Additional Music Instructors
Jeffrey Barrington, Instructor of Trumpet
Dr. Jeffrey Barrington currently serves as the instructor of trumpet at Asbury University as well as the music education specialist with The Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory. With an extensive background in Salvation Army brass banding, Jeffrey previously held positions as the Divisional Music & Arts Director for The Salvation Army in the Texas and New Jersey Divisions. He received his Bachelors Degree from Asbury University in 2002, his Masters Degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music in 2004, and most recently, his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky in 2020. Besides teaching, Jeffrey is the principal cornet of Lexington Brass Band, and has performed and recorded extensively with The Salvation Army’s New York Staff Band and the Southern Territorial Band. Jeffrey currently resides in Georgetown, Kentucky with his wife, Janette, and four children.
Degrees
- B.A. in Music, Asbury University, 2002.
- M.M. in Trumpet Performance, SUNY Purchase, 2004.
- D.M.A in Trumpet Performance, University of Kentucky, 2020.
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
Vicki Bell, Professor of Music Theory
Degrees
- Ph.D., Music Theory, University of Kentucky
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Benjamin Black, Director of Gospel Choir
Benjamin Black serves as an Admissions Counselor at Asbury University. Currently, he is assigned to the North Eastern United States and Northern Kentucky. He also has the privilege of serving as the Director of the Gospel Choir here on campus. Benjamin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Asbury University in Media Communication with an emphasis in Entertainment Management. He is currently finishing his education at Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Arts in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in Church Planting.
Benjamin loves to worship, step into discipleship, and wants to help people step into the purpose of who God made them to be. Whether it is Admissions, leading worship, teaching worship, or doing life with people, Benjamin seeks to walk with God in the life he’s called him to live. He loves his wife, family, friends and dog Ginger.
Degrees
- B.A. in Media Communication, Asbury University (2020)
- In progress: Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary 2020-2023
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Isaac Brooks, Lecturer of Choral Music
Isaac Brooks is a lifelong musician from Barbourville, Kentucky. Isaac holds a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Eastern Kentucky University. While at Eastern Kentucky University he studied voice with Dr. Joyce Hall Wolf and conducting with Dr. Richard Waters and Dr. Ho-Yin Kwok. Isaac serves as the Children’s Choir director at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Kentucky. Isaac also conducts two community choruses, Licking Valley Singers in Cynthiana, Kentucky, and Madison Singers in Richmond, Kentucky. When Isaac is not performing classical music he is playing bluegrass music around regional venues.
Degrees
- Masters of Music, Choral Conducting
- Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy
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 nonprofit altruistic arts organization). He is also active as a composer.
Degrees
- BME, Music Education, University of Kentucky
- MA, Digital Storytelling, Asbury University
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Johnie Dean, Instructor of Composition
Dr. Johnie Dean lives in Lexington, Kentucky, where he is actively involved in educational and church music. He teaches applied lessons in composition and serves as the coordinator of Graduate Studies in the School of Communication Arts. In addition, he is the Assistant Conductor of The Lexington Singers and works with area local churches and their music leadership.
Dr. Dean received his Bachelor of Music degree in church music from Campbellsville College in Campbellsville, Kentucky, and his Master of Church Music degree in composition from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition was granted by the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Winner of numerous awards in both writing and performance, Dr. Dean is well-represented in sacred catalogs with having over 200 works published for piano, adult and children’s choirs, handbells, orchestra, and instrumental ensembles. He also serves as a frequent choral adjudicator, vocal coach, vocal soloist, accompanist, and guest conductor.
A Kentucky native, he has been composing and arranging music for over 40 years and has more than 200 published works. His recent published work, The Pirates of Penzance Medley, National Music Publishers, was performed by the Florida All-State High School TTBB Chorus in 2012 and by the Texas All-State Men’s High School TTBB Choir in 2013. Other recent published works include three piano collections published by FJH Music Publishing Company in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a solo piano CD of his arrangements titled I Need Thee Every Hour, and numbers included on The American Spiritual Ensemble’s Christmas CD. Dr. Dean arranges and orchestrates commissioned numbers throughout the year.
