Singing Praises
Music is a form of worship, said Dan Byerly.
“I hope to see the musical fabric of this particular church be more integrated across the multiple services so we have a common musical language we are able to worship with as one church,” said Byerly, who is a singer, hymn writer, choir director, band leader, pianist and organist.
Musical notes floated through the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church's white walls as the sounds of drums, cymbals and acoustic and electric guitars and voices and clapping created a contemporary rhythm of worship.
Byerly recently became the full-time director of music ministry at the church after it was without musical direction for a year.
Growing up in Sharon, Byerly said his mother was a music major and his father, who was involved with music at churches and schools, was gifted with a singing voice.
Byerly sang in church choirs and played the piano. At Grove City College, he majored in music with a concentration in piano and also studied the organ.
For nine years, Byerly and his wife lived in the New York City Metro area where he sang opera with several companies.
Byerly said he is excited to return to Western Pennsylvania to bring life back to the music at the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church. In December, the church's historical Christmas Cantata returns to the community.
For the first time, the church has made the director of music a full-time role, he said. Previously, the church's choir and praise band were under the direction of separate people.
Now, Byerly will oversee all musical aspects of the church, including the adult choir and praise band.He has an appreciation for the long-standing hymns and songs of the church and contemporary worship music, he said.Byerly's first order of business is re-energize the choral program and bring an excitement about singing back into services, he said, adding the group has not sang for about a year.He also hopes to create a collaboration between the groups for performances.Byerly's theme is Colossians 3:16: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”Church musicians are excited about the new addition to the church's worship.Saxonburg resident Nick Depew, an eight-year percussionist, has played drums in the praise band since 2016.At his first practice with Byerly, Depew said he is open to the new musical direction and change of pace.Music is his favorite part of the church.“Music speaks to people,” Depew said. “You can see it when you're on the stage during certain songs...It's special as a musician to be able to see that firsthand.”Sarver resident Heather Check has been a choir member for more than 20 years and joined the praise band two years ago as a vocalist.“Choir has been a little more traditional church music. I like the praise band because it's a little more contemporary and has more musicians and instrumentalists,” Check said. “If you're not getting a message from the minister speaking, a lot of times a message can be given through music. Some things can affect you through music that maybe words couldn't.”Check said she hopes the church can grow its membership in the congregation and participation in the music ministry and extend a reach further into the community.“I think Dan's done a great job,” she said. “It's nice to get another perspective.”
- Graduated from Sharon High School and went on to pursue further musical training at Grove City College, where he studied piano and organ.Studied under Metropolitan Opera tenor Francisco Casanova and performed in venues at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kaufman Music Center, and The DiMenna Center for Classical Music.- Performed principal roles in operatic works by Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Bizet and Johann Strauss, among others. Concert and oratorio appearances have included songs from Faure's “Shylock Suite” with New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, and Handel's “Messiah” in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, where he performed with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.- Sang in languages including Italian, French, German, and Japanese.- Led church music programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than a decade, most recently at New Providence Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. He has also served at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Short Hills, N.J., Covenant Presbyterian in Sharon and Bethlehem Presbyterian in Sharon.- Directed repertoire that has included individual and major works — from Handel to Vaughan Williams, Tallis to Rutter — in a wide variety of settings ranging from small a cappella vocal ensembles to a 60-voice chorus with full orchestra. He has also worked with bands to lead modern worship music.- Encourages healthy singing of a Christian congregation, which is his first priority. In addition to leading hymn sings and cultivating a catalog of high-quality hymns, songs, and spiritual songs, he has written several new hymns and other music for worship.
If you are interested in joining a church with a praise band and choir, email Dan Byerly at smpcmusic@zoominternet.net or call the Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church at 724-352-2888. The praise band practices at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and the choir practices at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
