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Megan Mash has been serving as the Music Minister at Sebastian United Methodist Church since 2010. Megan was hired to use music as a tool for outreach into the community of Sebastian. She has done this by starting a summer music camp that now is comprised of three weeks throughout the summer that are designed for ages 5-17, creating and sustaining a missional concert series and directing multiple intergenerational ensembles. Megan is passionate about worship design and congregational song. She is most looking forward to renewal in her work through the Doctorate of Pastoral Music. Studying music and theology together is something important to her and it continues to enhance how she perceives and executes her role as a church musician. She hopes to gain new perspectives to enhance her work in planning liturgy. Megan is also seeking new ideas about how to further engage her community in spiritual growth with her colleagues.

Megan earned a Bachelor of Arts in music and religion from Simpson College in Indianola, IA. She earned a Masters of Sacred Music with a concentration in organ from ¾«¶«´«Ã½. She is an active member in The Hymn Society, American Guild of Organists and Choristers Guild.

Michael currently serves as Minister of Worship at Cityview Bible Church in Round Rock, Texas. He relocated from his native town of Richmond, Virginia to Texas in November 2011. In June 2011, Michael married Alicia Peters-Jordan and she joined him in Texas where they both serve as leaders in Music, Worship and Fine Arts Ministry.

Michael was educated in the Richmond Public School system and moved on to pursue an undergraduate and graduate education. Michael is a proud alumnus of Hampton University (BA Music Education, 2005) and Liberty University (MA Worship Studies, 2009). While Michael did not intend to pursue any formal degrees beyond his Master of Arts, his colleagues and mentors urged him to consider doctoral studies. The Doctoral of Pastoral Music degree program was suggested, then researched, and ultimately became Michael's next pursuit. The title of the DPM degree program was the initial attraction, but while researching the offered core, concentration, and elective courses, Michael was convinced that this educational journey would provide the necessary tools to heighten his effectiveness in his current vocation, expose him to other opportunities, and equip him to enlighten and educate others in his field of service.

Embarking on this DPM journey is frightening and exciting for Michael. Yet, he trusts that the training, exposure, networking, and nurture of the Perkins School of Theology at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and the grace, guidance, and goodness of God will provide a lifetime of victories.

Halfway through his seventh decade, and in his third career, Alan is the Director of Music at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia, where he has served since Epiphany, 2013. Prior to becoming a professional church musician, Alan served 26 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a captain in 2004. He subsequently worked in the defense industry, and then returned to school to obtain degrees in organ performance and in church music. Although his prior careers were not music-related, his lifelong love of church music was always close at hand. Throughout his naval career, he also found time to sing in church choirs and community choruses wherever he was stationed, and occasionally to serve as an organist.

After retiring from the defense industry, he was encouraged to study music more in depth and was called to his current position.
After completing his master’s degree in church music at Shenandoah University, Alan learned about the newly created DPM program at ¾«¶«´«Ã½. For him, the program is a practical balance between academia and performance, and emphasizes the importance of the church musician as a minister, not only to the musicians in the parish, but also to the community as a whole. He hopes build on his experiences in the DPM program - the academic learning as well as the shared wisdom of his professors and classmates - to enable making the best use of available resources to present a program of church music to the glory of God, both in the parish, and beyond the St. James’ walls.

Alan is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Houston. He and his wife reside in Springfield, Virginia. He is an Industrial Engineering graduate of Texas A&M University, and studied Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He obtained a degree in organ performance from Northern Virginia Community College, and a Master’s of Music in Church Music from Shenandoah University.

Andrew Jennings is the director of liturgy and music for the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) for their North American Province, based at their motherhouse in Donaldson, Indiana. In addition to providing musical leadership for PHJC liturgical celebrations, Andrew also directs the Ancilla Domini Community Choir and Orchestra in various performances throughout the year and teaches applied voice lessons at Ancilla College. Andrew has had the pleasure of working with community organizations such as the South Bend Civic Theater volunteering as a music director and serving as guest festival conductor for South Bend’s Choral Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic when liturgical and musical activities were put on hold, Andrew discerned ways to continue supporting co-workers and the surrounding community and went through training to become a life coach and a spiritual director. Even though liturgies and musical performances have resumed, he continues to provide one on one support to co-workers and clients of the PHJC’s retreat center. Andrew finds great joy walking with others as they explore their relationship with God, as it always deepens his own understanding of his spiritual journey.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in music, organ performance from Indiana University Southeast and a Master of Sacred Music, concentrating in choral conducting from the University of Notre Dame. He is looking forward to expanding community and exploring ways the liturgical and musical traditions of women religious communities inspire future generations to respond to the needs of the world while pursing the DPM degree. Outside of his professional life, Andrew enjoys spending time in the kitchen trying new recipes, exploring new hiking trails with his dog, and experiencing new wineries and breweries with his partner.

