Phyllis Maria McDonald, the oldest of eight siblings, was born in Fresno, CA to Stanley J. and Evelyn L. McDonald. She began playing the piano at age 3; her mother was her first instructor. She was playing for churches by age 10. Her family belonged to Carter Memorial AME. She attended Thomas A. Edison High School and Fresno State University. Mrs. Phyllis Byrdwell and Rev. Frank Byrdwell lived within two blocks of each other in Fresno and both families were
widely known for their extraordinary musical talents. They were engaged while in college and married when Rev. Byrdwell graduated from Seminary in 1963.

While on vacation in Oregon, the Byrdwells decided to make a visit to Mount Zion in Seattle. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney extended an invitation to them to lead the Music Ministry. They accepted and arrived in Seattle in September of 1966. They have two sons, Frank M., III and Frederick, and are the grandparents of TaShaun and Janessa Byrdwell.
Phyllis Byrdwell is a faithful servant of God who uses her musical gifts and talents to the praise and glory of the Lord. Both she and Rev. Byrdwell performed and conducted workshops
throughout this community and the nation. The Byrdwells are legendary at Greenlake, Wis.
where Rev. Byrdwell served multiple terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greenlake Conference Center and
Worship and Music Leader for the American Baptist Assembly, National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. and Washington Baptist conferences In 2005 Mrs. Byrdwell served as one of the Worship Leaders at the Baptist World Alliance Conference held in
Birmingham, England.

Mrs. Byrdwell was on the staff of the Mount Zion Pre-School. She has taught private piano lessons and held long-term substitute assignments for the Shoreline School District. She was employed at Lakeside School as an educator for 31 years. Her last position before retiring in June of 2014 was serving as the Music Coordinator for the Middle School Division. She is a Professor and guest lecturer at the University of Washington, where she teaches a gospel music class. She has served as an adjudicator and has led several seminar workshops on gospel music at both the state and national level.

Mrs. Byrdwell has earned three degrees from the University of Washington: BA in Music, BA in Music Education and an MA in Music Education. As part of her Master’s examinations, she wrote a project paper entitled “Gospel Music from the Black Per- spective,” which she is planning to expand and publish as a book. She has also written several gospel choral pieces.
She has been inducted into the Washington Music Educators Association’s Hall of Fame and honored by Seattle Pacific University as one of five legendary Gospel Music Directors in the Seattle Tacoma area. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and a former board member of the Washington Music Educators Association Executive Board (WMEA) and Seattle Symphony Board where she was elected as a Lifetime Director for her significant and dedicated service and contributions over
the years. In 2011 Mrs. Byrdwell was the guest soloist with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall. She sang several spirituals in the symphony’s production of Dvotak’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World.” In 2015 she was honored as a Gospel Music Living Legend of the Pacific Northwest. This past spring of 2021 A National Organization selected her along with 10
-15 other Music Clinicians and Professionals across the country to share their work and music in their professional and personal communities. Mrs. Byrdwell shared information regarding black composers, music and her experience as a Black Music Director and Composer. The National Black Caucus of the American Baptist Churches, USA selected the Mount Zion Virtual Singers for
their 2021 Biennial Mission Summit worship service.

Mount Zion was extremely blessed to have had Rev. Byrdwell use his extraordinarily gifts and talents for 46 years until illness no longer allowed him to serve. He transitioned to eternal glory on April 20, 2018.
Mrs. Byrdwell continues to render service unto the Lord and we celebrate her 55 years at Mount Zion. She is the Minister of Music and directs the Combined Choir, the Women’s Chorus, the Youth Choir, the Junior Choir, New Revelation and the Praise in Worship Team. She is also a member of the Scholarship Ministry and Harriet Tubman Circle.