Carolyn Dwyer

Director of Music Ministries

The church has been my home for most of my life.  Both of my parents sang in church and community choirs when I was growing up, and as soon as I was old enough (8 or 9 years old), I joined the church junior choir. Not long after that, I started with piano lessons and then flute lessons, then choir and band at school; during my junior high school years I joined the Sonshine band at church and learned to play the guitar.  I knew then that I would be a musician for the rest of my life!

In college I dabbled in the sciences and language (English and German), but eventually came back to my love of music.  I earned a B.A. in flute performance from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where I met another musician who eventually became my husband.  We had three wonderful children, who are all now music teachers themselves.

Our life path took us to Georgia, where we divorced, and I began work on a teaching certificate and Master’s degree, so that I could be gainfully employed (I had been a stay-at-home mom).  I earned my M.Mus. in Education from Columbus State University and began my teaching career.  While in Georgia, I discovered that I could be paid as a staff musician and enjoyed that side-career for 20 years.

In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic hit, working conditions at my school deteriorated, and I felt that God was telling me it was time to move on.  My dad had recently become widowed and needed company, so I retired from teaching, sold most of my earthly possessions, and moved to Tucson.  It has been my joy to live with him and take care of him as he ages in place.  He is the one who brought me to Vista Church and to the choir. 

It brings me joy to make music with others to the glory of God.

When I’m not making music, I enjoy the outdoors (hiking, camping, gardening), athletics (working out, playing competitive racquetball), Charles Dickens (our dog), trivia and word games, and spending time with friends and family.