Nick Klemetson (BM Piano Performance, St. Olaf College; MSM Choral Conducting, Emory University) currently serves as Director of Worship at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Winter Haven, FL, moving to Florida after spending ten wonderful years in Waverly, IA. Before that, he served as a church musician in the Twin Cities, MN, and Atlanta, GA. An avid champion of the choral arts, he was Artistic Director of Bel Canto Cedar Valley, an auditioned community chorus centered in Cedar Falls, IA, from 2017 to 2021. An active pianist, he regularly collaborates with schools, colleges, and other organizations for freelance piano work. Nick is a published composer, contracted with Augsburg Fortress and Morningstar Music Publishers. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Stephanie and Siberian Husky Buddy, cooking, powerlifting, video games, chess, and video/audio editing.

Nick chose to undertake the DPM because of the specific focus on pastoral music. He is excited to meet and collaborate with people of different backgrounds and life experiences, and to have a guided approach to academic learning in a structured format. His current interests lie in searching for new depth and meaning in all styles of worship, planning services that hope to achieve that goal, and continuing to expand his knowledge in organ, piano, and choral repertoire. Above all is his desire to serve his congregation and worship ministry with compassion, grace, and humility.

Symantha is a vocal teacher and a liturgical singer. She has been an adjunct lecturer in various theological seminaries in Hong Kong, currently serving as an adjunct lecturer in the Hong Kong Alliance Bible Seminary and assisting the church music program and liturgical events. In addition, she is a volunteer music minister holding various positions in churches for many years as a choir conductor, worship planner, congregational song leader, and coach for worship presiders and song leaders. She has also been working closely with Hong Kong Church Music Association as a liturgical singer for recordings, and actively participating in singing for several evangelical events and worship symposia. Her context for ministry is in theological seminaries, sacred music organizations, and local churches.

After obtaining a BA (Hons) Degree in Music Education from Hong Kong Baptist University, she continued her studies at the University of Sheffield, the UK, majoring in vocal performance, receiving the Master of Music Degree. Additionally, she studied at Trinity College of Music in London and was awarded a Post-graduate Certificate in Vocal Performance. Her theological education includes a master’s degree in Christian Studies from the Hong Kong China Graduate School of Theology.

After serving many years as a music minister, her passion and vocation is the study of congregational songs, helping congregations sing with understanding. She has decided to enroll in the DPM program as it is closely associated with her vocation in music ministry as to improve her knowledge and practice in congregational songs, specifically to study hymns and global songs, including worship planning and hymn-writing. In the future, she aspires to serve God with more inspiration and skill in pastoral music

Budi Taniwan is the Music and Worship Minister at Imanuel Methodist Church of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia. Budi grew up in this same church and was heavily involved in many aspects of their ministry. He later spent seven years in the USA focusing on his general music education and church music from 2006 to 2013. Upon his return, Budi was immediately appointed as the Minister of Music and Worship. The following year, he reinstated the Imanuel Music School, a music education institution for all ages. Some of his responsibilities include planning weekly worship and special events as well as directing the choirs along with the worship teams and musical ensembles. As of 2021, he was given the initiative to develop and lead the church’s digital ministry department.

Budi is also a musician and an arranger. He regularly makes new hymn and song arrangements for the weekly Sunday services. In addition, he frequently serves as guest conductor as well as vocal coach for the local churches.

Since 2017, Budi has served as the vice chairman of the music and worship department for the Communion of Chinese Churches in Indonesia (COCCI), a member of Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism Movement (CCCOWE). There, he oversees series of training and coaching about worship planning and church music for the churches in Indonesia.

Budi earned his Bachelor of Arts in music (vocal and conducting) and philosophy and religion in 2010 from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. He received his Master of Sacred Music (Choral Conducting) in 2012 from Perkins School Theology at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ in Dallas, Texas. Through the Doctor of Pastoral Music program, he is looking to get a new paradigm towards his ministry and vocation, as well as gaining new insights that will enhance his knowledge and skills to further enrich his church and the churches in Indonesia

Ee Hwee currently serves as pastoral staff at Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore, where she oversees the Worship and Music ministry and plans the weekly liturgy of the four traditional services. Her current focus is in building the church up through prayerful planning of the weekly liturgy, and in cultivating Christian discipleship through Scripture, songs, and stories within the community. Previously, she served as a worship minister in a Baptist church, an adjunct lecturer at Singapore Bible College, a primary school teacher, and a biostatistician in cancer research.  Ee Hwee loves learning, thinking, research, and writing, and hopes to use her experience and training in statistics, education, music, theology, and pastoral ministry to lead and nurture those whom God has given her to shepherd. 

