Church Pianist & Worship Accompanist
Home-grown
Traditional to Modern
Brian grew up in the church, singing and playing hymns from the hymnal. After getting his education in music, he joined a music staff where he led instrumental and vocal ensembles from the piano every week, arranging, orchestrating, and charting for the volunteer musicians. With 15 years of full time church music ministry under his belt, Brian knows a thing or two about how to play in a traditional worship service, or lead from the music director (MD) position in a modern church context. From accompanying a choir to playing with tracks with in-ear monitors, Brian's style is confident, congregation-focused, and provides a creative musical support system for the vocal teams.
Brian's current church home is The Summit Church in Raleigh, and serves from the piano about once per month. Brian has played at other churches in the Raleigh area including Richland Creek Community Church, Good Hope Baptist Church in Cary, North Haven Church, and Macedonia Baptist Church in Cary.
“Brian caries himself with a soft and gentle demeanor that makes him a joy to work with. He is collaborative, humble, and encouraging, creating an atmosphere where others can thrive musically with confidence. ” - Scarlett Stowe
FAQ for Church Music
Every church is different. Each church has its own worship vocabulary, stylistic preferences, and tendencies, often built around the skills of their leadership and volunteer musicians. Adding another musician to the mix could upset that delicate balance. To level-set on my experience and skill sets, please reference this FAQ to get an idea of what I can provide for your church from a worship leadership perspective.
What is your pricing structure?
Church services are structured differently than private events. Pricing reflects rehearsal time, number of services, mid-week participation, and any special musical preparation required. That said, oftentimes churches have set budgets for what they can pay. Please reach out and I'm sure we can negotiate a fee that is acceptable to all.
Can you play as a rehearsal pianist for our choir?
Yes, but I am far more skilled at accompanying gospel or contemporary choir styles over pounding out parts for a Rutter excerpt.
Are you comfortable leading rehearsal if needed?
Yes. I did this for a living for 15 years and I am very comfortable leading a band or a vocal ensemble.
We use Planning Center. Should we send an invite through that service?
Planning Center is a great service and I currently have four churches linked in my Planning Center account. If you want to add me, let me send you the email address I use for that service.
We use in-ear monitors. Are you comfortable with click tracks?
I have my own Shure professional IEMs and I think playing to click with or without a guide and tracks is a great way to keep everyone together, transition cleanly from song to song, and build confidence among band members and the vocal team.
Are you comfortable playing from chord charts and Nashville numbers?
Chord charts and leadsheets, such as PraiseCharts scores are my favorite. I am also able to play from the Nashville Number System.
Are you comfortable starting songs if we put a computer with Ableton Live next to the keyboard?
Yes, as long as the service order is clear and the songs are cued up in order, I’m comfortable advancing from track to track. In addition, I can help with other musicians in a music director role with a live mic routed to the musician’s in-ears.
Can you “noodle?”
Some churches depend on the keyboard player to transition and provide improvised underscore material while other spoken events are happening in a service. I am very comfortable with this and adjust my playing based on the context of the spoken word.
Can you use MainStage or Sunday Keys?
I have played keyboards in worship and performance settings using both of these tools. In fact, I program my Korg nanoKontrol mixer with MainStage for live performances when I play with Forever Motown.
Can you play the B-3?
Yes. I love the unique contribution of the Hammond B-3, particularly when paired with a Leslie speaker cabinet.
“[Brian] is highly proficient and would be a strong asset to churches looking for a confident, capable pianist with a creative edge.” - Phil Simmons
During the pandemic, many churches moved to online streaming for their services. At the summit, music teams took turns producing the worship content of the streaming broadcast. Below is one such service where you can get a chance to hear Brian's musical contribution to the worship band.