Photos by Ralph Freso / Slideshow
“We want to see You,” Nicole Jasperse belted out the words to the worship song "The Veil" on Thursday night, with several hundred Grand Canyon University students singing right along with her, everyone eager to make history at Antelope Gymnasium.
They were part of a live recording for Canyon Worship X, an album honoring a decade of the Canyon Worship series. The 10th album, which is in production, will feature songs written by alumni and current students.
“It felt like the presence of the Lord definitely was here,” said Sydney Philo, a Christian studies junior. It’s cool to see the amount of people that came together to make it work.”
Students at Canyon Worship Live sang, applauded and cheered for more than 90 minutes on the gym court, also the site of the weekly Gathering worship service, as the Center for Worship Arts celebrated creating the 10th Canyon Worship album. It was the first one recorded before a live audience.
College of Theology Dean Dr. Jason Hiles reminisced about how he and other department officials envisioned the potential for a worship arts program 11 ½ years ago.
“I could not have believed what this would become when we first started,” Hiles told students and alumni. “There weren't a lot of people singing our songs. There are a lot of you who are here with us, and we’re so grateful for that. The entire time you have been singing, you've been thinking of the same Lord and Savior, amen.
“… Your eyes have been on the Lord, and this is something that has been near and dear to our hearts. And as we joined our voices together, and as I hope we'll do for the next 10 years or 10 million years, however long the Lord tarries, I can't be more proud of what this has become.”
Canyon Worship alumni Aaron Bolton, Amanda Riffe, Harrison Russell, Madison Russell and Jasperse provided vocals on 12 songs, but this live recording was a comprehensive production that started about a year ago.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how well (the students) knew the songs,” said Jasperse, a staff member at Antioch Community Church in Chandler, Arizona. “I feel like every live album recording, you don't really know how much they're going to show up knowing the lyrics and the melodies. But you could feel their investment.”
Before the live taping, Center for Worship Arts Director Moises Felipe provided a little coaching on different tones for applause and cheering. But the students needed no tips as they sang and applauded in sync with the music.
“I think it was evident that people came ready to worship and ready to engage, which, as a worship leader, that's what you want,” said Harrison Russell, a 2019 graduate and worship pastor at Dream City Church. “But then as a songwriter, to hear the words that the Lord gave you that you were able to pin in the mouths of people, there’s nothing like it.”
Much of the physical preparation started Wednesday morning with the technology and stage set up, followed by a rehearsal. GCU Recording Studio Manager Eric Johnson praised the university's Spiritual Life department, including worship production coordinator Jonathan Frable, for its assistance in setting up the production, along with recording studio coordinators Joseph Vaught and Ryan Buckland.
Ten microphones were set up on the floor to capture the crowd singing and praising, and students wisely did not bump into them while participating.
“Partnering between the Worship Arts team and Spiritual Life has been a godsend to be able to do it this way,” Johnson said. “It's kind of nice when they see the importance of this and what it means to the program.
“We're all doing worship. It's all in the realm of music and singing and gathering together in song and worshiping our Lord. We're all in the same boat, basically rowing in the same direction.”
One of the most interested participants was guitarist/singer Aaron Menezes, an alumnus who performs nightly at Valley venues and sang the national anthem at Wrigley Field before a Cubs game last summer.
“I wouldn't have missed tonight for the world,” said Menezes, a 2023 graduate. “I've also got a lot of friends who have helped put it together, and I’m here to support and encourage them, especially for the work that they've put in, using the gifts that God gave them to come back and serve their campus.”
Eiler Boone, a sophomore worship arts major with an emphasis in music production, believed the performance was authentic and was moved to see so many alumni return to participate or support the event.
“It encourages me to want to push harder for what I want to do,” Boone said.
The recording will be sent to engineers Andrew Levine and Sam Gibson, “who are going to do what they do best,” said Felipe, who displayed the poise of a proud father throughout the event.
“One of the reasons why I think (Antelope Gymnasium) is perfect is because this is a place where students are used to coming together to worship.” Felipe said. “This is the location for The Gathering, where students get together on Tuesday night, and some of the alumni were here when they were in school, leading worship with Spiritual Life.
“So, it's really awesome. This is the best place that we could have picked to have this night of worship in live recording.”
Canyon Worship X is slated for release in spring 2026.
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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