Angie Erickson

“When you first meet Angie, it’s easy to feel the warmth of her smile and inviting presence. Her calming countenance and joyful delight are evident not only in her art but in her full being as well. She is consistently joyful about people and circumstances, even when facing challenges. Yet behind her smile, when you look a little deeper, you find a heart that has been molded by pain and grief, adding a profound depth and richness to her music and writing.”

— Rachel

Angie grew up in a beautifully wooded, hilly area of southern Minnesota, where she played outdoors with her brothers as a child, and took long solitary hikes as a teenager. Classically trained in piano from age five through college, Angie took part in the angst-producing climate of requisite contests, auditions, recitals and concerts through these developmental years. 

While successful in her own right, Angie always had a knack, and desire, for improvisation. This became a serious endeavor when, as a young adult, she began to accompany on the piano at church services. It was in this setting that nourishment of her faith, through music, began, as she describes in her essay, Ivory Praise. 

Musical exploration led to her own style of reinvigorating worship songs, from hymns to contemporary pieces, as well as continued dabbling in original composition. Never one to relish in a straight out hymn, Angie’s first — and still her favorite — interpretation of one such piece, is found in Ah, Holy Jesus.  From music written in 1640, Angie’s rendition brings it nearly 400 years forward in a fresh, vibrant way. 

She still loves to play and hike outdoors, and finds refreshment in the pristine beauty of nature, whether working in her backyard or being ‘up north.’  Obsessively hopeful about spotting wildlife, she finds jaunts to the northern woods of Minnesota to be equal parts peaceful and energizing. As a content introvert, Angie retreats often to her screen porch to read in summers, or in wintertime, to a cozy spot indoors with a purring cat nearby. For the past 30 years, she has worked with students and families as a public high school counselor. She considers this arena a mission field, where the foundation of Christ’s love undergirds her days spent supporting and helping youth. Angie enjoys accompanying her church congregation in worship music, composing and being an “Auntie” to a beloved collection of nieces and nephews.