Local composer to premiere Good Friday work at Altadena Baptist Church

Glenn R. Molina, Director of Worship Arts at Altadena Baptist Church and emerging composer of contemporary church music, will lead the church's choir, musicians, soloists and visual artists in the first performance of his original composition Stations: The Way of the Cross, on Good Friday, April 22, beginning at 7 PM, in the church sanctuary, at 791 East Calaveras Street, Altadena.   This meditative experience of Jesus' suffering and death by crucifixion will be open to the public and free of charge.

Molina, with his wife and two foster children, is an Altadena resident.   He studied music at Azusa Pacific University and Cal State University Los Angeles.   In 2005 he began his studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, collaborating with the seminary’s Brehm Center and graduating in 2009 with a Master of Arts degree in Worship, Theology and the Arts.   As part of his degree work, he took many musical spiritual themes he had developed over the previous years and wove them into what became Stations.   

In his work, Molina strives to bring together classical and contemporary elements, liturgical traditions and modern worship music.   His major inspirations are very diverse, ranging from Handel's Messiah to John Williams’ motif-driven scores for films such as the Star Wars and the Indiana Jones sagas.  Clearly influenced by the ancient practice of praying before the “Stations of the Cross,” he tries to reintroduce this experience to modern Americans, who may have lost meditative skills because of their over-stimulation by all sorts of media.

Among the featured musicians will be oboe player Amanda Domen; soloists Robert DeVaughn, Bill Fiala, Ruthi Hoffman Hanchett, Brenda Mitchell and Amy Gustafson Oden.  Local artists Matt Lumpkin and Sarah Fiala will provide real-time visual art interpretations accompanying the music.