James Stanley is the Director of Music and Worship Arts at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas where he has worked since 2016. He has been continuously employed in church work for twenty years as an organist, choir director, praise team leader, and youth leader. James holds a bachelors degree and a masters degree from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in organ and organ pedagogy, respectively. He is an active recitalist and contemporary worship clinician. His organ compositions are published by Lorenz. In his free time, he enjoys classical guitar, mandolin, and jazz piano. He lives in North Little Rock with his wife, Christen and their two sons.

Karl Utz is the English Language Coordinator and lecturer in church music at Sabah Theological Seminary in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Born and raised in the United States, Karl has a passion for teaching pastors and church musicians around the world. After graduating from universities in Oklahoma and Texas, Karl moved to Sabah, Malaysia, in August 2015 to train church musicians at a large Anglican church. He soon discovered a passion for teaching and became a full-time English and music instructor in Malaysia for students of all ages from countries as wide-ranging as China, Russia, Japan, Columbia, and Turkey. In Sabah, Karl met his future wife, and they are now happily married with two young children. 

He holds a Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music (Piano Performance) from Oral Roberts University, and a Master of Music in Church Music (Piano Performance) from Baylor University. Through the Doctorate of Pastoral Music program at the Perkins School of Theology, Karl hopes to further his skills as a lecturer and learn how to better contextualize church music education for students in Malaysia.

Don Kirkindoll has directed music programs and ministries since 1997. He currently serves as the Director of Music and Worship Arts at St. James United Methodist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas. Choirs under his direction have performed at Walt Disney World, Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, and churches and cathedrals throughout the UK—most notably Canterbury Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Wesley’s Chapel, and Canongate Kirk. He has performed as a vocalist at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, as well as concerts in Europe, South Africa, and throughout the southeastern U.S.A.

Don earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Centenary College of Louisiana, and a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of South Carolina. He is thrilled to begin the DPM at ¾«¶«´«Ã½, meet new colleagues, and make new connections. Don is passionate about worship design and the use of the arts in worship and ministry, and he can’t wait to learn more and deepen his ministry impact. Don lives in Clyde, NC with his wife, Kriss. Their teenager, Nat, is embarking on her own college journey this fall.

Creighton Holder  currently serves as Director of Music (Organist/Choirmaster) at the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, Mississippi, where he programs all service music, coordinates the Music at First concert series, and teaches in the Music at First piano studio. Creighton is active in the Oxford community as Co-Director of the Oxford Civic Chorus, Subdean of the Oxford-University of Mississippi chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and as a collaborative pianist in the University of Mississippi music department. He also serves as the Music in Worship chair for the Mississippi American Choral Directors Association. 

Creighton is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he earned degrees in piano performance and choral conducting; his primary instructors were Dr. Ellen Price Elder and Dr. Gregory Fuller. He recently completed the Certificate in Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique at Salem College (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) under the instruction of Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink. Through his experiences in ministry, Creighton has developed a passion for celebrating diverse voices in sacred music and strengthening representation of women composers. He is excited to collaborate with colleagues in the DPM program and learn from their experiences.

Zvony (Zvonimir) Nagy is a Croatian-born American organist, pianist, choral conductor, composer, and educator. He holds a Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University and has studied piano and organ performance at Texas Christian University and the University of Zagreb, Croatia.

As an organist and pianist, Nagy has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and choral conductor throughout the United States and Europe. He received the second prize in the César Franck-Olivier Messiaen International Organ Competition in Haarlem, the Netherlands. His piano and organ recordings are available at PARMA Recordings-Ravello Records, Albany Records, and MSR Classics; Universal Edition and Paraclete Press publish his music. He has a proven record of internationally recognized scholarly and creative work as a university professor. As an improviser, he draws from historical and experimental improvisation practices, interactive media technologies, and interdisciplinary collaborations. His book, Embodiment of Musical Creativity: The Cognitive and Performative Causality of Musical Composition (Routledge, 2017 offers an innovative look at the interdisciplinary nature of the psychology of musical creativity.

Nagy has directed sacred music at churches and cathedrals throughout the United States, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to church music and leadership experience with various music programs. He serves as Director of Music and Worship at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit