Rev. Dr Daniel Thornton
L.Mus.A. (Theory) , Performer’s Certificate (Piano) , PhD , M.Music Tech (Distinction) , B.Mus (Composition) (inc) , A.Arts in Religious Studies , Certificate IV - TAE

Biography

Daniel Thornton: accomplished and awarded songwriter, musician and worship leader, sought-after minister and educator.  He is the world's leading expert on contemporary congregational songs.  He is Director of Learning and Teaching and Head of Arts at Alphacrucis College, and serves local churches and their worship teams around the globe as well as being engaged as a professional composer and performer.
From 2007 - 2010, Daniel served as the Music Pastor at Paradise Community Church (Adelaide, South Australia) and previously as the Worship and Associate Pastor at North Shore Christian Centre in Sydney Australia for over 8 years.
He regularly produces/records and releases Worship CDs/DVDs including Christmas Presence, For Worshipers, from Worshipers, Daniel|Piano|Worship Classics 2, It is Well - Instrumentals (2011),  Worship Classics (2010), Above All Else (2010), One Heart (2009), Worship Always (2009), Paradise(2008), It is Well - Vol 2(2007), It is Well - Vol 1(2006), Beyond Words (2004), and many more. Some of these recordings/performances are featured weekly on the NSCC TV show LifeSource and the Paradise TV shows.
His songs are sung in churches around the world including “Father”, “Come into the House” and “Presence Beautiful”. Daniel’s passion is to connect people with God and see the church rise to its fullest potential.
Daniel has performed a starring role on in an Off-Broadway premiere at the Duke Theatre on 42nd Street, New York of the new musical "Angels".  His recent starring roles in musical theatre productions also include, Godspell, !Hero and The Prodigal.
Six years at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a music scholarship to London provided much of Daniel's formal training. During that time, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and other prestigious ensembles performed his compositions. After completing his studies, Daniel was appointed Music Director for Penrith Christian Fellowship Centre, then Penrith City Church and later Worship Pastor at C3 Mt Annan.
Daniel is an ordained minister with the Australian Christian Churches.  His formal qualifications include Ph.D., M.Music Technology (Distinction), A.Arts (Religious Studies), L.Mus.A. (Theory), Performers Certificate T.C.L.(Piano) and a Cert IV Training and Assessment.
He has owned and run two private music schools, and also lectured for many years at a number of colleges including Hillsong College and the Paradise College of Ministry.
Daniel and his wife Kris have been married for 23yrs and have 3 teenage children.

Currently Teaching

• BSBWHS201 - Contribute to health and safety of self and others
• CUACMP301 - Implement copyright arrangements
• CUACMP501 - Manage copyright arrangements
• CUAIND303 - Work effectively in the music industry
• CUALED501 - Provide instrumental or vocal tuition
• CUALED502 - Provide tuition for composition
• CUAMCP302 - Write song lyrics
• CUAMCP303 - Develop simple musical pieces using electronic media
• CUAMCP401 - Develop techniques for arranging music
• CUAMCP402 - Develop techniques for composing music
• CUAMCP502 - Compose music for screen
• CUAMLT301 - Develop and apply aural perception skills
• CUAMLT302 - Apply knowledge of style and genre to music industry practice
• CUAMLT401 - Notate music for performance
• CUAMLT501 - Refine aural perception skills
• CUAMPF203 - Develop ensemble skills for playing or singing music
• CUAMPF301 - Develop technical skills in performance
• CUAMPF302 - Prepare for performances
• CUAMPF304 - Make a music demo
• CUAMPF305 - Develop improvisation skills
• CUAMPF401 - Rehearse music for group performances
• CUAMPF404 - Perform music as part of a group
• CUAMPF405 - Develop instrumental techniques
• CUAMPF407 - Develop vocal techniques
• CUAMPF410 - Perform music from written notation
• CUAMPF504 - Perform improvisation for audiences
• CUAMPF505 - Develop technical skills and expand repertoire
• CUAMPF507 - Provide musical leadership in performance
• CUASOU405 - Record sound
• CUASOU409 - Mix recorded music
• CUAWRT503 - Write about music
• EDU521 - Creative Arts
• MUS230 - Music Performance
• MUS307 - Music and Technology
• MUS335 - Music Ensembles
• MUS340 - Composition and Songwriting
• WOR101 - Introduction to Worship Ministry
• WOR130 - Independent Study in Specific Creative Arts 1
• WOR205 - Worship, Arts and Church History
• WOR215 - Worship in Comparative Religious Contexts
• WOR220 - Lyrics and Theology
• WOR301 - Practicum in Worship Ministry
• WOR310 - Worship in Contemporary Context

Research Interests

Online Education

Online Music Education

Popular Music Studies, Musicology, Theomusicology

Music and Worship in the context of the contemporary church

Academic Qualifications

Selected Publications

Thornton, D (2019). A Match Made in Heaven: Why Popular Music is Central to the Growth in Pentecostal Charismatic Christianities In Hutchinson, M. and Rocha, C. (Eds.), Pentecostal Charismatic Christianities in Australia (pp. ). Brill.

