The mission of the music ministry at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music and song. With a philosophy of “ministering to the congregation” rather than performing for the congregation, the musicians of the La Casa music program enrich our weekly worship services. The music ministry at La Casa focuses on providing opportunities for all musicians who desire to be a part of the music ministry regardless of experience, age, or talent without compromising the standard to offer excellent, high quality music in our worship services and for our congregation.

Please take a few moments and look through the information contained on the Music website. If you have any questions, would like additional information, or if you are interested in joining one of more of our groups, please contact the music department at 480-948-1234.  A world of great music, great friends, great worship, and great fun awaits you! We hope to have you with us soon.

Meet our Music Staff

Jennaya Robison, Director of Music
Dr. Homer Ashton Ferguson III, Organist and Handbell Director
Jaque Marum, Assistant Director of Music
David Cross, Assistant Director of Music
Brian Anderson, Band of Believers
Pat Mersiowsky, Grace Notes Director

Jennaya Robison, Director of Music, conducts the Sanctuary Choir, Cancion de Cristo, Celebration Choir, Exultation Choir, and String Ensemble. She also selects hymnody and helps coordinate worship services for every weekend. She is in demand as a conductor, clinician, and soprano throughout Arizona and the United States. She has held faculty and teaching positions at the University of Arizona, Luther College, and the University of New Mexico. She has conducted orchestras at the University of Arizona, Luther College, and as well as community orchestras in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. She has been the conductor for the Collegium Musicum of the University of Arizona as well as the University Singers, Kantorei, and Honor Choir of the University of New Mexico. She was honored to prepare and conduct the Arizona Choir, the premiere choral ensemble at the University of Arizona, in concert and rehearsal. In addition to her duties at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran, she is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Scottsdale Musical Arts including the Scottsdale Arts Orchestra, Scottsdale Choral Artists, and Scottsdale Children’s Choirs. As a soprano, she has been sung the Scottsdale Symphony, St. Andrews Bach Society, Tucson Masterworks Chorale, University of Arizona Choirs and Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Choral Arts, Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, Luther College Symphony Orchestra and has held leading roles in operas in Iowa and New Mexico. Most recently she performed the Joshua Rifkin edition of the Bach Mass in b minor. Her performance with Steven Moeckel, concertmaster for the Phoenix Symphony, was heralded as "brilliant coloratura" by the Tucson daily star. She has sung as a member of the Dale Warland Singers in Minneapolis, Minnesota under the direction of Dale Warland, Las Cantantes under the direction of Bradley Ellingboe, and in the Nordic Choir of Luther College under the direction of Weston Noble as well as performing with the Des Moines Symphony, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Her primary area of research is in the field of vocal health within the choral ensemble. Her dissertation topic includes the use of choral pivoting to alleviate tension due to high and low tessitura in the choral ensemble. The choral music of the Swiss composer, Frank Martin, is the focus of her research. Her teachers include Bruce Chamberlain, Elizabeth Schauer, Weston Noble, Bradley Ellingboe, Timothy Peter, Richard Nace, Kristin Dauphinais, and Mary Kay Schmidt. She a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance and Music Education Luther College, Master of Music in Conducting and Voice Performance from the University of New Mexico, and is ABD for the Doctor of Music Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and Chorus America. She resides in Phoenix with her husband, Brett (who is Director of Music and Arts at another church in the valley)and have three children, Elise, Grace, and Benjamin.
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Dr. Homer Ashton Ferguson III, Organist and Handbell Director, a native of Belleville, Illinois, began studying piano at age five with Mrs. Peggy Shaw and was very active in the music program during grade school and junior high. He went on to study with Mr. Glenn Freiner, former professor of music at McKendree College, who introduced Homer to the organ. The passion for the instrument was immediate and upon enrolling at Illinois College in the fall of 1996, Homer furthered his skill, technique, and passion for the organ under the direction of Dr. Rudolf Zuiderveld. In the summer of 1998 Homer went on an organ study trip to Holland, Germany, and Belgium, when he gave his first international performance in Leens, Netherlands. While at Illinois College, Homer also studied piano and conducting with Dr. Garrett Allman. His many achievements while at Illinois College include serving as co-editor of The Rambler, awarded the McGaw Citation in the Fine Arts, the Sturtevant Leadership Award, the Ruth