Additional Music Instructors
Jeffrey Barrington, Instructor of Trumpet
Jeffrey Barrington serves as the Trumpet Instructor and coaches a student Brass Quintet at Asbury University. Having recently relocated to Lexington, KY, Jeffrey has previously served as the Divisional Music & Arts Director for The Salvation Army in both the Texas and New Jersey Divisions. He received his Bachelors Degree from Asbury University in 2002 and his Master’s Degree from SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory in 2004.
Besides teaching, Jeffrey has served as principal trumpet of the Artemis Chamber Ensemble in New York and has performed and recorded extensively with the New York Staff Band and Southern Territorial Band of The Salvation Army.
Degrees
MM, State University of New York, Purchase Conservatory
BA, Asbury University
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Clyde Beavers, Instructor of Cello
Professor Beavers, a resident of Lexington, Kentucky, is Adjunct Professor of violoncello at Asbury University and Transylvania University. He serves as the Assistant Principal cellist of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. Chamber music ensembles in which he performs include the Ashland Trio, the Beavers-Cooper Duo, and the Beavers-Kiekenapp Duo. In 1997, with the encouragement and assistance of several friends, he founded the one-week summer music camp Festival of Strings.
Professor Beavers has recorded Marcel Dupré’s Sonata in A minor, Op. 60 for cello and organ, the Trio, Op. 55 for violin, cello and organ, and the Quartet, Op. 52 for violin, viola, cello and organ on the Naxos label.
Clyde Beavers performs on a cello made by the American maker, Timothy J. Jansma. He frequently collaborates with pianist David Cooper in the Bluegrass area. In addition to his work in music, he enjoys growing, showing and hybridizing roses.
Degrees
DMA, University of Kentucky
MM, BM, Julliard
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Al Beers, Instructor of Guitar
Al Beers is Asbury University’s Instructor of Guitar and Director of the Guitar Ensemble. In addition to his studio at Asbury University, Mr. Beers teaches guitar at Asbury Theological Seminary and is director of the Childbloom Guitar Program of Lexington, Kentucky, which is licensed by the national program based in Austin, Texas. Mr. Beers has won several national awards from Childbloom, including Teacher of the Year.
Degrees
M.Div, Asbury Theological Seminary
BM, Guitar Performance, University of South Alabama
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Bob Bryant, Instructor of Bass and Jazz Theory
Bob Bryant serves as Instructor of Bass as well as Jazz Theory (when offered). He also offers Independent Studies in Jazz Performance for interested students. Mr. Bryant received his BA in music from the University of Kentucky and a Masters degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Mr. Bryant retains an extensive list of collaborations with such well-known performers as Bela Fleck, Jack Wilkins, Jerry Douglas, and Alex Acuna. Mr.Bryant has also performed on over 500 LP’s and CD’s, and composed/produced over 1000 commercial jingles.
Degrees
MM, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
BA, University of Kentucky
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Clark Cranfill, Instructor of Percussion
Mr. Cranfill teaches percussion lessons and percussion methods courses at Asbury. In addition, Clark currently works as the high school and junior high band director at Lexington Christian Academy, Volunteer Recruiter at The New Life Day Center, and Director of Artruism Inc. (a new non-profit altruistic arts organization). He is also active as a composer.
Degree
BME, Music Education, University of Kentucky
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Doug Drewek, Instructor of Saxophone and Clarinet
A native of Raleigh, NC, Dr. Drewek has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra and the US Air Jazz Orchestra featuring Ben E. King. In 1996 Dr. Drewek traveled with the Leon Jordan Continentals on a weeklong tour of northern England. In 2002 he was featured with the East Carolina Jazz Ensemble at the JVC Jazz Festival and the Birdland jazz club in New York City. While in Kentucky, he has played with a variety of ensembles including DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra, The Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra, The Lexington Philharmonic, the Temptations, and Aretha Franklin. Dr. Drewek has also recorded extensively. He can be heard on the Osland Saxophone Quartet’s recording, Commission Impossible, the DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra’s Quotient, and the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra’s Flying Home. Other recordings include the world premiere of Bob Mintzer’s Rhythm of the Americas with the Osland Saxophone Quartet and the University of Kentucky Wind Ensemble, as well as the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble’s Self Contained which was recommended for a Grammy nomination in 2006. In 2015, Dr. Drewek served as director for the Kentucky Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble.
