What’s the difference between a music director and a worship leader—and why does that distinction matter so much for healthy teams?

In this Q&A session from Creative Tides Summit Conference, we sit down with music director, Jozi Bently, to unpack the often-confusing dynamic between MDs and worship leaders, and how these two roles can work together to create clarity, confidence, and cohesion on a worship team. Jozi is a volunteer musician and worship leader at @rhcc in Tualatin, OR.

This conversation is especially helpful for worship leaders, MDs, and musicians who want rehearsals and services to feel intentional, not reactive.

In this session, we talk about:

The difference between a music director and a worship leader
How the MD supports the worship leader’s vision without competing for leadership
What strong MD preparation actually looks like
How to build a clear game plan for rehearsals and services
What tools and resources MDs should give their team ahead of time
Creating confidence for musicians through structure, charts, tracks, and communication

Whether you’re stepping into an MD role for the first time or trying to bring more organization and musical leadership to your team, this Q&A offers practical insight, shared language, and real-world wisdom.

If your rehearsals feel rushed, unclear, or overly dependent on the worship leader to manage everything, this conversation will help you rethink how musical leadership can be shared and strengthened.

📍 Recorded live at Creative Tides Summit Conference

👉 Join the conversation in the comments:

What’s the biggest challenge you face as a music director or worship leader?

#MusicDirector

#WorshipLeadership

#WorshipLeaderLife

#WorshipTeam

#ChurchMusic

#BandLeadership

#WorshipRehearsal

#CreativeTides

Q&A with an MD | Summit Conference 2025 Breakout Session with Jozi Bently