Michael W. Smith joins Liberty student artists at School of Music’s annual Night of Worship

On Sunday night, 160 Liberty University students led worship alongside Grammy award-winning artist Michael W. Smith, executive director of Liberty’s Michael W. Smith Center for Commercial Music, inside a packed Thomas Road Baptist Church auditorium during the annual School of Music Night of Worship.

The night, which was streamed live, started out on a high note with a mashup of “Rejoice, Rejoice” originally by Charity Gayle and “You are Good” by Israel & New Breed. Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor of TRBC, then welcomed the audience.

“God tells us to bring our hearts to Him, to bring our voices to Him, to bring music to Him, (and) to lift up the praises to Him because He is the only one worthy of our praise,” Falwell said. “We are here tonight to put not one person on a pedestal; we are here to only point all the praise and all the glory to the only one who is worthy, and that is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and His name is Jesus Christ.”

The Night of Worship is a longstanding tradition and one of the most anticipated events of the year for Liberty’s School of Music. Dean Stephen Müller said the school presents hundreds of concerts and recitals each semester, but while many are student- or ensemble-focused, “the Night of Worship every spring features more than one group; it is the School of Music coming together to lift the Name of Jesus.”

“I’m so proud of our students, faculty, and staff who work tirelessly to make events like this happen,” he said. “I also really appreciate the collaboration with TRBC to host this large event.”

Midway through the worship event, a short video was played featuring Grammy Award-winning Christian artist Matt Redman, who spoke about the beauty of worship and seeing God through it. The video prefaced the students singing Redman’s song “Let Me See Jesus.”

Later, Michael W. Smith played “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” on the piano alongside School of Music Professor Dr. Yevgeniy Dovgalyuk on violin. Smith and the students led the crowd in multiple popular worship songs, like “Open the Eyes of My Heart” and “In Christ Alone.”

“I’ve had the privilege of leading worship all over the world, and every experience is meaningful — but there’s something uniquely powerful about what happens here at Liberty,” Smith told Liberty News before the Night of Worship kicked off. “When thousands of students come together, united in heart and purpose, just to worship Jesus, it’s electric. You can feel the hunger, the passion, and the authenticity in the room. These students aren’t just attending a service — they’re meeting with God. And for me, getting to be a part of that — lifting up the name of Jesus with the next generation of world changers — is incredibly special.”

On Monday, Smith guided several classes and met in the recording studio to work with students and answer questions. In a song development class he led with songwriting Professor Dr. David Hahn and Smith’s manager Greg Ham, students watched a music video of Smith’s new single, “Arms Around the Sun,” which also featured “The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie on the drums. Smith walked the students through how he developed and produced “Arms Around the Sun” and past albums, demonstrating his process on the piano. At the end of the class, students asked Smith questions about the music profession, and he prayed over the students.

Smith has performed around the world to sold-out crowds for over 40 years. During his storied career, he’s written and recorded over 36 No. 1 songs, been bestowed with three Grammy Awards, over 45 Dove Awards, and one American Music Award. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold more than 15 million albums.

The Michael W. Smith Center for Commercial Music at Liberty University launched in 2019 with the mission to train competent, proficient, marketplace musicians to serve as commercial music industry practitioners. In his role as executive director, Smith makes regular visits to Liberty, speaking in classes and offering advice and counsel from his many years of industry experience. He also conducts classes virtually from his office in Nashville.

“I love what Liberty stands for,” Smith said. “This is a place that’s not just about education; it’s about equipping young men and women to impact the world for Christ. Anytime I get the chance to partner with a university that’s raising up bold, faith-filled leaders, I’m in. There’s a spirit of excellence here, a deep commitment to the Gospel that goes beyond the campus and reaches the nations. It’s always an honor to be part of that mission.”