Degrees
- DMA, University of Kentucky
- MM, Southern Seminary
- BM, Campbellsville College
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
Bailey Hardy-Price, Instructor of Trombone
Bailey Hardy-Price currently serves as the instructor of Trombone at Asbury University as well as the music instructor at the Frankfort Christian Academy. She previously worked as the director of advancement at the Worship Conservancy in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. She earned her masters in trombone performance from Akron University in 2021 and a bachelors of music from Bowling Green State University in 2019. She lives in Central Kentucky with her husband, Aaron.Degrees
- MM, Music Performance, Akron University, 2021
- BM, Bowling Green State University, 2019
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Kim Heersche, Instructor of Oboe
Kim Heersche has a Bachelor Degree of Music in Music Education with Performer’s Certificate from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from the University of Kentucky. She has over 18 years of performance experience as a contracted and volunteer musician in a variety of musical styles and venues. She has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic and Community Orchestras, Handel Festival Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, Central Kentucky Concert Band, Lexington Bach Choir & Consort, and Tano Venti Woodwind Quintet, among others. She is also a private instructor and has appeared at the Rochester Bach Festival.Degrees
- MM, Music Performance, University of Kentucky
- BM, Music Education, University of South Carolina
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Alan Jacobus, Instructor of Bassoon
Alan Jacobus has been actively involved in music education for over 40 years, and is currently the adjunct instructor of bassoon at Asbury University.
He received his B.M.E. degree from the University of Kentucky, and has done graduate work at the University of Illinois, Western Michigan University, Ball State University, and Central Michigan University.
Mr. Jacobus is recently retired from 41 teaching in Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. For the past 20 years, he was Director of Bands for the Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville. During that time his bands consistently earned superior performance ratings at district, state, and national band festivals. They performed at Carnegie Hall, the Michigan Music Conference, and at the Australian International Band Festival in Sydney, where they were awarded the gold medal as the most outstanding band. The band was also selected to perform in the People’s Republic of China as part of a cultural exchange program. The Les Cheneaux Community School District was named as one of “Best Communities for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation four times. Also in 2014, the Cedarville High School Band was awarded the Michigan Award of Excellence by the American School Band Directors Association for continued excellence in music education and performance.
Mr. Jacobus has been recognized twice by Who’s Who in American Education, and has been named to the USA TODAY All-American Teacher Team as an outstanding national educator. In 2005, he was named as the Michigan Band Teacher of the Year. He has served in several officer positions at the district and state level of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, and has served on the conducting faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He is an emeritus member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and the American School Band Directors Association.
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
JuRang Kim, Instructor of Violin and Viola
JuRang Kim serves as the instructor of Violin and Viola. Ms. Kim is originally from South Korea, but has performed around the world as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Germany, France, Mongolia, and South Korea. During her undergraduate she achieved the teaching Artist Certificate at Longy Conservatory of Bard College in Cambridge, MA, and a Master of Music from Syracuse University in NY. Dr. Kim has received her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in violin performance at University of Kentucky.
As a prominent leader in educating future musicians, Kim held the Teaching Assistantship at University of Kentucky, as well as the Master teacher position at Seminary School of the Arts of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. Kim also was appointed as a faculty member at ArtsAhimsa music festival in Lenox, MA in 2019.
Degrees
- DMA, University of Kentucky
- MM Syracuse University, NY
- UD Longy School of Music of Bard College, MA
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Chase Miller, Instructor of Clarinet
Clarinetist Chase Miller is an active performer and Teaching Artist in the central Kentucky area. Currently, he holds Adjunct Clarinet Instructor positions at Transylvania University (Lexington, KY), Centre College (Danville, KY), and Asbury University (Wilmore, KY).