Thornton, D (2018). Star Wars Soundtracks: The Worship Music of John Williams. Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, Star Wars Special Edition.

Thornton, D (2018). Worship in the Charts: How Contemporary Congregational Songs Engage the Secular Music Market. Paper presented at the Media, Religion, and Public Scholarship, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA, .

Thornton, D (2018). Defining a ‘Sacrifice of Praise’ in the Contemporary Worship Context. Paper presented at the ANZATS, Brisbane, QLD, .

Thornton, D (2018). Preaching and Worship In White, A. (Ed), The Power of a Good Story: Five Views on Pentecostal Preaching (pp. ). CTP Press.

Thornton, Daniel (2018). What On Earth Are We Singing? A Series On The Contemporary Congregational Song – Part 7. Crucis, . | Link to journal | External link

Thornton, D (2017). It’s the end of the world as we know it: How authenticity and eschatology cohere in contemporary congregational song. Paper presented at the Apocalypse and Authenticity, University of Hull, . | AC Link

Thornton, D (2017). Generic Christianity: An exploration of contemporary congregational song lyrics and the global adoption of popular songs. Paper presented at the Christian Congregational Music: Local and Global Perspectives, Cuddesdon, UK, . | AC Link

Thornton, D (2017). On Hillsong’s continued reign over the Australian contemporary congregational song genre. Perfect Beat, 17 (2)164-182. | External link | AC Link

Thornton, D (2017). Personal Jesus: Understanding contemporary congregational songs through the 'Magesteria-Ibiza Spectrum'. Paper presented at the Integrating Theology & Contemporary Worship, London School of Theology, . | AC Link

Thornton, D (2016). The rise and rise of global contemporary congregational songs. Paper presented at the International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture Conference, Seoul, Korea, .

Thornton, D (2016). At the nexus of Christian education, music, and young people. Paper presented at the DNA of Christian Schooling, Makay, QLD, .

Thornton, D (2016). Popular Music and Pentecostal Worship: A Match Made in Heaven?. Paper presented at the Society of Pentecostal Studies Conference, San Dimas, CA, USA, .

Thornton, D (2015). Pentecostals, popular worship, and personal preferences. Paper presented at the Fandom and Religion Conference, Leicester, UK, . | External link

Thornton, D., Evans, M. (2015). YouTube: a new mediator of Christian worship In Nekola, A. and Wager, T. (Eds.), Singing a New Song: Christian Congregational Music Making and Community in a Mediated Age (pp. 141-159). Ashgate Publishing.

Thornton, D (2015). A lament for Pentecostal scholarship in contemporary congregational songs. Australasian Pentecostal Studies Journal, 17. | Link to journal

Thornton, D (2015). Ambivalent fame: Insights from the most sung composers of contemporary congregational songs. Paper presented at the Christian Congregational Music: Local and Global Perspectives, Oxford, UK, . | External link

Thornton, D (2014). Contemporary Congregational Songs, YouTube and virtual Christian Communities. Paper presented at the International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture Conference, Canterbury, UK, . | External link

Thornton, D. (2014). Contemporary Congregational Songs, YouTube and virtual Christian Communities. Paper presented at the International Society for media, religion, and culture conference, , . | External link

Thornton, D. (2014). What on earth are we singing? A series on the contemporary congregational song Part 5. Worship Leader Magazine, . | External link

Thornton, D. (2014). What on earth are we singing? A series on the contemporary congregational song Part 4. Worship Leader Magazine, . | External link

Thornton, D. (2014). What on earth are we singing? A series on the contemporary congregational song Part 3. , . | External link

Thornton, D. (2014). What on earth are we singing? A series on the contemporary congregational song.. , . | External link

Thornton, D. (2014). What on earth are we singing? A series on the contemporary congregational song Part 2. , . | External link

Thornton, D (2013). Considerations leading to the implementation of Australia's first online delivery for the Certificate IV in Music. Paper presented at the XIX National ASME Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, .

External Links

Daniel on Academia.edu : Daniel’s research

Daniel Thornton Ministries : Daniel’s Ministry website

Daniel Thornton Music : Daniel Thornton Music website (Film/TV/Game/Concert works)