Bellatti Music Scholarship, and listed in the 2000 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Dr. Ferguson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in music and a minor in Political Science, in May 2000. In the summer of 2000, Homer moved to Arizona to pursue his Master of Music degree in Organ Performance at Arizona State University under the tutelage of Dr. Kimberly Marshall, director of Organ Studies and the School of Music. In May, 2002, he received the Master of Music degree from Arizona State University and continued his studies until being awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in May, 2008. His dissertation, John Brombaugh: America’s Master Organ Builder has received wide critical acclaim by those in the field of organ scholarship. While at ASU Homer was the recipient of the Wurzburger Organ Scholarship, the Arizona Regent's Music Award, and the Graduate College Award. An active performer and recitalist Homer has also played with the Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra, the Tempe Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and has been broadcast on KBAQ. In the spring of 2004 Homer was invited to teach at Illinois College as the sabbatical replacement for Dr. Zuiderveld where he served as Full-time Instructor of Music and College Organist. Professionally, Homer has served churches in several denominations including The United Church of Christ, The Presbyterian Church (USA), The Episcopal Church, The United Methodist Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Homer’s most recent call was as the Music Associate and Organist at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix, since November, 2002. Homer has previously served on the teaching faculty of Arizona State University, and is also the organist for the Mater Misericordiae Latin Mass Mission Parish for the Arizona Diocese. Additionally, Dr. Ferguson serves as the Dean of the Central Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and is the Co-Coordinator for the Region IX 2009 Festival to be held in Phoenix in June 2009. Homer is also an active Realtor® with West USA Realty.
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Jaque Marum, Assistant Director of Music, directs our music for the contemporary worship services including being a worship leader and conducting our contemporary choir. She also serves as the director of our Jubilation Choir for children grades 4-6. She is a native of North Dakota. After After graduating from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota with a degree in Music Education, she moved to Arizona to begin her teaching career. Jaque's first five years of teaching were at the elementary level in the Scottsdale Unified School District. During this time, she earned her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. In the fall of 2000, Jaque began teaching choir and music theory at Horizon High School in the Paradise Valley School District. Also in the year 2000, Jaque began conducting with Phoenix Children's Chorus as the Prep and Cadet Director. Mrs. Marum became Director of the Phoenix Children's Chorus Encore and Cadet Choirs in the fall of 2002. In July 2004, Encore earned a Silver Medal in international competition in Bremen, Germany. In addition, she has served as a clinician for several choral festivals. She is also an active member of American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. Mrs. Marum and her husband, Robert, have three children, Aria,Tye, and Emerson.
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David Cross, Assistant Director of Music, is the director of our Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Pianist/Keyboardist for the contemporary worship services, and Associate Organist. David is also a former Paradise Valley School District Band Teacher, currently employed as a P.E. teacher. His wife, Kristen Cross, is the Director of our Nursery Ministry at La Casa.
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Brian Anderson is one of our worship leaders for the 10:30am Contemporary Worship Service. Brian is also active as a worship & small group leader and for our high school and junior high Sunday School as well as "490" on Wednesday nights. In his spare time during the week he also teaches 5th & 6th grade students at Foothills Elementary School. Brian's wife, Amy Anderson, is the Associate Youth Director at La Casa and they are excited to be expecting their first child in January 2010.

Pat Mersiowsky, Grace Notes Director
Pat Mersiowsky is the Grace Notes director, the church’s choir for four and five-year olds. She has held this position since January, 2006, and considers it an honor and privilege to serve as part of the musical family at La Casa de Cristo. She has had a life-long love of music, playing five instruments as a girl, and being part of a musical family that entertained at churches, retirement homes and schools throughout her childhood. She married Andy in 1994 and together they raise Clara (10), Ralph (8), George (6), and Millie(4). Not only have all four of her children been a part of Grace Notes, but they have all attended La Casa de Cristo Christian Preschool. Pat is competently assisted by Brenda Digati. She is accompanied by pianist Heidi Derbak, who started the Grace Notes choir program 19 years ago.