Class Year: Senior

Major(s): Entrepreneurship

Minor(s): Music

I have been playing piano in a worship context since I was 15, and I have loved every minute of it! Being able to share the gifts that the Lord has given me with His church is a blessing to me. I cherish any opportunity to work with the local Church, and am always willing to help out when I'm needed! I am classically trained in piano but also have experience in contemporary worship styles (keys, pad, etc.)

Class Year: Senior

Major(s): Violin Performance and Piano Performance with Pedagogy, University Fellow

Minor(s): Unofficially, dance!

I am a violinist, pianist, and dancer from Helena, AL. I perform frequently as a soloist and orchestrally, and I founded and direct a string quartet, the Candy Crush Quartet, which specializes in arts education and children’s ministry concerts but has also been featured with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and other organizations throughout the region. I love playing classical music, but there is something so special about using my passion for worship! I have served on Animate student staff through Samford CWA and on the Samford Worship Collective team throughout my Samford journey, and I am also a local representative in the Miss America Organization, holding the titles of Miss Jubilee 2025 and Miss Iron City 2026, utilizing these roles to help equip students to use their artistic skills for their churches and communities.

Class Year: Junior

Major(s): Human Development and Family Science with a Fast Track for Clinical Social Work

Minor(s): N/A

Hi! I’m Claire Gann, and music has been my lifelong passion. I started my worship leading journey at church and in high school, where I led the Praise and Worship team each week. In college, I joined the Samford Worship Collective, a discipleship-based worship group, where I’ve served for two years and am entering my third as a team captain. In this role, I help plan and facilitate worship rehearsals and services. I have also lead worship in Dawson Memorial Baptist Church’s middle school ministry. As a leader, my favorite sound is a congregation, lifting unfettered praise to God and I strive to be the kind of leader that encourages unified praise.

Class Year: Graduate

Major(s): Composition undergraduate (vocal)

Minor(s): Music Education graduate (instrumental)

Musician and content creator with experience in multiple areas including vocal, composition, video, photo, lighting, sound, and instrumental. I’m passionate about music, production, and teaching and how I can incorporate them into worship.

Class Year: Senior

Major(s): Psychology

Minor(s): Music (Voice)

I have been involved in worship leading since I was in middle school, and that has given me a deep passion for worship and sharing the Gospel through music. I led worship for my church's youth group and main congregation by singing and playing piano; I also sang in choir in school for seven years. These experiences led me to study voice at the collegiate level. I am now a fourth-year member of Samford's A Cappella Choir, which has added to my choral singing experience. I care very much about both band-led contemporary worship and choral worship.

Class Year: Senior

Major(s): Vocal Performance

Minor(s): none

My passion for music stared when I was a kid. Growing up, my family would always encourage my passion for music through singing. As I got older, I began leading worship at my home church, both for the youth and main services. At Samford, while my primary focus has been on classical vocal performance, I have continued to serve my local church through worship leadership. I am a big advocate for music as a means of communication, and I believe that worship is such a beautiful picture of how every person can uniquely communicate with our Creator.

Class Year: Senior

Major(s): English

Minor(s): Music, Biblical Studies

I have been playing the keyboard in various worship settings since I was 15, and in the past few years I've started playing the flute in worship too -sometimes in feature pieces and sometimes just as background. Music is an incredible gift that connects people to each other and to God, and I am passionate about using it for His glory in any way I can!

Class Year: Senior

Major(s): Worship Leadership, Songwriting Concentration

At sixteen, I felt God’s call to ministry and have since trained in faith and the arts to serve effectively. I have three years experience conducting church choirs and orchestras and seven years leading worship team rehearsals. My primary instruments are voice and percussion, and I lead worship with piano and guitar. I am an experienced songwriter and have basic skills in production and live mixing. Passionate about equipping the church to glorify God, I find so much joy in making music with fellow believers! I currently serve as a Music & Worship Associate at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.