Worship and Theology 敬拜與神學

Joshua Law

Professor Joshua Law teaches voice, choir and East Asian music at CCSF since 1972. As a boy, Joshua was fond of singing. He found interest in music in his preteen years when he started to learn to play the piano from his cousin Julia, sang in a church choir, learned music theory from his choir director Jenny K. Wong. Joshua began his music life as a violin player at his high school orchestra. He played trumpet as a teenager and started cello lessons in college because the small college orchestra needed one cellist. He was given free voice lessons in exchange for correcting music theory papers for a voice teacher. At his senior year at college, majoring in Social Work, he won first place in a city wide singing contest that landed him an European tour immediately after his graduation. Joshua was accepted into the graduate music program at Cal State L. A. from which he got his master's degree in music studying voice with Esther Andreas and William Vennard. He is specialized in voice pedagogy and was selected as a vocal workshop singer by Richard Miller. In addition to playing the above mentioned musical instruments, Joshua plays the baritone horn, the trombone, the saxophone and a number of other instruments. Joshua performed, in numerous occasions, leading roles in operas and oratorios, directed oratorio productions and Broadway shows, sang solo concerts, produced many concerts and many music for radio and TV programs and served in numerous singing contests as chief judge. Being known as an excellent vocalist and choir director, Joshua was invited by local and international churches for advice and workshops. To equip himself for such frequent invitations, he had pursued theological education which gave him two more post graduate degrees in theology and pastoral ministry. He maintains a piano tuning and rebuilding workshop at his house and in frequent occasions is invited to give sermons in churches, lectures on the principles and practices of church music all over this country, in Asia, South America and Canada.

Joshua Solo Samples (From the 80’s to 2012)

It is not because I am not a professional singer that I do not have professionally recorded DVD’s, CD, LP’s or Cassettes. The reason is I did not become a “Recording Artist” through recording each song numerous times until it is perfect or even cut the song into many parts and record each part numerous times till it is perfectly stitched together before I release them. Many singers become good just because they have money and teams of managers to sell their commercially made “Perfect” products. Some even lip-sync to their own recording when life performing. The truth is that I do not perform, I bring a message through my testimony in song and music. I became a good professional because I did teaching, singing and directing for over 40 years and I learned my skills through teaching and making mistakes live on stage. Therefore all my recordings were life recordings with amateur equipment and amateur techs. (if any) I believe that is the only “real” deal. All my recordings have been “raw”. I am a servant of God, I do not play the popularity, money and fame game. That is the games played by people who are into merchandising (selling) and they have lots of money to spend in order to do it. Normally, it takes 4 to five failed “albums” to start gaining ground. Great many never recover their loss. And great majority of “Recording Artists” fail in making money to pay for their expenditure. I am not in that category and I do not think professionally recorded “albums” DVD’s, CD’s, Cassettes, LP’s are a measuring stick for a servant of God. All my recordings are not planned but just an amateur camcorder or recorder on an amateur tripod placed at the side without any helping tech attending. All of my recordings were requested by my students and/or the congregations in ministry work. I do not waste God’s money in doing professional albums with beautiful packaging and dealers’ promotion.

The Water is Wide Pianist: Judy Lee
Vaga Luna Pianist: Judy Lee
Star Vicino Pianist: Judy Lee
Sinner’s Prayer (罪人的禱告Mandarin) Pianist: Judy Lee
How Can I, But Think of Her (Mandarin 教我如何不想她?趙元任) Pianist: Madeline Mueller
On the Shores of River Jia Ling (Mandarin嘉凌江上 賀陸汀) Pianist: Madeline Mueller
I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked Pianist: Pauline Tang
I’ve a Home Beyond the River (Joshua Sings all 4 parts and played the piano acc.)
I Asked the Lord To Comfort Me Pianist: Pauline Tang
Hear My Prayer – D’vorak Pianist: Pauline Tang
I Am A Pilgrim Pianist: Pauline Tang