PLAINVIEW — Renowned Christian singer-songwriter Ken Medema will join Wayland Baptist University and area high school choirs for a special concert on April 5, concluding the 2025 Clay and Freada Warren Memorial Music Symposium. The performance is set for 7 p.m. in Harral Memorial Auditorium on Wayland’s Plainview campus. Admission is free.
The symposium, originally established by Mark and Freada Warren in memory of their son, Clay, was recently renamed to also honor Freada, who passed away in November 2024 after a 14-year battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Clay, a Plainview High School graduate and choir member, had a deep love for music before his life was tragically cut short in 2002 at age 18 due to an automobile collision.
Hosted by Wayland’s School of Creative Arts, the symposium is a day-long event featuring Catalyst, a clinic designed for area high school choral students, followed by the culminating concert. The event brings together students, directors, and Wayland’s choirs for an enriching musical experience.
“In the choral world, directors and singers are often overwhelmed by the demands of concerts, contests, and community performances,” said Dr. Sarah Herrington, Director of Choral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Wayland. “Catalyst provides a moment to pause and reconnect with the passion that led us to music in the first place. It’s a time to sing, reflect, and find renewed inspiration—an opportunity that extends beyond the event as participants take fresh ideas back to their own programs.”
Dr. Herrington emphasized that Medema is the ideal artist to serve as this year’s presenter, performer, and clinician.
“Ken Medema is one of the most creative and authentic artists performing today. He is a Christ follower with a passion for social justice,” she said.
Visually impaired since birth, Medema has limited sight beyond distinguishing light from darkness and perceiving large shapes. Yet, his talent for music emerged early.
“For me, music made all the difference,” Medema said. “I started banging on the piano when I was five, making up little pieces. At eight, my parents found me a wonderful teacher who taught me classical music through Braille notation and encouraged me to play by ear. That’s when I developed improvisation skills, and music became my second language.”
Medema pursued music therapy at Michigan State University, earning both undergraduate and master’s degrees before working as a therapist, where he began writing songs inspired by the struggles of the teens he counseled.
“I had a bunch of teenagers who were really hurting, and I started writing songs about their lives,” he recalled. “Then I thought, ‘Why don’t I start writing songs about my Christian life?’ So, I did—and people really responded.”
Since launching his career as a performing and recording artist in 1973, Medema has shared his music worldwide, founding Brier Patch Music in 1985. His storytelling and musical artistry have captivated audiences across the United States and in more than 15 countries on four continents.
“For five decades, Ken Medema has used music as a powerful tool for storytelling, conversation, and reflection,” Dr. Herrington said. “His ability to inspire through voice and piano has left an indelible mark on audiences everywhere.”
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