A group of music-loving Bahá’ís meet each Sunday evening at the Tucson Bahá’í Center to rehearse or conduct devotionals. These dedicated people are featured on this page. Meet the members of
In The Spirit!

Michael D. Parker, Bass and Percussionist
In The Spirit Producer/Manager

Michael Parker was born in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing drums when he was eleven years old. "The kids on my street started a neighborhood band. We were mostly poor kids and we played toy instruments for backyard concerts of usually one song that we played over and over again. We all thought we were pretty good."

In 1971, Michael moved to Mobile Alabama where he joined the band at McGill Toleen Catholic High School. Michael learned to play percussion instruments in marching band and concert band. He then went to Bishop State where he majored in music and played in the Jazz band. After a year, Michael transferred to Florida A&M University where he majored in music.

"I found out my skills weren't quite up to par for their music department, so I switched to Business Administration." (Of course, doesn’t everyone?) "I stopped playing music for many years on any consistent basis."

While at Florida A&M, Michael began studying the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He became a Bahá’í in 1975. In 2004, Michael joined the Jeffery Barnes Bahá’í Choir in Los Angeles, California, thereby renewing his interest in music.

"I moved to Tucson in 2006, where music has now, like early in my life, become my major interest for the love of Bahá'u'lláh."

Michael’s background in Business Administration and his excellent organizational skills comes in handy as Producer/Manager of In The Spirit. You could say that Michael keeps the heart of the group beating to the rhythm of a different drummer. Let the music play on!

Terry L. Warner-Hurst, Lyric Soprano
In The Spirit Secretary and Webpage Designer

"I was born singing. I think I learned to sing before I learned to walk," Mrs. Hurst says regarding her love of music. Terry began singing in elementary school where her first public performance was in the forth grade, where she sang ‘Ave Maria’ at a school Christmas pageant. She has sung in both church and school choirs all her life. Terry, who credits her mother for encouraging her to sing, studied voice all four years of high school. She attended the University of Arizona where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater.

"I was supposed to go to the Music Department to register for my classes and ended up at the Drama Department instead. The moment I walked in to the theatre, I knew I was home. Poof! There went my singing career. I fell in love with musical theater and had many wonderful experiences working on such productions as: The Merry Widow, Hello Dolly, George M., Camelot, Brigadoon, Show Boat, and many others."

Terry, who grew up during the turbulent 60’s, was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith by her husband, James. They were married in September 1988. She declared her belief in Bahá'u'lláh in 1992. Terry retired on the last day of 2006, after thirty years in government service as an Administrative Services Specialist Senior in Employee Services (Human Resources). She now devotes her time to serving the Bahá’í Faith through music. Terry’s hobbies are web page design, photography, and creative writing. In 2007, Terry joined the Tucson Bahá’í World Choir after the call went out for interested people to audition.

"I hadn’t sung in a choir in decades, but I though I would give it a shot. I didn't realize how much I missed singing in a group until I joined the Tucson Bahá’í World Choir. Unfortunately, there were never enough voices to sustain a full choir. I'm so glad that In The Spirit grew out of that experience. Where there is a need, God will supply the bounty."

Sarah D. Taraz, Lyric Soprano and Pianist
Music Director

Sarah Taraz has been singing since her early teens. "I used to wish so hard I had a good singing voice, but it was a long time coming." Working out with her 70's rock influences got the juices flowing, and several years of voice training followed, with Clea Bradford, an accomplished jazz singer since the 60's. From then on, Sarah stretched her voice with the great ladies, old and new - Ella, Diane Schuur, Mariah, and now Christina Aguilera. "I'm also a contemporary country nut."

But Sarah's great love is singing the Word. "Music is a ladder for the soul, the Bahá’í Teachings tell us. This ladder can take us wherever we want to go, so it's important we choose where we are going. Communing with God in song is my stairway to heaven." (But I do feel that Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock band of my era!) Throughout her life, Sarah has chosen not to work professionally in the secular music business but has instead performed and recorded Bahá’í and other spiritual music since the 90's. Like her mother's favorite singer, Nana Mouskouri, she sings in several languages, including English, French, Spanish and Farsi.

Sarah plays a little piano, too, and offers this humble service to In The Spirit. "This group is magical. It has been since the moment it was conceived in an impromptu vocal jam, and there has not been one single time we have gotten together that the angels haven't come down on us. I'm sure we have a few who are unnamed members."

Dr. Lystra Lloyd, Alto
In The Spirit Gospel Soloist

Lystra Lloyd is a veterinarian who owns a small animal hospital in Tucson. She recalls when as a teenager, singing oftentimes to the tunes of Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight, and Phoebe Snow, as she was singing in her apartment, someone knocked on the door and asked if that beautiful sound they had heard was her singing. The realization that her voice could move someone enough to enquire made a profound impression on her. It was then Lystra decided that she would join singing groups to improve her singing whenever possible.

For a few years, while in undergraduate school at Tuskegee University, Lystra sang with the well-known Tuskegee 'Golden Voices' Choir. She began to gain more confidence in herself after having entered a few talent shows, without musical accompaniment, and received standing ovations from her peers. After her talent-show debuts, she began receiving offers by the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, to be the musical entertainment at their Annual Banquet for two years. This made the rigors of study and school life bearable. Lystra found herself singing for her friends whenever they asked or needed at parties, weddings, and funerals.

After graduating, Lystra moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1986 and as a member of the Bahá’í community, took part in any singing opportunities she could find. Eventually, a fully functioning 'Tucson Bahá’í Choir' developed. This was the time that, while singing many beautiful Bahá’í musical arrangements, she was asked to be a soloist. Lystra wanted to develop her voice and so she took voice lessons from Martina Chilikova, an aspiring international soprano opera singer, who was also the choir director.

Lystra says "this experience, of learning how to properly move and push air from within to project my voice and having so many different venues at which to sing, was one of the most enjoyable periods of my life."

Lystra now sings with a very special group of Bahá’í friends. While inspired by the strength of Mahalia Jackson's voice, and the soul-stirring feelings of the James Cleveland Gospel Singers, Lystra brings her own style to this great ensemble, and invites you to listen as the members of In The Spirit, blend their voices and musical sound to bring joy to your heart and soul.