School of Music

Administration

Vernon M. Whaley, B.A., M.C.M., M.A., D.Min., D.W.S., Ph.D.
Dean, School of Music
Professor of Music and Worship

Sean Beavers, B.M., M.M., D.M.
Online Dean, School of Music
Professor of Music and Guitar

Stephen W. Müller, B.M., M.M., D.Min.
Associate Dean, Center for Music Education and Performance
Professor of Music and Worship

Paul Rumrill, B.A., M.M., M.A., D.M.
Associate Dean, Center for Music and Worship
Associate Professor of Music and Worship

Mark Greenawalt, B.M., M.M., D.M.A.
Chair, Department of Applied Music Studies
Associate Professor of Music and Voice

David Hahn, B.M., M. M., D.M.A.
Chair, Department of Commercial Music
Assistant Professor of Music and Worship

John W. Hugo, B.M., M.M., M.M., D.M.A.
Chair, Department of Music Theory and History
Professor of Music

Stephen P. Kerr, B.S., M.A., Ph.D.
Chair, Department of University Bands
Professor of Music

Katherine Morehouse, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Multi-Ethnic Music Studies
Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology

Rebecca Watson, B.M., M. M., D.M.A.
Chair, Department of Music Education
Assistant Professor of Music Education and Woodwind

Program Directors

A listing of program directors can be viewed at http://www.liberty.edu/programdirectors.

Research Intensive Courses

All research intensive courses are listed online at https://www.liberty.edu/academics/qualityenhancement/index.cfm?PID=32835.

Liberty University School of Music is the seventh largest collegiate level institution in America devoted to training and equipping professional musicians as performers, music educators, worship leaders, ethnomusicologists, artists, film score composers, music publishers, recording engineers and producers, and songwriters. The School of Music is a member of and Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). NASM is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a programmatic accreditation organization for institutions offering degree and non-degree educational programs in music and music-related disciplines.

Mission

The mission of the Liberty University School of Music is to train and equip musicians to be Champions for Christ. The School of Music is a community of God-honoring musicians committed to a culture of manifest core values that include:

Worship Lifestyle
Servant Leadership
Stylistic Diversity
Academic Inquiry
Skilled Musicianship
Artistic and Creative Expression
Sharing Christ through Music

These core values demonstrate what the music faculty believes a “Champion for Christ Musician” is devoted to in their everyday private and professional life. It is the general consensus of the School of Music faculty that the mission statement and clearly articulated core values conform to and promote the broader university mission to “develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact the world”.

While the School of Music has only one mission, two distinctly unique and focused tasks emerge. These tasks are accomplished through two organizations within the School of Music structure:

The Center for Music and the Performing Arts – trains and equips passionate musicians as skilled performers and music education specialists; and,
The Center for Music and Worship – trains and equips highly skilled musicians to serve as worship practitioners in the evangelical community In fulfillment of the School of Music Mission, communication of the Core Values and application of the Focused Tasks and the various entities representing the music unit, it is the aim of the School of Music leadership to graduate students that are thoroughly equipped to assume their role in the market-place. And, that the School of Music provides for these student-musicians comprehensive curricula that is broad enough to encourage collaboration, imagination, diversification, scholarship and practical application. It is important to the leadership of the School of Music that students are equipped to identify their calling (desired career), find gainful employment (a job) and contribute to their chosen vocation(s) for many years to come.

The School of Music (SOM) faculty includes full-time and adjunct and/or part time resident and on-line highly skilled professionals. The School of Music faculty adhere to and adopt five personal and professional goals, including a commitment to:

Embrace, develop, grow and exemplify a spirit of Christian grace, character, integrity and mercy in all areas of professional and private life. [Spiritual Disciplines]
Intellectual discovery, educational enrichment and rigorous pursuit of knowledge for the advancement of their own individual disciplines. [Educational Enrichment]
Develop and grow as professional practitioners. [Professional Development]
Make honest contribution to local and global communities for the purpose of spreading the gospel and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ. [Community and Mission]
Christ. [Community and Mission]
Grow in their understanding of institutional mission, love for one another, vision for the future, and support of Liberty University School of Music. [University Mission]

