Hearn Innovators Series

The Hearn Innovators in Christian Music Series, made possible by an endowment created through the generosity of Billy Ray Hearn, is designed to bring innovators in the field of Christian music to Baylor's campus and facilitate close interaction between the guest presenter and Baylor's students. These special visitors may be involved in the practice, creation, or study of Christian music. Presenters are on campus for a three- to four-day residency and are available to speak in classes, make public presentations, and visit with students in small group settings.

Fall 2023 - Elias Dummer

I have sung these words forever, ‘Hallelujah’ from my lips!
How I meant them in the moment, but in the moment failed the test
What a shame they’re so familiar, ‘cause I’m a beggar at my best
Singing like I sing forever and ever, and ever… Hallelujah!
—from “As A Saint” by Elias Dummer

Elias Dummer, a native of Ontario, Canada, is passionate about the local church.

A founding member of The City Harmonic, he was lead singer and songwriter for the contemporary Christian band. Winning the prestigious Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy) for “Christian Album of the Year” in 2012, along with nine GMA Covenant Awards, The City Harmonic released three critically acclaimed albums, charting success with songs like “I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home),” “Mountaintop,” “Let There Be Light,” “Holy (Wedding Day),” and the seminal “Manifesto,” a declaration of faith, hope and unity that echoes in gatherings around the world to this day.

After eight years together, a desire to get back to serving their local churches led the band to lower the curtain in 2017. Meanwhile, he began training worship leaders in a church he helped to plant: The Village UMC near Nashville, focusing on empowering day-to-day discipleship through worship.

Recently, he has released a two-part solo album entitled The Work. He is co-founder of Worship Leader Research, where he and a team of practitioners and scholars are working on a collaborative study. Their work focuses on the behaviors of the primary contributors to contemporary worship and the attitudes and behaviors of local worship leaders towards them.