Joanne Boyce, although born in Birmingham, UK, lived in
Trinidad and Tobago, the twin island home of her mother, from the age of
nine. Returning to England she applied her musical talents to become music
director of Soli House, a Catholic youth retreat in Stratford-upon-Avon.
She works full-time with Mike Stanley in taking Christian music into schools
and colleges, as well as leading workshops and
concerts.
Mike Stanley received his first guitar, a gift from his parish priest,
at the age of seven. Since that time he has added the piano, flute, mandolin,
violin, and tin whistle to the list of instruments he plays. Mike worked
as a teacher and youth leader for many years, including outreach work in
Scotland and Northern Ireland. Like Jo, Mike worked as a music coordinator
at Soli House for a year and a half which is where Jo and Mike
met.
Jo and Mike (CJM Music) acting as First Light Ministries, are officially supported by the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, which covers the area , from Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham up to Stafford and
Stoke-on-Trent. Their primary ministry, for which they get a grant from the
Archdiocese as well as remuneration from concerts, workshops, and their music
sales, is to work with young people in colleges, schools and at festivals
so that through music and composition they may praise God the
better.
Jo and Mike are also heavily involved with the ecumenical music
project,
Their musical output is a mixture of praise music and liturgical
settings. Following the release of Imagine a World and their first songbook,
CJM released 'Born for This' Then, in 2000, they released In the Company of Angels, their most accomplished studio album to date.
now available from this web site,
Songs for the New
Millennium
This is a dramatic fusion of music and drama, performed each Lent by CJM Music, together with young people from various parishes.
It offers
an intensely moving portrayal of the Stations of the Cross.
The CD, cassette and songbook - with all the reflections that make the live show so dramatic -
are available now! Click here for more information.