Additionally, and in an effort to enrich our student’s lives, SOM faculty promise, to the best of their ability, to provide:

A quality, world-class education experience. [Quality Education]
Opportunity to grow in their aptitude and ability and performance skill in their instrument of choice. [Personal Growth]
Opportunity for spiritual, educational, and social transformation and growth sufficient to make meaningful contribution to their culture, discipline and the Kingdom of God. [Contribution to Culture]
Opportunity to discover potential through mentoring and discipleship experiences. [Opportunity to Discovery and Creativity]
Assistance in finding career placement in their chosen area of music performance, skill set and/or ministry. [Career Placement]

It is the conviction of the School of Music faculty that the manifestation of these qualities in the lives of all resident and on-line music professors is critical to the success of the School of Music. The personal commitment to these ten statements is used as one of several criteria for the annual evaluation of School of Music faculty.

B

Bailey, Kyle; B.S., M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Music Theory
B.S. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University

Beavers, Sean; BM, M.Mus., D.M.
Title: Online Dean, School of Music
BM - University of Texas Austin, M.Mus. - Florida State University, D.M. - Florida State University

Bettcher, Peggy; BM, M.Mus.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Northern Illinois University, M.Mus. - Northern Illinois University

Brennan, Michael; BM, M.Mus., D.M.
Title: Associate Professor, Center for Worship
BM - California State University Fullerton, M.Mus. - California State University Fullerton, D.M. - Northwestern University

Bullman, Kenneth; B.S., M.A.
B.S. - Welch College, M.A. - Liberty University

C

Campbell, Patricia; B.A., M.Mus.
Title: Associate Professor of Voice
B.A. - University of Lynchburg, M.Mus. - University of Maryland in College Park

Carver, Joshua; BM, M.Mus., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Louisiana Tech University, M.Mus. - University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ph.D. - Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge

Chiarizzio, Kevin; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Music
BM - University of Memphis, M.Mus. - University of Illinois at Urbana, D.M.A. - University of Illinois at Urbana, D.M.A. - University of Illinois at Urbana

Coates, Jamie; B.S., B.S., M.Mus., DWS
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Kentucky Christian University, B.S. - Kentucky Christian University, M.Mus. - Kent State University, DWS - Liberty University

Cooper, Keith; B.A., BM, M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Music & Worship Ministries
B.A. - Ocean County College, BM - Belmont University, M.A. - Criswell College

Cooper, James; B.A., B.A., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Randall University, B.A. - Randall University, M.A. - Liberty University

Correia Neto, Leon; B.M.E., B.M.E., BM, BM, BM, M.A., M.A., M.A., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Guitar & Voice
B.M.E. - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, B.M.E. - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, BM - Seminario Teologico Batista do Norte do Brasil, BM - Seminario Teologico Batista do Norte do Brasil, BM - Seminario Teologico Batista do Norte do Brasil, M.A. - Campbellsville University, M.A. - Campbellsville University, M.A. - Campbellsville University, D.M.A. - Shenandoah University

Crawley, William; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Indiana University, M.Mus. - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, D.M.A. - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

D

Damon, Betty; BM, M.Mus., Ed.D., Ed.S.
Title: Associate Professor of Voice
BM - Liberty University, M.Mus. - Winthrop University, Ed.D. - Liberty University, Ed.S. - Liberty University

Danielson, Lori; BM, M.Mus., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Wheaton College, M.Mus. - Northwestern University, Ph.D. - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dovgalyuk, Yevgeniy; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Violin
BM - George Mason University, M.Mus. - George Mason University, D.M.A. - University of Maryland in College Park

Duff, Edward; B.M.E., M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Commercial Music, Voice
B.M.E. - University of Central Missouri, M.A. - Liberty University

F

Feldman, David; B.A., M.Mus.
Title: Assistant Professor of Cello
B.A. - Roanoke College, M.Mus. - Boise State University

Foley, Ruth; B.A., B.A., M.A., M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Music
B.A. - University of Winnipeg, B.A. - University of Winnipeg, M.A. - Liberty University, M.Mus. - University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, D.M.A. - University of Nebraska Lincoln

