Profile

Heike Burghart Rice, Minister of Music

Amongst music or musicians I have experienced some of the most profound moments of my faith journey. At Woodbrook we use music to convey truths about God, to set the scene for the narrative, as a vehicle of our expressions towards God and each other, as a means of catharsis, as a teaching tool for young and old, for comfort and joy, or just for fun. Music plays an important role in the Sunday morning worship service, but is also an integral part of our gatherings throughout the week. Whatever your age or station in life, whether you sing, play, dance, or just like to observe, there is a place for you within the Music Ministry at Woodbrook.
—Heike

Heike Burghart Rice
Heike Burghart Rice is interested in music that informs Christian worship in novel and thoughtful ways. Born in Germany, Heike grew up in Wisconsin and Iowa with her five siblings. She studied organ with Roberta Gary at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she received her M.M. in Organ Performance, and with Richard Stewart at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her husband, Steven Rice, works as a composer and has contributed selections to the Sanctuary Choir's repertoire. They have a young daughter who does not yet contribute to the music at Woodbrook.

Heike has a special interest in teaching music to young children. She has been certified to teach all levels of the Musikgarten curricula and has achieved a Level I certification with the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association. She enjoys sharing her love of music with the church's littlest worshippers during Sunday Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, Musikgarten classes, and for special programs.

Along with playing the organ or piano in worship, Heike directs the Sanctuary Choir, Praise Band, Youth Choir, and Children's Choir. Heike, John, and Greg work closely to intentionally knit together the different components of a worship service at Woodbrook. The music, like the congregation, is eclectic, changing in style and emotional content in response to the scripture each week. From week to week, or even in the same service, music can be of a christian contemporary praise band, the classical Baroque, traditional Baptist hymns, or classical modernism. In short, the music ranges from Johann Sebastian Bach to Peter Maxwell Davies, from Isaac Watts to Darlene Zschech, molded into a coherent whole.