Faculty

If we had to choose one facet of the school of music to tell you about, it would be our faculty. The faculty at the school of music is outstanding, and these people will become your mentors and friends. They will change your life.

 

Full-Time Faculty Profiles

Scott Ball

Scott Ball,  Dean of the School of Music and Professor of Music at Southern Adventist University, assumed his current position in 2000.  He taught previously at Atlantic Union College (So. Lancaster, MA) where he served as Chair of the Music Department and Director of the Honors Program.  A native of Washington, D.C., Ball received the B.Mus. in Performance (double bass) from Arizona State University, and continued his studies with Roger Scott, then principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  He received his M.A. from Andrews University, and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, where his major professors were Hans-Jorgen Holman and Charles Atkinson, respectively.  A musicologist with research interests in late 19th and 20th century English music and American popular music, Ball has taught courses in western music history and theory, world music, American music, and interdisciplinary humanities classes.  Ball has received the Zapara Award for Excellence in Teaching, and was elected "Professor of the Year" by the AUC Student Association in 2000.  In addition to his work as a scholar and teacher, Ball has enjoyed an eclectic performing career as a double bassist and electric bassist.  He was a member of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, and later toured the United States and Europe as electric bassist with Nils Lofgren (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band), and is featured on a number of recordings.

Responsibilities

Dean of the School of Music
History of Western Music
Musical Styles and Repertories
Music in the United States
Listening to Music
Arts and Ideas
Studio Double bass and Electric bass

Gennevieve Brown-Kibble

Gennevieve Kibble joined the faculty at Southern in 2005, after serving for 10 years at Pacific Union College (Angwin, CA). Previously, she taught at Auburn Adventist Academy and Columbia Academy in Washington State. Under her direction, choirs have performed in Australia, Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and, of course, in the United States. Dr. Kibble received the B.A. degree in music education from Andrews University, her master's degree in vocal performance from Indiana University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona.

Responsibilities

Director of Choral Activities: Bel Canto, Die Meistersinger, I Cantori
Choral Conducting
Studio Voice
Vocal Pedagogy

Peter Cooper

Peter Cooper is a highly acclaimed pianist, chamber musician, and teacher. He has performed and taught throughout the United States as well as Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Russia, and on the island of Guam. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He completed his D.M.A. in Piano Performance at the University of Michigan School of Music. From 1987 Cooper taught at Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI), and chaired the music department there from 1992 to 2006.  An enthusiastic teacher, he has also served on the keyboard faculty of the University of Michigan All-State Program at Interlochen and is a member of the faculty of the MasterWorks Festival of the Christian Performing Artist's Fellowship. He and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Audrey and Daniel.

Responsibilities

Studio Piano
Music Theory I-IV
Aural Theory I-IV
Accompanying
Piano Pedagogy

Judy Glass

Judy Glass is the organ professor at Southern Adventist University.  She was an organ student of Anton Heiller for three years at the Vienna Academy of Music, and has been a participant in the International Organ course in Haarlem, Holland and the North German Organ Academy.  During Professor Glass' tenure at Southern five mechanical action organs have been built and installed by John Brombaugh.  The organ in the campus church is the largest American-made tracker instrument in North America.  A native Texan, she received her B.Mus. and M.Mus. from the University of Texas in Austin and was a post-graduate student at Texas Tech University.  She is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon and was nominated to Pi Kappa Lambda.  In 1986, Professor Glass was recognized as one of the outstanding teachers at Southern Adventist University, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medallion in 1988.  Many of her former students have received advanced degrees, and are serving as organists and teachers throughout the United States.  As an organist, she has given many concerts across the United States and in many of the famous cathedrals of Europe.  She currently serves as the organist for the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists and the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga.

Responsibilities

Studio Organ
Aural Theory I-IV
Music Theory I-IV
Analysis of Musical Forms
Service Playing
Organ Pedagogy

Ken Parsons

Ken Parsons is Associate Professor of Music at Southern Adventist University.  He directs the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Ensemble and teaches various music education courses, as well as applied trumpet.  Before coming to Southern in 2000, he chaired the music department and served as Director of Wind Ensembles at Forest Lake Academy (Apopka, FL) for fourteen years.  As a secondary music teacher, his ensembles consistently earned high ratings at district and state Florida Bandmaster Association adjudications.  Additionally, many of his private students received Superior adjudication ratings, and won college performance scholarships. While in Florida, Professor Parsons also was the brass ensemble director and trumpet instructor at Rollins College.  Parsons holds bachelor's degrees in music education and theology from Walla Walla College, and earned his M.Mus. in Brass Performance at the University of Oregon.  He has performed extensively on trumpet in various orchestral and wind ensembles, and as soloist in the Northwest, Southern California, Florida, and Tennessee.  He and his wife, Kristi, have two children, Kristofer and Kaarsten.

