Ali Deckard is a Chicago-grown singer/songwriter, performer and teacher joining the Notes n’ Beats team in 2022 after moving from LA where she spent five years as an ordained Worship Pastor.

She has earned a B.M. in Music Ministry and an M.A. in Christian Ministry both from Olivet Nazarene University, and she is currently pursuing a degree in Music Therapy at Shenandoah University.

Ali has been playing piano since 1995, classically trained and has performed several time in pop/rock and improv settings. She is trained in both classical and contemporary voice, with a particular affinity for jazz and blues. She also spent four years touring and performing on keys and vocals with a worship band from 2011-2015.

Some of her accomplishments include earning the Hale-Wilder Vocal Award for being the top classical vocalist at ONU in 2011; coming in 4th place at the NATS (National Association of Teachers Singing) Competition in the Broadway Division in 2011; playing musical theatre and stage roles such as Eponine (Les Miserables), Jellylorum (CATS), and Mary Bailey (It’s A Wonderful Life) with Acting Out Theatre Co.; writing, recording, and producing her own original songs in her full length album (Dreamer) and four singles (Behold The Light Has Come, Psalm 2020, Home, The Lord’s Prayer); and holding a soprano position in the Pasadena Chorale for the 2021-2022 season.

She loves teaching because she believes that there is beauty, being grounded, and connection found in the process of learning and honing a creative skill. Considering it a profound privilege to be a part of that discipline and exploratory process for students, she loves discovering and empowering the uniqueness of each of her students’ talents!