Artist In Residence Coming in October

Thanks to generous contributions to the Worship and Arts fund, the Worship Board has invited musician and composer, A.J. Bodnar to be our Artist in Residence at Union Church during the month of October. He will be participating in worship services, conversations on artistic-spiritual expression, and maybe even helping some of you write and compose from your own sense of Spirit.

A.J. Bodnar began playing piano at the age of six.  He has dedicated his life to the study of all types of music, resulting in a totally eclectic approach.  Along the way, he has picked up the accordion, the synthesizer, percussion instruments, and four years ago, the melodica.  His album Melodicism is a  CD of folk, classical, jazz, and original pieces, all played on the melodica.  A.J. has been on the faculty of Common Ground on the Hill for fourteen years, where he teaches a variety of courses, including Rise Up Singing with his partner, spouse, and good friend, Liza DiSavino.  They were awarded a research fellowship from the Berea Archives and are recipients of a grant from the Puffin Foundation. Together they have released four albums.  They are also founding members of the Illegal Contraband. A.J. accompanies classes for the dance department at Berea College, and the Berea Country Dancers.  He is the composer of Holy Women, Holy Men,  which he has gifted to the Union Church community.