The School of Worship Band

The School of Worship Band plays in Colonial Beach on Jan. 26

Date published: 1/20/2011

By ANDREW LEAHEY

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Before settling in Garden Valley, Texas, Cody Merrill moved around a lot as a child.

"Growing up," he said during a recent phone call with Weekender, "it was normal not to think of home as being in one place That's just how it was."

But there was to be a local Virginia stop that would prove pivotal. Merrill's family relocated to King George County during his late teens. He attended King George High School on a part-time basis, and satisfied the rest of his education requirements through homeschooling.

Meanwhile, he dedicated ample time to two of his biggest passions: faith and music.

Merrill showed promise as a jazz musician. He studied under Doug Gately, the University of Mary Washington's director of jazz studies, and played in a jazz combo at school.

When his local church lost its piano player, however, Merrill volunteered to fill the empty spot. Applying what he'd learned on the jazz horn to his new instrument, he quickly became a skilled pianist.

Merrill now plays piano and keyboards for the School of Worship Band, a nationally recognized Christian rock group operating under the umbrella of Teen Mania Ministries.

Although based in Texas, the band also boasts another Virginia native, vocalist Dani Rocca.

"School of Worship isn't just a band," said Rocca, fielding a phone call last Thursday while packing her bags for the group's three-month tour.

They'll be in Virginia next week, performing at New Life Ministries on Jan. 26, before heading south to play Richmond's Acquire the Fire, a teen-oriented event that combines the entertainment of a Christian rock concert with the sermon-like instruction of a church service.

"School of Worship is also a program that raises up worship leaders and musicians," Rocca went on. "The whole point is to connect with a younger generation, to give them the tools to reach out to other people through music and worship.

"It's a three-year program that teaches you how to lead, how to be part of a band, how to mobilize yourself and teach others how to lead worship."

Merrill puts it in simpler terms.

"It's a school, it's a program and it's a band that travels around, leading people into the presence of God. It's a wide, diverse thing." he said.

Casey Flores, a former Teen Mania Ministries intern, is handling logistics for the School of Worship Band's performance at New Life Ministries in Colonial Beach.

"This is big," he exclaimed. "Our church is growing--we just got a new sanctuary--and the musicians in School of Worship are my friends.

"The Bible says that if you draw near to God, he will draw near to you, and one of the ways you do that is through worship. At this worship concert, it's going to be a time when God is going to move."

For people like Merrill and Rocca, though, the Virginia performances also represent a homecoming of sorts.

"We get the opportunity to lead worship at my church after the Richmond event," Rocca said, "so that's really great. Now, people I haven't seen in a while can see what I've done and what the Lord is doing."

Andrew Leahey writes exclusive stories for Weekender, and is an associate editor at allmusic.com. - The Free Lance-Star

The School of Worship Band plays in Colonial Beach on Jan. 26

Date published: 1/20/2011

By ANDREW LEAHEY

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Before settling in Garden Valley, Texas, Cody Merrill moved around a lot as a child.

"Growing up," he said during a recent phone call with Weekender, "it was normal not to think of home as being in one place That's just how it was."

But there was to be a local Virginia stop that would prove pivotal. Merrill's family relocated to King George County during his late teens. He attended King George High School on a part-time basis, and satisfied the rest of his education requirements through homeschooling.

Meanwhile, he dedicated ample time to two of his biggest passions: faith and music.

Merrill showed promise as a jazz musician. He studied under Doug Gately, the University of Mary Washington's director of jazz studies, and played in a jazz combo at school.

When his local church lost its piano player, however, Merrill volunteered to fill the empty spot. Applying what he'd learned on the jazz horn to his new instrument, he quickly became a skilled pianist.

Merrill now plays piano and keyboards for the School of Worship Band, a nationally recognized Christian rock group operating under the umbrella of Teen Mania Ministries.

Although based in Texas, the band also boasts another Virginia native, vocalist Dani Rocca.

"School of Worship isn't just a band," said Rocca, fielding a phone call last Thursday while packing her bags for the group's three-month tour.

They'll be in Virginia next week, performing at New Life Ministries on Jan. 26, before heading south to play Richmond's Acquire the Fire, a teen-oriented event that combines the entertainment of a Christian rock concert with the sermon-like instruction of a church service.

"School of Worship is also a program that raises up worship leaders and musicians," Rocca went on. "The whole point is to connect with a younger generation, to give them the tools to reach out to other people through music and worship.

"It's a three-year program that teaches you how to lead, how to be part of a band, how to mobilize yourself and teach others how to lead worship."

Merrill puts it in simpler terms.

"It's a school, it's a program and it's a band that travels around, leading people into the presence of God. It's a wide, diverse thing." he said.

Casey Flores, a former Teen Mania Ministries intern, is handling logistics for the School of Worship Band's performance at New Life Ministries in Colonial Beach.

"This is big," he exclaimed. "Our church is growing--we just got a new sanctuary--and the musicians in School of Worship are my friends.

"The Bible says that if you draw near to God, he will draw near to you, and one of the ways you do that is through worship. At this worship concert, it's going to be a time when God is going to move."

For people like Merrill and Rocca, though, the Virginia performances also represent a homecoming of sorts.

"We get the opportunity to lead worship at my church after the Richmond event," Rocca said, "so that's really great. Now, people I haven't seen in a while can see what I've done and what the Lord is doing."

