Carolyn J. Anderson is a third-generation educator, a proud descendent of a dynasty of very skilled women who dedicated their lives to teaching and improving educational opportunities for the disadvantaged.  Carolyn has led a very full life of assisting many churches and universities in the area of transformation, transitions, creating, and defining visions that support the development of ministry, especially in the arena of music and arts.  She has experienced much success working intimately with laity, ministers, and professors.

 

Carolyn is a three-time Grammy nominee, gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter, arranger, and producer. She has designed and implemented many projects through the years, including mini-plays and musicals such as “The Summer of 1964” - created for the Hannah Project in Marin City, CA.  She received the honor of serving as a Master Teacher across much of the United States, South Africa, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Taipei.  Her most recent experience was in Marseille, France where she toured as a gospel Master Teacher in December 2019.  She also hosted the Paris/Marseille Choir as they toured the Bay Area in California, just before the onslaught of COVID-19.  Her musical style cleverly combines elements of progressive jazz, rhythm and blues, pop, and even rock, and at the same time walks a fine line between her traditional roots in classical music and her very firm traditional grassroots in gospel music.

 

Carolyn has written the theme songs for many retreats, churches, and conferences throughout her lifetime, which included serving as Minister of Music and Arts for the “Youth Department of the Interstate of the Church of God” for fifteen years, traveling to five states many times each year, instructing, writing and arranging the musical themes that culminated each year in a week-long conference and concert.  Her choirs averaged between 100-250 youth who now serve in many musical genres and multiple forms of ministry across America.  She has been blessed to host such musical guests as Joy Simpson; Danniebelle Hall, who sang with Andre Crouch; Rev. Isaiah Jones - a prolific songwriter; opened for John P. Key; Shirley Caesar; toured with Lyle Lovett; was director and arranger for the very first album project produced behind the gates of the San Quentin Prison, in collaboration with Mickey Hart of the “Grateful Dead” and his then manager, Camaron Sears.  Carolyn was the invited musical guest for a number of years at the Montreat Youth Conference which hosts sometimes as many as 1,200 youths annually each week for two weeks.  Carolyn directed the largest choir in the history of Montreat with 350 singers ranging in all ages, and it was said that they received the largest offering ever at any conference at Montreat.

 

Carolyn is a practicing spiritual director and a member of the Network of Spiritual Directors at the San Francisco Theological Seminary.  She has also completed her Chaplaincy training with a specialization in Hospice Care, and is presently attending the certificated music practicum program: Music for Healing and Transition (MHTP), and desires to create an intersection of musical arts, spiritual direction,  and chaplaincy in a more profound way.  

 

Carolyn has served as an adjunct college professor and as a substitute teacher in the public school system.  She is a member of Spiritual Director International and the Spiritual Directors of Color Network, both national and international professional organizations, as well as The College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy.

 

The legacy that Carolyn desires to leave is a life that has honored the diversity and unity of all beings, cultures, and traditions; inspired interfaith awareness, cooperation, and connection; served others with compassion and respect; nourished self-care of body, heart, mind, and spirit, and have been one committed to peace, justice, and sustainability in the world, and simply to love everyone!