In addition to work at the collegiate level he is Program Director of Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra’s after school El Sistema program, CKYO – MusicWorks.
As a soloist, Chase was the winner of The University of Kentucky Concerto Competition in 2014. Also in 2014, he was a finalist in the National Society of Arts and Letters Woodwind Competition. Chase was the winner of the concerto competition at the BayView Music Festival in 2016. In 2017, he was selected as finalist in the concerto competition at The University of Arizona and third prize winner in The North International Music Competition.
Chase earned his bachelors degree from the University of Kentucky (UK) and did work towards a Masters in Clarinet Performance at University of Arizona (UA). His teachers include Scott Wright, Jerry Kirkbride, and Jackie Glazier.
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Sherri Phelps, Instructor of Voice
Mezzo-Soprano Sherri Phelps, is an active soloist throughout the Southeast. Her credits include: two roles from Puccini’s Il trittico- La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica and Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Marcellina in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and the title character in The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Madame Pernelle in Kirke Mecham’s Tartuffe, and Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music. She performed with the Aspen Opera Center singing the role of Myrtle in Still Life. She has performed the mezzo-soprano solos in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah with the Lexington Philharmonic, and the role of Emilia in Otello with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. She often concertizes in Northern California singing the world premiere of Craig Bohmler’s song Keys as well as the rest of his song cycle Songs of Loss with the Mission Chamber Orchestra of San Jose under the baton of Emily Ray.
Ms. Phelps’s other appearances include several performances with Fremont, California’s Music at the Mission Concert Series which have included Chaplin in Concert, Stravinsky’s L’histoire du Soldat with Roscoe Lee Brown, and Existentialist Poetry, Zen Buddhism & the American Song. Ms. Phelps has sung under the renown Jonathan Wilcox, and Sir Neville Marinner and has recorded a role in Aaron Copeland’s Tenderland with Kirk Trevor. Currently, she is specializing in the songs of composer John Jacob Niles and performing the multimedia recital of his music Written in the Stars with pianist Dr. Rachel Taylor. She is also an active teacher and currently teaches voice at Eastern Kentucky University and Asbury University, where she also directs the Opera Workshop.
A native of Morgantown, KY she currently resides in Lexington, KY where she has completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky as a student of Gail Robinson after having received her Masters in Voice from the Juilliard School, and her Bachelor of Music degree from Western Kentucky University.
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
Dan Pinkston, Instructor of Music Theory
Worship leader, educator and composer, Dan Pinkston is active in many diverse fields of music—he composes choral and orchestral music, teaches worship arts at Asbury University, is an active church musician, and also plays rock, jazz and blues guitar. His many composition awards include the 2000 ACDA composition contest and a number of prominent commissions. His primary objective as a composer is to fuse and craft his many musical influences into works that are accessible to the average listener as well as stimulating to the discerning musician.
Dr. Pinkston’s musical education began as a child in Africa (Cote D’Ivoire), where a diversity of cultural and musical expressions profoundly impacted his love for the broad range of human expression in music. Following musical study in Arkansas and Texas, including a doctorate in musical composition, Pinkston taught at Simpson University (Redding, CA) for 19 years.
Pinkston came to Asbury in 2020 to serve as professor of worship arts. Recent compositions include 2 commissioned symphonies and 2 commissioned concertos, the most recent published by Alea Music Publications (2020).
Pinkston’s achievements include non-musical exploits as well, in particular the completion of an Ironman distance triathlon in the summer of 2010, numerous marathons and over 30 long distance urban hikes (@pinkstonurbanhiker on Instagram).
Degrees
- Doctor of Music Arts (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
- Master of Music (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
- Bachelor of Music (Ouachita Baptist University)
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Paul Reich, Instructor of String Bass and Bass Guitar
Paul Reich is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received bachelor’s and professional studies degrees in double bass performance. While in school, he attended prestigious music festivals such as the Pacific Music Festival, Scotia Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, and spent two summers as a fellowship student at the Tanglewood Music Center where he had the privilege of performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Akron Symphony and frequent sub for the Canton, Erie, Rochester, and Youngstown symphonies.