Degrees
DMA, Saxophone Performance, University of Kentucky
MM, Saxophone Performance, East Carolina University
BM, Saxophone Performance, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Marie-France Duclos, Instructor of Voice
Soprano MARIE-FRANCE DUCLOS has built a vast repertoire of solo performances with renowned conductors and orchestras throughout Canada. She has sung under the baton of conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Boris Brott, Jean-François Rivest, and André Bernard. She was recently featured as Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Bourbon Baroque. She was also the soprano soloist in Bach’s Saint John’s Passion with the Kentucky Bach Choir. She is the first prize winner of the Audrey Rooney Kentucky Bach Choir Competition 2014.
Her talent for sacred music has led her to sing in many concerts such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, Mozart’s Requiem, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, Exultate Jubilate, Poulenc’s Gloria and Fauré’s Requiem. She was broadcasted by the public radio CBC in a concert of The Motets by J.S. Bach. She also toured in Canada as Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel presented by Les Jeunesses Musicales of Canada. She performed in such roles as Musetta, Cendrillon, and Monica. Marie-France earned a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Montreal where she was awarded a merit scholarship as well as a George-Cedric Ferguson scholarship. She’s received a fellowship to attend the Canadian Institute of Vocal Arts. Alongside her teaching and performing, Marie-France is working towards her D.M.A. in Voice Performance at the University of Kentucky under the guidance of Dr. Noemi Lugo.
Degrees
DMA (in-process), Vocal Performance, University of Kentucky
MM, Vocal Performance, University of Montreal
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Merrilee Elliott, Instructor of Flute
Merrilee Elliott, a native Kentuckian, enjoys a varied career as a flutist. In addition to playing in the Lexington Philharmonic, she performs regularly throughout Kentucky and the South with The Ashland Trio (Flute, Viola, Cello), The Jefferson Duo (Flute, Harp), The Elliott/Fogler Duo (Flute, Guitar) and The Lexington Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet. Merrilee is in demand as a soloist and chamber musician and has played concerts in Greece, Italy, Austria, and Germany.
Degree
BM, Flute Performance, University of Kentucky
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Kim Heersche, Instructor of Oboe
Kim Heersche is the instructor of oboe at Asbury University. She received a B.M.in Music Education from the University of South Carolina, where she studied with Rebecca Nagel, and an M.M. in Oboe Performance from the University of Kentucky, where she studied with Nancy Clauter. In addition to her work at Asbury, Ms. Heersche is the adjunct instructor of oboe at Transylvania University and maintains an active performing and teaching schedule in the Bluegrass area.
Degrees
MM, Oboe Performance, University of Kentucky
BME, Music Education, University of South Carolina
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Brad Keesler, Instructor of Trombone and Euphonium
Dr. Bradley J. Keesler serves as the instructor of trombone and euphonium at Asbury University, and is also an adjunct instructor of music at Eastern Kentucky University and Midway University. He also manages and teaches private lessons through the Bluegrass Low Brass Studio comprised of middle and high school students in Central Kentucky. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, a Master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Doctoral degree from the University of South Carolina. His primary teachers have been Dale Warren, David Loucky, and Brad Edwards. He performs as a freelance musician throughout Kentucky and Ohio, and is the principal trombonist with the Lexington Brass Band. Originally from South Carolina, he currently lives in Cynthiana, Kentucky with his wife, Emily.Degrees
DMA, Trombone Performance, University of South Carolina
MA, Music Performance, Middle Tennessee State University
BM, Music Performance, University of Kentucky
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Sherri Phelps, Instructor of Voice
Degrees
DMA, University of Kentucky
Principal Teachers: Professor Gail Robinson
MM, The Juilliard School
Principal Teacher: Professor Beverly Johnson
BM, Western Kentucky University
Principal Teacher: Professor Elizabeth Volkman
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Linda Pickerill, Instructor of Piano
Linda Pickerill serves as an instructor of piano at Asbury University in addition to maintaining a private piano teaching studio. She has held the position of accompanist for Asbury University, Asbury Theological Seminary, and Wingate University in North Carolina. Professor Pickerill has studied piano at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the University of Kentucky. She and pianist Julie Tennent form a piano four-hands duo and have recently performed works by Mendelssohn, Schubert, and Dvorak.
