DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES

Hi, my name is Brett Ashton and I'm the Director of Music Ministries here at Horizon Community Church.  I was born and raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, went to Rocky Mountain College (RMC) in Calgary, Alberta - and followed the sun south here to Palmdale, California.  I have a beautiful wife named Kristen that I met while in college, and though all of our family are back in Canada, we've found "familiy" here as well!  Kristen and I both value the Arts in worship very much.  Whether it be drama, painting, music, dance...you name it - we love it (that being said...I'm a horrible painter, though I always found my interpretive dance side quite strong...).  Being creative is a gift from God, the Creator himself - and so we are trying to facilitate that creativity here at HCC in everything we do.

My background in music started with playing the piano in my church when I was 12 years old - I still can't believe that, but it's true.  From there my brother and I surrounded ourselves with all things music - leading me to Calgary after high school to pursue a BA in Music at RMC.  While in school I gigged a'plenty, and found my niche in singing and playing the bass guitar.  I studied voice with the sensational instructor, Donna Faye Carr - and found a love for singing classical music (perhaps the melancholic side of me related to the topics of tenor arias :).  I am a fan of almost all music - but my all-time favorites are most certainly Sting and James Taylor; however, there are others:  Sara Groves, Sigur Ros, Imogen Heap, Kate Havnevik, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood (should I say Dan Huff, and leave it at that?), Brian Doerksen, Tommy Walker, Rachmaninoff, Hanson, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel (thank you for the introduction SB), and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  Ok, that's the first list I've ever attempted - there are far too many to name, but you get the idea - I like a lot of music.

Anyway, that's about all.  Browse through the site, and don't hesitate to e-mail me should you have any questions!

"It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us."

"Lord, make me see Thy glory in every place"

" To worship God in spirit requires that we be alive on the inside, experiencing the life He gives by spiritual birth. Without His life, you can never truly worship. And to worship in truth means to worship God as He really is, and bringing more than our words – bringing words amplified by an authentic life that flows from being spiritually alive within."