After completing school, Paul’s love for being a “doubler” on bass guitar helped send him on a solid 10-year journey around the world (and all 50 states) playing Broadway shows such as Rent, Jekyll & Hyde, Miss Saigon, Grease, The Who’s Tommy, Cats, Disney’s High School Musical, and Aida.
Moving to Lexington to be with his wife, Paul now is a member of Orchestra Kentucky Bowling Green and principal bass for the Cave Run Symphony. He is a sub for the Lexington, West Virginia, Huntington, and Louisville orchestras. He also performs with the Louisville Ballet and Kentucky Opera as well as being the house bass player for the Lexington Theater Company. For 3 years, Paul was one of the founding teachers at CKYO North Limestone Music Works and is currently an adjunct professor of double bass at Eastern Kentucky University.
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Fairynne Rogers, Instructor of Voice
Fairynne Rogers is a current student at the University of Kentucky, pursuing her DMA in Vocal Performance, and is also an adjunct voice professor at Asbury University and Transylvania University. She completed her Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of Kentucky in 2020, and her undergraduate degree in music from Asbury University in 2016. She is an experienced performer in both classical music and musical theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Sandra Templeton in Big Fish, and Monica in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium.
Degree
- DMA, University of Kentucky (in process)
- MM, University of Kentucky
- BA, Music, Asbury University
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
- MM, University of Kentucky
- BS, Music Education, Asbury University
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Chris Weiss, Chamber Ensemble Coach
Chris Weiss is a guitarist/singer-songwriter from Lexington, KY who is constantly exploring the sounds of steel-string guitar and the voice both in word and scat. Chris first picked up a guitar and began to teach himself at age 10. Inspired by songwriting legends like Paul Simon, John Denver, and Billy Joel, and later by iconic fingerstyle guitarists like Pierre Bensusan, Phil Keaggy, and Tommy Emmanuel, Chris began to carve his mark in the world of acoustic music. Since then, he has won the recognition of many and shared the stage with greats like Michael Chapdelaine and Ben Lacy. His music has been featured on the airwaves from Kentucky to Michigan and across the country on Red Barn Radio.
Degree
- BA, Music, Asbury University
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu
Don Zent, Instructor of Piano
Having more than 50 years of experience teaching music at both Indiana Wesleyan University and, since 1988, at Asbury University, Asbury Professor of Piano Dr. Donald A. Zent has expertise in all levels and categories of piano instruction. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music recognized by Music Teachers National Association, he earned three degrees in Piano Performance: Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, both from Indiana University, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. His previous piano teachers include Rebecca Penneys, Eduardo Berlendis, Santos Ojeda, Jorge Bolet, Nicholas Zumbro, Tong Il Han, Carolyn Kindley, Gizi Szanto, and Delight Murphy. Two of his former piano teachers can trace their piano teachers back to Franz Liszt and Ludwig van Beethoven. He has extensive performing experience not only as a piano soloist in both Kentucky and Indiana, but also with many vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs. As a member of Kentucky Music Teachers Association, he has served in several official capacities and has been adjudicator for National Guild of Piano Teachers, Kentucky Music Teachers Association, and Kentucky Baptist Convention. He has performed in Europe and has taught piano to graduate students at Seminário Teológico Batista do Norte do Brasil. Some of his former piano students earned master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in piano. Both Dr. Zent and his wife, a former elementary and college educator, have one son, two daughters, and ten grandchildren, and are actively involved in the Wilmore Free Methodist Church.
Degrees
- 1971: Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Indiana University
- 1973: Master of Music in Piano Performance at Indiana University
- 1988: Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati; thesis topic: “The Harmonic Language of Karol Szymanowski’s Metopes, Op. 29, and Masques, Op. 34”
Contact
Email: musicdept@asbury.edu