Lynn Payette is a native of Wheaton, Illinois, though she has lived in Central Illinois, Dallas, Texas, and London, England, before moving to Hot Springs, to serve as the Director of Music at St Luke’s Episcopal Church.  Lynn is an honors graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, with a Bachelor of Sacred Music Degree, and also of Illinois State University, with a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance.

Lynn has served as a Director of Music at various churches since her graduation.  From 1986-89, she served on the personal staff of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and planned and played all the services at Lambeth Palace, his London residence.

Since her arrival in Hot Springs in 1999, Lynn has been named to the Board of Directors of the Hot Springs Music Festival and the Arkansas Chamber Singers.  The Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas has also appointed Lynn to serve as the Co-Chair of the Liturgy and Music Commission for the Diocese, as well as the Coordinator for the Diocesan Leadership Program for Musicians Serving Small Congregations (LPM).  Lynn has served as Music Director for the Cedar Mountain Singers, a Music Advisor for St Luke’s Episcopal Day School, and continues as an adjunct faculty member of Garland County Community College.

At Luke’s, Lynn directs five different ensembles and plays for all services. Under her leadership, the Parish Choir has toured southeast England, and has been invited to sing at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2003, Arkansas Day.

Lynn has performed in many of the St Luke’s Lenten Recitals, as well as playing Lenten Recitals at Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock, t Luke’s Episcopal Church, North Little Rock, and St Paul’s, Fayetteville.  Since her arrival in 1999, she has conducted the annual Sing Along Messiah in Hot Springs; was one of the organizers for the 2001 September 11^th: A Day for Peace; and served as director for the first community Gospel Choir.

Lynn and her husband Jay, also a professional musician, and a math teacher at Garland County Community College, share their home with too many talking birds.