G

Granger, Linda; B.A., M.Mus.
Title: Associate Professor of Music
B.A. - Hollins University, M.Mus. - James Madison University

Greenawalt, Mark; B.M.E., B.M.E., B.M.E., BM, BM, BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Worship & Voice
B.M.E. - Baldwin-Wallace College, B.M.E. - Baldwin-Wallace College, B.M.E. - Baldwin-Wallace College, BM - Baldwin-Wallace College, BM - Baldwin-Wallace College, BM - Baldwin-Wallace College, M.Mus. - University of Illinois at Urbana, D.M.A. - Shenandoah University

H

Haglund, Kevin; BM, M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University

Hahn, David; B.M.E., M.A., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Worship & Music
B.M.E. - Nyack College, M.A. - Temple University, D.M.A. - Boston University

Hardin, Philip; BM, M.Mus., D.M.
Title: Associate Professor of Piano
BM - Ouachita Baptist University, M.Mus. - Florida State University, D.M. - Florida State University

Harland, Mike; B.A., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Delta State University, M.A. - New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Harris, Stanley
Title: Adjunct Faculty

Henson, Joseph
Title: Associate Professor, Commercial Music

Hibbard, Cassandra; BM, M.Mus., D.M.
Title: Assistant Professor of Music
BM - Western Michigan University, M.Mus. - Michigan State University, D.M. - Michigan State University

Hugo, Alycia; M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
M.A. - New England Conservatory Music

Hugo, John; B.M.E., M.Mus., M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Professor of Music
B.M.E. - Houghton College, M.Mus. - New England Conservatory Music, M.Mus. - Arizona State University, D.M.A. - Arizona State University

J

Jobbagy, Reka; M.Mus.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
M.Mus. - Franz Liszt Academy of Music

Jupin, Richard; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor
BM - SUNY College at Potsdam, M.Mus. - Boston Conservatory at Berklee, D.M.A. - Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge

K

Kerr, Stephen; M.M.E., M.M.E., Ph.D.
Title: Professor of Music
M.M.E. - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.M.E. - Liberty University, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Kim, Taeseong; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Piano
BM - Liberty University, M.Mus. - University of Tennessee in Knoxville, D.M.A. - University of South Carolina

Kim Smith, Woori; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Music
BM - Seoul National University, M.Mus. - Indiana University, D.M.A. - University of Cincinnati

Kinchen, John; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Eastman School of Music, M.Mus. - Florida State University, D.M.A. - Boston University

Kompelien, Wayne; B.M.E., M.A., D
Title: Professor of Music
B.M.E. - Oral Roberts University, M.A. - University of Kansas, D - University of Kansas

L

Laird, Laura; BM, M.A., M.Mus.
BM - Liberty University, M.A. - Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.Mus. - North Carolina State University

Lambert, Clifford; B.S., M.Mus.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.Mus. - Oakland University

Lewis, Richard; B.A., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - University of Charleston, M.A. - Liberty University

M

Marsh, Don; BM, M.M.E.
Title: Associate Professor of Worship & Music
BM - Nyack College, M.M.E. - Rowan University

Martin, Kimberly; B.S., M.A., DWS
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University, DWS - Liberty University

Mathena, Gary; BM, DWS
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - Oklahoma Baptist University, DWS - Liberty University

Miller, John; B.A., M.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor of Worship
B.A. - Florida State University, M.A. - Lee University, M.A. - Ohio State University, Ph.D. - Ohio State University

Miller, Samantha; B.A., B.A., M.Mus., DA
Title: Associate Professor of Voice
B.A. - Alderson Broaddus University, B.A. - Alderson Broaddus University, M.Mus. - Ohio State University, DA - Ohio State University

Muir, Adelaide; BM, M.Mus.
Title: Associate Professor of Music
BM - University of Illinois at Urbana, M.Mus. - Yale University

Muller, Stephen; B.M.E., M.Mus., D.Min.
Title: Associate Professor of Music
B.M.E. - University of Texas El Paso, M.Mus. - New Mexico State University , D.Min. - Bakke Graduate University

