2023 Alleluia Clinicians

Jared E. Alcantara is Professor of Preaching and holder of the Paul W. Powell Endowed Chair in Preaching at Truett Theological Seminary. He was born and raised in New Jersey and came to faith in Christ at the age of fourteen. He is half-Latino (Honduran) and half-White. An ordained Baptist minister, he has served as a youth pastor, associate pastor, and teaching pastor in Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Jersey. Before coming to Truett, from 2014-2018, he served as an associate professor of homiletics at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

David Angerman is the Director of Choral Arts at Regents School of Austin. Additionally, he has been the Director of Music and organist at Bethany Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas, since 1980. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and Master of Church Music Degree from Baylor University and a Master of Music Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Texas in Austin. As a composer, his published works include choral and handbell music as well as organ and piano solos. He has written the music for several youth and children's musicals, and co-authored, along with Joseph Martin and Mark Hayes, KEYS FOR THE KINGDOM, a piano method for Christian students, published by Shawnee Press.

James Barnard is the Music Editor for Celebrating Grace and Growing in Grace Children’s Music Resources. Prior to Celebrating Grace, James was the Church Choral Editor for Shawnee Press/Hal Leonard for eight years where he edited and produced hundreds of choral and keyboard publications. James has served as minister of music for churches in Georgia, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. He is passionate about training the next generation of worshippers to love and glorify God through music. When he’s not making music, he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and fishing.

Jeff Barnett is the Director of Worship Sales at Sweetwater. He has 25 years' experience in worship technology as a live sound and recording engineer, system designer, installer, educator, and musician. Jeff works with thousands of churches and worship artists from all over the world, including Jesus Culture, David Crowder, Shane & Shane, and many more. Jeff enjoys working in his home studio and singing with his a cappella group, Smooth Edge 2. Jeff and his wife Brit are proud parents of six kids and are still trying to figure out where the youngest one's left shoe is. (If you find the shoe, please let him know.)

Cindy Woods Berry was born in Houston, Texas, and attended Houston Baptist University. She started taking piano lessons from her church organist when she was six years old, and started composing original songs when she was a teenager. But writing/composing was more of a hobby until God “called her” to write in 1983. Since then, she has devoted about half her writing time to choral anthems (for adults and children), and half to arranging for piano. Her anthems, musicals, and piano collections are found in the catalogs of many major publishers. She has received ASCAP Special Awards for many years, and enjoys leading “composer weekends” and conferences throughout the country. Cindy has always been active in her local church music ministry, serving as church pianist and children’s choir director. Her goal in writing is to always present her music as an offering of worship and praise to God. Cindy and her husband Bruce are blessed to have three adult sons and four grandsons. They make their home in Killeen, Texas.

 Stevie Berryman can’t whistle. But she makes fantastic pesto, and she can fold a fitted sheet. Likewise, her skills as music director and teacher have also been acquired through long hours of arduous and dedicated practice. For much of her career Stevie has directed seven or more ensembles each week, meaning she has 114 years of experience (in dog years). Her effusive energy and wild creativity found a perfect setting in 2013 when she became the Artistic Director of the Houston Chamber Ringers, which has let her smash together her love for music, laughter, and tacos in a truly remarkable way. She has a particular passion for teaching beginners how to ring, and her innovative, play-based methods have made her a sought-after educator and clinician at area, national, and international handbell festivals. Stevie serves as the handbell director at First Congregational Church Houston, and loves helping other choirs as a private clinician or planning epic concerts for them as a creative consultant. She and her husband Paul are co-owners of Truly Horrible Things, a snarky card game company, even though her mother always told her that no one would ever pay her to be sarcastic.

He is the Ben H. Williams Professor of Church Music and Director of the Church Music Program and the Center for Christian Music Studies at Baylor University where he is a member of the undergraduate and graduate faculties and directs the Baylor University Men's Choir. With a passion for building bridges between Christian musicians, he continually looks for ways to create meaningful dialogue among all who are committed to serving the church through music.

Matthew Compton, a native of Colorado Springs, has been composing, arranging, and conducting music for handbells since 2007 when he was in the eighth grade. He had his first composition published at the age of fifteen, making him one of the youngest published handbell composers. Matthew graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in Composition and Conducting. Based out of Vancouver, Washington now, he is the music director of the Bells of the Cascades in Portland, Oregon, Director of Music Ministries at Salmon Creek Church in Vancouver. In addition to being a guest clinician at handbell festivals across the country, his music is frequently used at local and national handbell festivals, like the Bay View Week of Handbells and Distinctly Bronze East and West. He has been the recipient of the Donald E. Allured Composition Award. In his limited spare time, Matthew can occasionally be found streaming a variety of games and music performances on Twitch, going hiking, or enjoying any number of movies, anime, or tv shows!

