co-wrote "It's Christmas In The Desert Again," a song broadcast Christmas Day on AZ radio stations across the state. Jay’s wonderful puppet shows make him a favorite with our children here at Interfaith.

One of Jay's current shows is JAZZ BLUE In Concert with fellow musicians Rick Hammontree, harmonica, vocals; Richard Bachler, acoustic/steel guitars and

Jesse Rodriguez, bass guitar, vocals. The show features exciting arrangements of original and familiar works of jazz, latin, pop, rock, country, and semi-classical music with a decidedly blues edge. The show has been performed at

* Arizona State Fair

* Phoenix Film Festival

* Wrigley Mansion

* Nordstrom's

* Phoenix Art Museum (Grand Re-Opening)

For more information, contact Jay at jaysteinberg1212@yahoo.com.

www.theatreartistsstudio.org.

Interfaith UNITY Church - Church Voicemail 480-593-8798

Make a Joyful Noise!

We believe that music is the heart and soul of worship at Interfaith Unity church. Our congregation is blessed with a dazzling assortment of volunteer musicians who grace our services with their talent and energy. Each Sunday Service includes congregational singing called "Joyful Noise." From traditional hymns to chants and rounds or even a gospel or show tune, "Joyful Noise" reminds us that what we sing is who we are. Our mission and vision statement make it clear that we celebrate diversity in all its forms, and our common song is no exception to this commitment. So sing with all your heart, and make a joyful noise!

Chaplain Lori Ann Elward

Worship & Music Director

WILL ZECCO, a native of Massachusettes, has been living in the Valley since 2003 with his partner Wayne. Will has been singing since he was 16 years old. For many years he had been performing in regional and community theatre back East. His talents are not limited to performing, he has also directed and choreographed many productions. Since moving here most of his focus has been singing at various worship services in the Valley. "Music is like praying, it is when I feel the most connected to God." Currently working to finally produce his first CD.