Merideth Hite Estevez
Associate in Music
Office: 248-973-8008
Merideth plays the oboe in worship at the Kirk regularly, enriching our worship with her musical gifts. She holds the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in oboe performance from The Juilliard School and also studied at the Yale School of Music, as well as the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. As a Fulbright Scholar at the Trossingen Musikhochschule in Germany, she explored how studying baroque and modern oboe together informs and benefits the player. Merideth has also served in several capacities in church ministry, including serving as youth choir director at Westminster Presbyterian in Wilmington, Delaware and director of an exciting new arts ministry, Lumina Arts Incubator, at Grace Church UMC where she brought creatives into community for conversation, spiritual formation, and service. In addition to her work at Kirk in the Hills, Merideth promotes the integration of creativity and spirituality in her coaching practice, online workshops, and podcast—Artists for Joy. The show is in the top 2% of podcasts globally and recently ranked in the top 250 in the US in the self-improvement category. She is currently negotiating her first book deal, and her book, a spiritual resource for creatives, will be out in early 2024. Merideth is also much in demand as an oboist for various orchestras and chamber ensembles in Michigan.
Merideth coordinates other events and services at the Kirk, including special musical offerings and chamber music concerts. She works closely with the metro Detroit network of local artists to bring a wide range of musicians and events to our church, for the musical enrichment of the Kirk and the wider community.