Ruthanne Pursley 

Biography

Ruthanne Pursley serves as Assistant Professor of Music, Coordinator for the Worship Ministries Orchestra, and Staff Accompanist. Mrs. Pursley holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisville, a Master of Divinity in Worship from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Music in Flute and Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University.

Mrs. Pursley’s extensive musical background includes experience in vocal music, band and orchestra, piano, and church music. She has performed major orchestral repertoire as a member of Minnesota Youth Symphonies, the Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Seminary Orchestra, and has also performed as piano soloist with orchestra. She played flute/piccolo for five years with the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band at Bowling Green State University, where she earned the Outstanding Senior Bandswoman award. Her vocal and choral music training began in her family and small church choir, and eventually included several years of graduate vocal study. She was a member of the Southern Seminary Choir, the vocal ensemble Doxology, the University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, and the semi-professional Louisville Chamber Choir. She also performed as alto soloist with those ensembles as well as with the Bach Society of Louisville, the Southern Seminary Oratorio Chorus, and the Louisville Choral Arts Society. Mrs. Pursley’s training as an accompanist began in church while she was still in middle school. In high school she started collaborating with vocal and instrumental soloists and later completed a concentration in Collaborative Piano as part of her undergraduate degree.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Pursley has been active as a church musician, learning the inseparable values of musical training, theological acuity, and service. She has participated in music ministry in many different church contexts, serving in large and small churches of various denominations as organist, pianist, choir director, worship ministry assistant, worship leader, children’s choir director, choir section leader, church orchestra assistant, worship team singer, and worship band member. Through the stewardship of godly parents and faithful mentors Mrs. Pursley learned the value of theological depth and rigor for daily Christian living as well as for the church’s musical worship. She firmly believes that all that she has received is a gift from the Lord for the blessing of others, and is also a trust to be passed on to new generations of musician-theologians. Teaching, leading, and performing with musicians of all ages brings Mrs. Pursley great joy, especially when it helps equip God’s people to enjoy Him and worship Him through music.

Mrs. Pursley is married to Tony and they serve together at Sycamore Hills Baptist Church, where he is Associate Pastor for Worship and Discipleship. The Lord has blessed them with five children: Cohen, Caitlin, Nora, Lydia, and Leo.