As a singer-songwriter, I pride myself on having my songs sound a little different," said Adriana McCaw, when announcing the release of her contemporary Christian album titled "Greater." "Everything has a good Christian message, but there are some songs that are more on the rock side, some on the pop side and there is singer-songwriter-esque music with me on the piano. There is something in there for everybody."

McCaw, an accompanist and youth minister at Our Lady of Consolation (OLC) Church in Parkesburg, will celebrate the album's release with a Listening Party, where she will share her new music, as well as insight into the writing and recording of the album. The album was released on Jan. 31 and the Listening Party will be held on Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at OLC's Schneider Parish Center, 2995 Cemetery Road, Parkesburg. CDs will be available for purchase at the event, and snacks will be provided.

"We will listen to the new album, and I will play some things from the album," McCaw said, adding that the event is free, but donations will be accepted for the parish's music ministry.

McCaw is a graduate of Octorara Junior-Senior High School and is also a music instructor in addition to her duties at OLC. "I play for three out of four Masses on the weekend and serve as youth minister," she noted. "I am in charge of our high school youth group, and I help with the middle school group."

This is the second contemporary Christian album that she has released. The first was titled "Enough."

"I wrote all the music that is on these albums," McCaw noted. "Me and the Holy Spirit have to write together. For me, it's a faithful experience."

McCaw also held a Listening Party for her first album at the church in August of 2022. "We had close to 75 or 100 people (in attendance)," she said, noting that she enjoys watching people react to her music. "I like people to not only hear the music, but to get the words. It's nice to see people put the pieces together while they are listening. I want people to think, 'She has some deep thoughts and some deep words."

McCaw graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University's College of Creative Arts with a bachelor of multidisciplinary studies degree with emphases in music, music industry, theater, religious studies and history.

McCaw is a vocalist and piano accompanist; has written original choral pieces performed by choirs; worked in a studio setting as a musician, vocalist and producer; and teaches music students of varying ages and skill levels on a variety of instruments.

She said that she is a fan of country music and other musical styles, all of which she incorporates into her own songs. "There is a little bit of every genre in my albums because I listen to everything," she said. "When I was in college, my composition teacher said that I was one of the few students that he would leave our lessons humming the songs. I took that to heart."

She added that people who attend the upcoming Listening Party will hear some memorable tunes to carry with them. "I have a lot of catchy songs," she stated. "You can take these good words with you. It doesn't just stay in the building (after) we listen to it."

"Christian music is (not just) something you hear in church," she added. "There are other varieties of it."

For more information about the Listening Party, visit http://www.facebook.com/olcchurch.