Andrew Leahey writes exclusive stories for Weekender, and is an associate editor at allmusic.com. - The Free Lance-Star

The School of Worship Band plays in Colonial Beach on Jan. 26

Date published: 1/20/2011

By ANDREW LEAHEY

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Before settling in Garden Valley, Texas, Cody Merrill moved around a lot as a child.

"Growing up," he said during a recent phone call with Weekender, "it was normal not to think of home as being in one place That's just how it was."

But there was to be a local Virginia stop that would prove pivotal. Merrill's family relocated to King George County during his late teens. He attended King George High School on a part-time basis, and satisfied the rest of his education requirements through homeschooling.

Meanwhile, he dedicated ample time to two of his biggest passions: faith and music.

Merrill showed promise as a jazz musician. He studied under Doug Gately, the University of Mary Washington's director of jazz studies, and played in a jazz combo at school.

When his local church lost its piano player, however, Merrill volunteered to fill the empty spot. Applying what he'd learned on the jazz horn to his new instrument, he quickly became a skilled pianist.

Merrill now plays piano and keyboards for the School of Worship Band, a nationally recognized Christian rock group operating under the umbrella of Teen Mania Ministries.

Although based in Texas, the band also boasts another Virginia native, vocalist Dani Rocca.

"School of Worship isn't just a band," said Rocca, fielding a phone call last Thursday while packing her bags for the group's three-month tour.

They'll be in Virginia next week, performing at New Life Ministries on Jan. 26, before heading south to play Richmond's Acquire the Fire, a teen-oriented event that combines the entertainment of a Christian rock concert with the sermon-like instruction of a church service.

"School of Worship is also a program that raises up worship leaders and musicians," Rocca went on. "The whole point is to connect with a younger generation, to give them the tools to reach out to other people through music and worship.

"It's a three-year program that teaches you how to lead, how to be part of a band, how to mobilize yourself and teach others how to lead worship."

Merrill puts it in simpler terms.

"It's a school, it's a program and it's a band that travels around, leading people into the presence of God. It's a wide, diverse thing." he said.

Casey Flores, a former Teen Mania Ministries intern, is handling logistics for the School of Worship Band's performance at New Life Ministries in Colonial Beach.

"This is big," he exclaimed. "Our church is growing--we just got a new sanctuary--and the musicians in School of Worship are my friends.

"The Bible says that if you draw near to God, he will draw near to you, and one of the ways you do that is through worship. At this worship concert, it's going to be a time when God is going to move."

For people like Merrill and Rocca, though, the Virginia performances also represent a homecoming of sorts.

"We get the opportunity to lead worship at my church after the Richmond event," Rocca said, "so that's really great. Now, people I haven't seen in a while can see what I've done and what the Lord is doing."

Andrew Leahey writes exclusive stories for Weekender, and is an associate editor at allmusic.com. - The Free Lance-Star

The School of Worship Band plays in Colonial Beach on Jan. 26

Date published: 1/20/2011

By ANDREW LEAHEY

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Before settling in Garden Valley, Texas, Cody Merrill moved around a lot as a child.

"Growing up," he said during a recent phone call with Weekender, "it was normal not to think of home as being in one place That's just how it was."

But there was to be a local Virginia stop that would prove pivotal. Merrill's family relocated to King George County during his late teens. He attended King George High School on a part-time basis, and satisfied the rest of his education requirements through homeschooling.

Meanwhile, he dedicated ample time to two of his biggest passions: faith and music.

Merrill showed promise as a jazz musician. He studied under Doug Gately, the University of Mary Washington's director of jazz studies, and played in a jazz combo at school.

When his local church lost its piano player, however, Merrill volunteered to fill the empty spot. Applying what he'd learned on the jazz horn to his new instrument, he quickly became a skilled pianist.

Merrill now plays piano and keyboards for the School of Worship Band, a nationally recognized Christian rock group operating under the umbrella of Teen Mania Ministries.

Although based in Texas, the band also boasts another Virginia native, vocalist Dani Rocca.

"School of Worship isn't just a band," said Rocca, fielding a phone call last Thursday while packing her bags for the group's three-month tour.

They'll be in Virginia next week, performing at New Life Ministries on Jan. 26, before heading south to play Richmond's Acquire the Fire, a teen-oriented event that combines the entertainment of a Christian rock concert with the sermon-like instruction of a church service.

"School of Worship is also a program that raises up worship leaders and musicians," Rocca went on. "The whole point is to connect with a younger generation, to give them the tools to reach out to other people through music and worship.

"It's a three-year program that teaches you how to lead, how to be part of a band, how to mobilize yourself and teach others how to lead worship."

Merrill puts it in simpler terms.

"It's a school, it's a program and it's a band that travels around, leading people into the presence of God. It's a wide, diverse thing." he said.

Casey Flores, a former Teen Mania Ministries intern, is handling logistics for the School of Worship Band's performance at New Life Ministries in Colonial Beach.

"This is big," he exclaimed. "Our church is growing--we just got a new sanctuary--and the musicians in School of Worship are my friends.

"The Bible says that if you draw near to God, he will draw near to you, and one of the ways you do that is through worship. At this worship concert, it's going to be a time when God is going to move."

For people like Merrill and Rocca, though, the Virginia performances also represent a homecoming of sorts.

"We get the opportunity to lead worship at my church after the Richmond event," Rocca said, "so that's really great. Now, people I haven't seen in a while can see what I've done and what the Lord is doing."

Andrew Leahey writes exclusive stories for Weekender, and is an associate editor at allmusic.com. - The Free Lance-Star