Responsibilities

Studio Trumpet and Percussion
Conducting
Brass and Percussion Methods
Music in the Secondary School
Technology in Music Education
Music in the United States
Wind Symphony
Jazz Ensemble

Julie Penner

Julie Penner has taught at Southern Adventist University as the Director of Vocal Studies since 1993.  An active recitalist and concert vocalist, she performs regularly in university and church venues.  In recent years, she has been the featured soprano soloist in performances of Mendelssohn's "Elijah", Handel's "Messiah", Haydn's "Mass in Time of War", and Villa-Lobos's "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5".  Professor Penner earned her B.S. in Vocal Music Education from the University of Idaho, the M.Mus. in Vocal Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, and recently completed the Doctor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado.

Responsibilities

Studio Voice
Vocal Pedagogy
Singers Diction I & II
Listening to Music

Laurie Redmer Minner

Laurie Redmer Minner, violinist, violist and vocalist, holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Atlantic Union College and M.Mus. degrees in viola performance and conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music.  She has extensive experience as a conductor of instrumental and vocal ensembles.  Prior to joining the music faculty at Southern in 2000, Professor Minner taught at Columbia Union College, Takoma Academy, Greater Boston Academy, the New England Conservatory Extension Division, South Lancaster Academy, the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and the Thayer Conservatory of Music.  A deeply committed music educator, she was the head of the music education program, taught viola, violin, and conducting, and administered the Preparatory School of Music at Columbia Union College from 1998 to 2000.  Her performance experience includes concert tours of Europe, Australia, Asia, Russia, and the United States as violinist, violist, vocalist, and conductor. 

Responsibilities

Studio Viola and Violin
Conducting
String Methods
Music in the Elementary School
Music in the Secondary School
Symphony Orchestra

Adjunct Faculty Profiles

J. Bruce Ashton (Piano, Composition, Music in the Christian Church)

D.M.A. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Piano Performance); Professor Emeritus of Music, Southern Adventist University

Robert Burks (Oboe)

B.Mus., The Cleveland Institute of Music (Performance)
Principal Oboe, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra
Oboe, Chattanooga Symphony Woodwind Quintet
Instructor, Covenant College

John Burroughs (Low Brass)

B.S. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (Instrumental Music Education); M. Mus. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Jan Cochrane (Voice)

B.Mus.Ed. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
M.Mus. (Performance) University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Patricia Dusold (Bassoon)

B.Mus. Peabody Conservatory of Music
M.Mus., Rice University
Member, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra
Substitute bassoon, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Laura Elder (Harp)

B.A. Ball State University (History)
M.Mus. Ball State University (Performance)
Instructor, Lee University

Robert Hansel (Guitar)

B.Mus. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (Performance)
M.Mus. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (Performance)
Instructor, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Instructor, Chattanooga State 

Gordon James (Horn, Chamber Music)

B.Mus. Peabody Conservatory (Performance)
M.Mus. University of North Texas (Performance)
Principal Horn, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra
Instructor, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Elaine Janzen (Piano)

B.A., Andrews University
M.A., Andrews University

Nora Kile (Flute)

B.Mus., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Performance)
M.Mus., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Performance)
Flute and Piccolo, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra
Instructor, Cadek Conservatory of Music; University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Bruce Kuist (Double Reeds)

B.Mus., Andrews University (Music Education)
M.Mus., University of South Florida (Music Education)
Band Director and Private Instrument Instructor, Bowman Hills SDA and Ooltewah SDA Schools

Mark Reneau (Violin, Chamber Music)

B.Mus., University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (Performance)
M.Mus., University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (Performance)
Concertmaster, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
Violin, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra
Instructor, Cadek Conservatory of Music

Sherilyn Samaan (Piano, Elementary Music Methods)

B.Mus.Ed., Walla Walla College; M.A. Boise State University

Clinton Schmitt (Saxophone, Woodwind Methods)

B.S., M.A., Jacksonville State University
M.Mus., New England Conservatory of Music (Performance)

Patricia Silver (Trumpet, Clarinet)

B.S., Madison College
M.A., George Peabody College (Music Education)
Retired Associate Professor of Music, Southern Adventist University

James Stroud (Cello)

B.Mus., Louisiana State University (Performance)
M.Mus., Hartt College of Music, University of Hartford (Performance)
D.M.A., University of Arizona (Performance)
Retired Professor of Music, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Nicolasa Tejero (Clarinet)

B.Mus. University of Tennessee, Chattanooga  (Performance)
M.Mus. Baylor University (Performance)
Substitute Clarinet, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra
Instructor, Cadek Conservatory