N

Newman, Jerry; BM, M.A.R., MBS, DWS, Ed.S.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - East Texas Baptist University, M.A.R. - Liberty University, MBS - Southern California Seminary, DWS - Liberty University, Ed.S. - Liberty University

P

Parker, Kimberly; B.S., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Bryan College, M.A. - Liberty University

Parker, William; BM, M.Mus.
BM - Eastman School of Music, M.Mus. - Manhattan School of Music

Phillips, Andrew; B.M.E., M.A., D.M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Brass Instruments
B.M.E. - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, M.A. - University of Iowa, D.M.A. - University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Piorkowski, Chris; M.F.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Commercial Music & Film
M.F.A. - Vermont College

Q

Quint, Kristin
Title: Adjunct Faculty

R

Randlett, Douglas; B.S., M.Ed., D.Min.
B.S. - Welch College, M.Ed. - University of Lynchburg, D.Min. - Liberty University

Rumrill, Paul; B.A., M.A., M.Mus., D
Title: Chair, Department of Music Education
B.A. - University of Connecticut, M.A. - Bethel University, M.Mus. - University of Connecticut, D - Eastman School of Music

S

Schmal, David; B.A., B.S., M.A., M.A., D.M.A.
Title: Professor of Commercial Music
B.A. - Metropolitan State University of Denver, B.S. - University of Colorado Denver, M.A. - University of Colorado Denver, M.A. - University of Colorado Boulder, D.M.A. - Boston University

Seipp, Larry; B.A., M.M.E.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Liberty University, M.M.E. - James Madison University

Siddons, James; BM, M.Div., M.Mus., M.T., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - University of North Texas, M.Div. - Duke University, M.Mus. - University of London, M.T. - Duke University, Ph.D. - University of North Texas

Smith, Curtis; BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BM - University of Cincinnati, M.Mus. - Indiana University, D.M.A. - University of Cincinnati

Spencer, Dwight; BM, M.Mus.
Title: Assistant Professor of Worship & Guitar
BM - University of South Carolina, M.Mus. - Univ of South Carolina Sumter

Suttles, Daniel; B.R.E., BM, M.Mus., D.M.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Worship
B.R.E. - Piedmont International University, BM - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, M.Mus. - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, D.M.A. - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

T

Thorburn, Colleen; BM, M.A., M.Mus., D.M.A.
BM - University of Illinois at Urbana, M.A. - Yale University, M.Mus. - Yale University, D.M.A. - Yale University

Trombetta, Domenico; D.M.A.
Title: Professor of Music & Strings
D.M.A. - James Madison University

W

Ware, Robert; BM, BM, M.Mus., M.Mus.
Title: Assistant Professor of Music
BM - Mars Hill University, BM - Mars Hill University, M.Mus. - Indiana University, M.Mus. - Appalachian State University

Watson, Rebecca; BM, D.M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Music Education & Double Reeds
BM - University of Minnesota, D.M.A. - University of Arizona

Wellman, Samuel; B.A., M.A., D.M.
Title: Professor of Music
B.A. - Lenoir Rhyne University, M.A. - Florida State University, D.M. - Florida State University

Werking, Jonathan
Title: Assistant Professor of Commercial Music & Entertainment Studies

Wert, Kathryn; B.A., M.A., DA
Title: Associate Professor
B.A. - Bethel University, M.A. - Eastman School of Music, DA - University of Northern Colorado

Whaley, Vernon; B.A., M.A., M.A., D.Min., Ph.D.
Title: Dean, Professor of Worship & Music
B.A. - Welch College, M.A. - Middle Tennessee State University, M.A. - Luther Rice Seminary and University, D.Min. - Luther Rice Seminary and University, Ph.D. - University of Oklahoma

Widger, Brenda; B.M.E., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.M.E. - Mercyhurst University, M.A. - Liberty University

Witt, Kimberly; B.M.E., M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor, Keyboard Pedagogy
B.M.E. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University

Z

Zwald, Nathan; BM, M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Music Recording & Producing
BM - Shenandoah University, M.A. - Liberty University