Larry Pickens

Larry Pickens has a Bachelor of Arts of Church Music from Arizona College of the Bible (ACB), where he majored in music theory and composition. Since graduating college in 1990, his church career has centered on two passions: playing music and teaching/leading youth.

He loved music growing up and spent as much time as possible playing his father’s guitar and sitting first chair clarinet in his high school concert band. At ACB, he studied piano and voice and sang in the college’s Concert Choir, touring all over Arizona, Southern California and Colorado.

In 1995, he began serving as the worship leader at Glendale Community Church of the CMA, leading a worship band while singing and playing guitar. He also began teaching private guitar and bass lessons.

In 2009, he felt called to leave and he and his family began attending Northminster Presbyterian Church in North Phoenix. In 2010, he and his wife, Carol, took over leadership of the church praise team.

Seven years later, Larry took on the job of choral director for the church.For nearly 10 years, he and Carol have also served as leaders of the youth program.

In addition to his roles at Northminster Presbyterian, Larry serves as the general and applied music teacher at Tumbleweed Elementary. He also performs with the Glendale Community College Community Choir. He will be teaching guitar at Desert Hills Community School of Music on Saturdays.