Loyda (Pichardo) Hjelte was born in the tropical island of the Dominican Republic, where palm trees sway by the gentle ocean breeze and many tender children wonder in the streets. Being raised where resources were few, but where faith abounded, she learned that with God all things were possible.
People love the warmth, gentleness and softness of her voice; they testify that it brings them into God’s presence where there is tranquility and rest for the weary soul. Also, her inspired writings and compositions come from a heart that has been tried, broken and transformed by God’s Word from many years of hard work and tratraining. Phrases turn, emotions are pure and genuine, and melodies soar and linger long after, leaving you with a taste of the divine.
BIOGRAPHY
Ø Loyda (Pichardo) Hjelte was born in the tropical island of the Dominican Republic, where palm trees sway by the gentle ocean breeze and many tender children wonder in the streets. Being raised where resources were few, but where faith abounded, she learned that with God all things were possible. Her parents, full time ministers of the Gospel, showed her by example that although we may seem ordinary; we are really not, for we have an extraordinary God. She grew spiritually day-by-day, inch-by-inch and ignoring the gentle Holy Spirit’s voice was not an option. A whisper at first, which later turned into a thundering call given by the Master Himself. At the young age of 13 she remembers it clearly, and with trembling expectation and excitement she responded: “Here I am, my Lord, I am your servant, and serve you I will”.
Ø Loyda released her first Spanish recording in 1983, titled “Para Tu Gloria”. Soon after, she released her second recording titled “Volvera”. She ministered in many different venues and in all types of circumstances: Churches, Conferences, Street Corners, Schools, Parks, Camps, and Evangelistic Crusades.
Ø In 1985, after much prayer and counsel, her parents made the decision to fallow God’s guidance to move to South Florida, USA. It was not easy to be uprooted to a totally different country and culture, but even then God was merciful and ever so good. With only a few months of English under her belt, the Lord opened the doors of a wonderful college in Toccoa Falls affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. There she majored in Music Performance and Composition, studied diligently the Bible and graduated with honors with a Bachelors in Science. “I know God was with me all the way through those difficult hours of arduous study. It is not an easy task to tackle two difficult languages at once such as it is English and Music (Theory/Notation)”.
Ø After graduating from Toccoa Falls College, GA, Loyda became part of Carpenter’s Tools International, a missionary music-traveling group. She toured in all of the major cities of United States, as well as internationally to countries like India, Indonesia, Europe, Argentina, and the Caribbean. It was there that she met her husband Garth Hjelte. They married and after living in Fl for a year, they move to Willmar, MN where they have three wonderful children. During these childbearing years, Loyda has devoted much of her time teaching music to children and participating in many church worship groups and music activities.
Ø Births, changes, heartbreaks, adventures, disappointments, and joy: the 20years since the release of Loyda’s last studio album have been both defining and re-defining, not just in the world’s history but also in Loyda’s own life. One of the definitions found in the dictionary for the word Deliverer is “to free from evil, danger, to rescue”. In her new recording DELIVERER/LIBERTADOR she writes out of a heart that is passionately grateful and in love with the Prince who truly does rescues her continually; past, present and future. This project is bathed by the Holy Spirit’s anointing, and as the disc unfolds, music and words spill out like springs of water. People love the warmth, gentleness and softness of her voice; they testify that it brings them into God’s presence where there is tranquility and rest for the weary soul. Also, her inspired writings and compositions come from a heart that has been tried, broken and transformed by God’s Word from many years of hard work and training. Phrases turn, emotions are pure and genuine, and melodies soar and linger long after, leaving you with a taste of the divine.
Charis Advent Music llc.* 714 5th St. SE, Willmar, MN 56201*320-235-2734*www.Loydahjelte.com