Dana Effler has served as Director of Music and Arts Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Dallas since 1994 where she oversees the graded choir and handbell program, the Rotunda Theatre series, and Goodrich Gallery series.  She conducts the Chancel Choir, First Men’s Chorus, First Women’s Chorus, Vox Nova and the Variations Youth Choir. Under her direction, the Chancel Choir has toured Canada, England, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, France and Scotland. The choir has sung for both Southwestern division and National ACDA conventions. Beyond the church, Dana enjoys her work as a singer, guest conductor and clinician for organizations including American Choral Directors Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, The American Guild of Organists and The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Furman University and master’s degrees in choral conducting and in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University. Dana is inspired and energized by the wealth and diversity of talent represented in the FirstChurch family and is continually amazed at the beauty of God’s creation in and through it.

JASON MAX FERDINAND is founding artistic director of The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and director of choral activities at the University of Maryland School of Music, College Park. As evidenced by noteworthy awards, he has distinguished himself on the national and international stage. He is a published author and composer with GIA/Walton publications, featuring Teaching with Heart and The Jason Max Ferdinand Choral Series. Ferdinand holds degrees from Oakwood University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland.

Mark Hayes was raised in a creative musical environment, beginning piano lessons at age ten and developing his improvisational skills at an early age. He earned a B.M. in piano performance, magna cum laude, from Baylor University. During his college years his dream of becoming a composer and arranger was born and nurtured. Now an internationally known writer, conductor, and concert pianist, his career has blossomed into international tours to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa and Canada.

Carlos grew up in Brazil as the son of Baptist music missionaries. He is married to Shannon and they have three grown children and four grandchildren. He holds a BME from Ouachita Baptist University and the MM from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.From 1990 - 2003, Carlos worked with the International Mission Board as a music consultant/church planter in Brazil and Germany. While overseas, he led numerous conferences and workshops in conducting, music and worship, and voice in various countries including: Brazil, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. He recently completed 12 years of ministry as Pastor of Music and Worship at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, TX. During his ministry in Houston, he has led the Tallowood Choir and Orchestra in ministry trips to Brazil, Germany and Italy. They have also had the honor of performing for TCDA, Baylor Alleluia Conference and the Baptist Church Music Conference. 

Chicago-based composer, pianist, organist, and harpsichordist, Marianne Kim has been noted for her vibrant performances and compositions in a wide diversity of musical styles, such as classical, jazz, Broadway musical, R&B, gospel, traditional & contemporary church music, and more. As a soloist and collaborative artist, Marianne enjoys performing piano and organ recitals, chamber music, and jazz. She has worked for the Lakeside Singers under the direction of Robert Bowker performing highly demanding dual roles of classical accompanist and rhythm section keyboardist since 2005 and served as keyboardist at Willow Creek Community Church (2001 ~ 2018) and the Moody Church (2013~2018). She is currently a principal organist for Christ Church of Oak Brook, IL.

Matthew Laube joined the Baylor School of Music in 2022. Before this, Dr. Laube was a doctoral and postdoctoral research assistant at The British Library in 2011 and 2014. Between 2014 and 2017, he was a Wiener-Anspach Postdoctoral Fellow jointly at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the University of Cambridge, where he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Robinson College, Cambridge. Most recently Dr. Laube was a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in History at Birkbeck, University of London. Since October 2018, he has been Assistant Editor and Reviews Editor of the journal Early Music History. Dr. Laube completed an MM in Trombone Performance at the University of Utah, and an MM and PhD in Musicology at Royal Holloway, University of London.

David Lemley teaches practical theology at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. He studies Christian spirituality and worship, and listens to music. David served in local church ministry and university chaplaincy prior to teaching. He graduated from Pepperdine University, received an M.A. in History and Theology from Abilene Christian University, and completed his M.Div. and Ph.D. in Theology: Worship and Culture at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena. David lives in California with his wife and three sons.

Joseph Martin, a native of North Carolina, earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Subsequently he earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Texas, Austin. He is a member of the staff of Shawnee Press, Inc. as Director of Sacred Publications, with responsibilities for overseeing the editorial and creative direction of the company and also coordinating the recording and production aspects of future sacred publishing efforts. 

Samuel Metzger grew up in northern Arizona where his father was a missionary to the Navajo Indians. He began music lessons at age 11 at the Preparatory School of Music at Northern Arizona State University. In high school he studied privately with Dr. Roy Johnson at the University of Arizona, Tucson. Samuel’s undergaduate studies were at Arizona State University, there he studied on a Regents Scholarship and at graduation was named “Most Outstanding Undergraduate in Performance.” In 1995 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and began studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, Germany. He was awarded a second Fulbright Scholarship and in 1997 graduated with a degree of Künstleriches Aufbaustudium (KA). Mr. Metzger then went on to study with Marie-Claire Alain in St. Germain-en-Laye, France. In January 2003, Mr. Metzger became Senior Organist at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dr. D. James Kennedy, Senior Pastor. Services were broadcast on the Coral Ridge Hour, a TV program that was broadcast throughout the USA and internationally to 202 countries. Samuel is Organist & Music Associate at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. Mr. Metzger is heard regularly around the country in concert. He has recorded seven CDs; more information may be found at metzgermusic.com.