Degrees
BS, Education, University of Cincinnati
MA, Education, The Ohio State University
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Arlene Rector, Instructor of Harp
In addition to teaching at Asbury, Arlene performs extensively and is a member of the Jefferson duo with Asbury’s flute instructor, Merrilee Elliott.
Degree
BM, Harp Performance, Eastman School of Music
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Meg Saunders, Instructor of Violin and Viola
Meg Saunders holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Virginia. She completed a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at Eastern Kentucky University. Saunders has been on the music faculty of Centre College since 2003 and is also currently serving on the faculty at Eastern Kentucky University as violin/viola instructor. She teaches over 70 young students with the Heritage Area String Program in Danville.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Saunders is a regular performer with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. She performs regularly on solo and chamber music recitals and maintains a large studio of Central Kentucky students ages 4-18. During summers she serves on the faculty of the Stephen Foster Music Camps and performs with the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra in Virginia.
Degrees
MAT, Music Education, Eastern Kentucky University
MM, Violin Performance, Eastern Kentucky University
BM, Violin Performance, University of Virginia
BA, Psychology, University of Virginia
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Cheryl Schell, Instructor of Handbells
Professor Cheryl Schell, Instructor of Handbells, graduated from Asbury University with a degree in Music Education. She is the wife of Music Department Chair, Dr. Mark Schell, and the mother of Hannah and Adam. Mrs. Schell also stays busy as the Minister of Children at the Wilmore Free Methodist Church. She has rung handbells since college and continues to do so both at the college and church, enjoying reading and cross-stitching in her spare time.
Degree
BS, Music Education, Asbury University
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Adam Sovkoplas, Instructor of Composition and Orchestration
Adam Sovkoplas completed his DMA in Composition at the University of Kentucky under the instruction of Joe Baber in May of 2013. His previous composition instructors include Richard Urbis, Trent Hanna, and Thomas Couvillon. Sovkoplas teaches music theory at Eastern Kentucky University and music composition at Asbury University.
Sovkoplas has been awarded the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers scholarship, won the 2nd Annual SHSU Phi Mu Alpha/Fisher Tull Composition Contest and was recognized as the CMS South Central Chapter Outstanding Student Composer in 2006. His works have been performed nationally and internationally at various conferences and festivals including the 2nd Annual Festival of New Organ Music, London, England (2007), the Orvieto Musica Festival in Italy (2008), the International Computer Music Conference in New York (2010), the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the College Music Society Regional Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia (2012), the International Summer Arts Institute in Città di Castello, Italy (2012), and the International Double Reed Society conference in Oxford, Ohio (2012). In 2012, Sovkoplas’s composition Tom Bombadil (2011) for orchestra was selected as the winning composition of the Magnum Opus: A New Composer’s Competition and premiered by the Symphony of the Mountains
In 2007, Sovkoplas founded the Central Kentucky Student Chapter of the Society of Composers, Inc. and has since organized the 1st through the 5th annual Kentucky New Music Festivals. In 2009, Sovkoplas began pursuing his interest in becoming a playwright and studied with Herman D. Farrell, III at the University of Kentucky. His one-act plays have been staged by the Bluegrass Mystery Theatre in Lexington, KY.
Degrees
DMA, Composition, University of Kentucky
Graduate Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy – University of Kentucky
MM, Theory and Composition, Sam Houston State University
BA, Music, University of Texas at Brownsville
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu