Meet Ellie DelTurco

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ellie DelTurco. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ellie below.

Ellie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I think purpose often finds us in layers—through joy, pain, calling, and obedience. For me, it began in my local church as a teenager when I first stepped into leading worship. I wasn’t the most polished or confident, but something deep in me came alive when I helped others connect with God through music. That spark led me to invest in songwriting, worship coaching, and creating environments where people can encounter truth and beauty.

Over time, my purpose has widened to include mentoring other creatives, releasing music that speaks to both grit and grace, and even contributing to the revitalization of our town through residential real estate. My husband and I run a small portfolio of Airbnbs in Monaca, PA—not just as a business, but as a way to bring excellence, beauty, and hospitality back into the local neighborhood fabric.

I didn’t find my purpose all at once—it’s been revealed as I’ve said “yes” to what’s in front of me, even when the path looked more like a slow walk than a spotlight.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a worship leader, songwriter, and creative entrepreneur, and I’ve spent the past 15 years helping people encounter God through music that’s honest, reverent, and deeply rooted in Scripture. I serve as the Worship Director at Hill City Church in the Pittsburgh area, where I get to pour into our local community and help shape environments of passionate, Spirit-led worship.

One of the things I’m most passionate about is coaching emerging worship leaders—especially those stepping into ministry for the first time. I work closely with my own team at Hill City, but I also partner with and resource other local churches in the area. It’s part of my greater desire to see unity in the Church across our city—raising up confident, humble leaders who are equipped both spiritually and practically for the work they’re called to.

Alongside that, I write and release my own music—most recently, a project called Bloom, which was born out of one of the hardest seasons of my life. I write songs that are shaped by real stories and meant to stir both the soul and the spirit. Right now, I’m working on a new four-song EP where each track corresponds to a horse’s gait—walk, trot, canter, and gallop—merging my love for music with my lifelong passion for riding and foxhunting. It’s probably the most creatively personal thing I’ve worked on, and I can’t wait to share it.

Outside of music, my husband and I run a small portfolio of short-term rentals in Monaca, PA, where we’re committed to elevating our town through thoughtful design, hospitality, and excellence in residential real estate. It’s been such a joy to invest locally and help bring new life to a place that has deep roots and big potential.

At the end of the day, my work—whether through a song, a worship set, or a beautifully restored home—is all about creating space for people to experience truth, beauty, and belonging.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three things stand out as being especially impactful in my journey: consistency, teachability, and spiritual depth.

Consistency is wildly underrated. You don’t have to be the most talented person in the room—but if you keep showing up with excellence and humility, doors will open. I’ve found that the fruit of faithfulness compounds over time. For someone starting out, my advice would be: commit to doing the unseen things well. Show up early. Stay a little later. Build trust through the way you carry yourself in every season.

Teachability has been crucial. Whether it was learning new vocal techniques, adapting to new leadership roles, or growing in entrepreneurship, I’ve had to stay open to feedback and willing to change. The people who grow the most are the ones who ask good questions, listen well, and don’t assume they’ve arrived.

Lastly, spiritual depth. Especially in ministry and the creative world, it’s easy to confuse platform with purpose. The only thing that sustains me long-term is staying rooted in God’s presence. For those early in their journey, I’d say—invest as much in your character and communion with God as you do in your craft. That’s where the real authority flows from.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I believe in going all in on your strengths—but not in isolation. Growth happens when we lean into what we’re uniquely called to carry while staying open to learning from what’s growing around us.

I think of it like this: we start at the roots—our inner circle, our team, the people closest to us. Then we branch out into our community—other creatives, churches, and collaborators nearby. From there, we take in the forest—the broader region we’re a part of. And finally, we look to the horizon—leaders, artists, and voices from around the country or world who are doing excellent, meaningful work.

Practically, this rhythm shows up in how I prepare for Sundays. At the roots level, I meet monthly with three of my worship team members to plan our church’s setlists. I ask what songs are ministering to them, what themes are surfacing in their prayer life, and we shape the month together. From there, I look to the branches—I’ll often watch livestreams from churches in our local community to see what songs and creative expressions are resonating nearby. Then I take in the forest—a few trusted churches across the country whose leadership and creativity I respect, learning from what’s working in their context. And finally, I look to the horizon—I dig into new worship releases, national trends, and global voices to spark fresh inspiration. That’s also where much of my songwriting flows from—watching how the Spirit is moving in broader ways and asking, “What can I contribute to that?”

This practice doesn’t make me less rooted in my own calling—it actually makes me more grounded and more aware. It reminds me that while we’re all carrying something specific, we’re also part of a much bigger story.

So yes—grow deep in your strengths, but don’t stop there. Stay rooted, stay curious, and let the growth of others stir something fresh in you.

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Image Credits

Mark Cunzolo, Celestial Photography

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