Worship & Music (BA)
Prepare to lead worship in any context. Develop your skills in songwriting, worship band arrangement, and a variety of music genres.
Why Worship & Music?
A Worship & Music degree prepares students for worship ministry in the church with an excellent music and a gospel-centered theological education. Students learn to lead worship in multiple contexts within the evangelical church. With an emphasis on technology and production, students are prepared for internships in a variety of positions and organizations, including local churches, conferences, and camps.
Worship & Music at Cairn
Biblical Integration
Grow under gospel-centered theological training.
Experienced Faculty
Learn from faculty members and instructors who are local worship leaders.
Campus Locatin
Take part in the vibrant music cultures of Philadelphia (30 minutes away) and NYC (just over an hour away).
Hands-On Education
Perform with University ensembles like the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chorale, and Opera Theater.
Campus Community
Take part in a variety of opportunities to minister through music, including worship with the student body, campus worship bands, or trips to other states and countries through University touring ensembles.
more Details
Get an inside look at our Worship & Music Program
There are over 70 unique programs at Cairn to choose from! Not sure if this is the best program for you? Here are some more details to help you decide.
Required Credits: 120
Curriculum Highlights:
- MUS 315 History of Popular Music
- MUS 325 Church Music Production
- MUS Music Survey
- MUS 316 World Music/Ethnomus
- MUS Music Theory
Worship Leaders
Church Music Coordinator
Music Directors
Choral Conductors
Variety of Graduate Studies
Connect With Us
An Affordable Education
While the cost of a Cairn University education is competitive with similar institutions, we realize you may need financial assistance to take this journey. You are not alone. 97% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.
Meet Our Faculty
Graeme Burgan
Adjunct Faculty, School of Music
Graeme Burgan has appeared in concert halls across his homeland of Australia and the United States including the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, the Andrea Clearfield Salon, the Melbourne Recital Center, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Sound All Around program.
Graeme has collaborated with singers Alan Held, Serena Benedetti, Suzanne Kompass, and Justin Guarini; with composers Sean O’Boyle, Rollo Dilworth, and Morten Lauridsen; and four Australia-wide tours with percussion virtuoso Nick Parnell. As a performer and repetiteur, Graeme has worked with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, New Jersey Chamber Orchestra, Bucks County Playhouse, State Opera of South Australia, Cairn University, University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and the Westminster Opera Theater. As a chorister, Graeme has performed with the Adelaide Chamber Singers, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Westminster Symphonic Choir, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.
Graeme is the Executive Director of Csehy Summer School of Music and serves on the music faculty of Cairn University, with previous teaching appointments at Moravian College, Tabor Adelaide, and Adelaide College of Ministries. He earned a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College in Piano Accompanying and Vocal Coaching and an Associate Diploma of Music in Piano Performance from the Australian Music Examinations Board. Additionally, he holds a Master of Science in Biblical Studies from Cairn University, and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide.
Deion Payton
Director, Gospel Choir
Deion Payton is a native of Boston, MA, and grew up in Philadelphia, PA. He began singing at the age of four and continued, on to study at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts as a Vocal Major. While attending CAPA, he was afforded the opportunity to perform in such venues as The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Academy of Music and a host of other prestigious organizations. He has shared the stage with artists such as Paul Simon, Mali Music, Nick Jonas, Ruth Naomi Floyd, Jabari Johnson and Myron Butler among many others. He has even performed in the presence of former President, Barack Obama.
He studied at Cairn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in voice. While at Cairn, Deion restored and led the Cairn Gospel Choir. Now an accredited course, Deion serves on Faculty as Director for the Gospel Choir. During his college career while singing and touring both in Europe and Hong Kong, Deion was afforded the opportunity to go into the schools and share on the origin and practice of Gospel Music and the technique of Gospel Singing.
Deion is most known for his distinguished ability to effortlessly sing many diverse genres. Committed to being a well-rounded musician and vocalist, Deion has studied intensely both African American Gospel Music and European Classical Music. He has done master classes with World Class Verdi Soprano, Sharon Sweet as well as other up and coming Opera Stars such as Sarah Shafer, Paul An and many others. As a teaching artist, Deion has taught pre-school to 12th grade in his career. Currently, he serves as Community Special Projects Manager for the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
What Our Students Have To Say
Eme Eskaros
One of my favorite parts about being a Worship & Music major at Cairn was how holistic and comprehensive my education was. Not only did I receive incredible technical training as a musician, my philosophy and theology as it pertains to the arts and worship was challenged and grown immensely. I also loved that this program equipped and encouraged me to use jazz, which is my ‘heart music’ as my offering of worship.