Originally from Recife, Brazil, Maria serves as Lecturer in Church Music at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and as Music Director at Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana (First Mexican Baptist Church), in San Antonio. Before joining the Baylor faculty in 2020, she taught for seventeen years at Baptist University of the Américas, also in San Antonio. Maria holds a Master of Music (1991) and a Bachelor of Music (1987) degrees in Music History and Literature from Baylor University, a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Musicology (1998) from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in Church Music (2021) from Baylor. 

Kent Morris is the Live Sound Market Manager for Sweetwater and a forty-year veteran of the live event arena. He has spent decades on the road with countless artists such as Paul Baloche and Israel Houghton. He’s overseen hundreds of AVL installations in every type of venue imaginable. An in-demand writer, Kent has penned thousands of industry articles for hundreds of print and online publications. He's the live sound engineer for In Touch Ministries where he mixes each week for First Baptist Atlanta (Dr. Charles Stanley). Kent and his wife Melani are based in Georgia and have two adult sons. 

Brad Nix is a widely-recognized composer, orchestrator, and arranger, and has written for many of the nation’s major publishers. He currently serves as Choral and Keyboard Editor for the Lorenz Corporation, and  has well over 200 choral pieces in print, as well as many piano folios and orchestrations. Brad frequently travels throughout the country as a clinician for reading sessions and conferences, and his music has been heard in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall in New York City to the famed St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in central London, as well as countless churches all over the world. Brad received his DMA degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He and his wife, Pattie, along with their three children, are proud to make their home in Bastrop, TX.

John Purifoy is an ASCAP composer and arranger with various published choral anthems, cantatas and keyboard collections and works recorded by Carol Lawrence, Anita Kerr, the Chicago Master Chorale and other artists. His work for chorus and orchestra, We Hold These Truths, narrated by Alex Haley won the 1987 Freedoms Foundation Award for musical programs. He is the composer and lyricist of the stage musical, Lambarene, which received a workshop production at the state theatre of New Jersey in 1991. John lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife Vicki, a television news producer, and two teenage sons, Drew and Michael.

Joel Raney's life as a working composer and musician has been shaped by many influences. Growing up in a rural Baptist church in Alabama fostered his love for the old hymns and the gospel style. As a performer and music director for theater productions, he gained insight into Broadway, popular, and jazz music. While owning his own commercial music company, he produced thousands of tracks of every conceivable style on short deadlines for fussy clients. His current role as one of the leading sacred music composers in the country is the culmination of all his experiences.

For 20 years, Paul Ryan has mentored emerging worship leaders at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. As both the Worship Pastor overseeing daily chapels and as a resource specialist with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Paul delights in equipping ministry leaders in worship band contexts to thoughtfully balance tradition and innovation, to plan worship with artistic and theological imagination, to bridge cultural contexts, and to lead in scripture, song, and prayer with confidence and joy. Paul is married to Sheila who never fails to poke fun at his sock and shirt combinations, father to two high school boys who provide him endless activities to attend and cheer, and coach to dozens of middle school track and cross-country kids who are infinitely fascinating and comical.

Martha Shaw is the founding artistic director of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program and Director of Choral Activities at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. Under her direction, the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir and Spivey Hall Tour Choir have been featured in performances for state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, for the national conference of the Orff-Schulwerk Association, and for the 2010 national conference of Chorus America. Dr. Shaw has served on the faculty of Shorter University and at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her collegiate teaching, she was a music specialist for Atlanta’s Fulton County for 15 years. She earned a DMA in conducting from the University of South Carolina, Master of Science in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Shorter College.

Amanda Page Smith serves as the Parish Choir Director at Christ Church Methodist, and the Lower School Music Teacher at The Buckley School for boys in New York City. Ms. Smith holds an M.M.E from Westminster Choir College, a B.M in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College, Kodály Music Education certification from New York University, and Music Together Certification. Amanda is a writer for the Growing in Grace curriculum and leads workshops and festivals throughout the United States. In 2006 she was named one of five “Outstanding Choir Leaders” by Choristers Guild, which led to a team role in the development of the Choristers Guild Institute and ten years on the CGI faculty. She has published articles on early childhood music education through MENC and the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA), and contributed to the book “Learning from Children: Research in Early Childhood Music” (Rowan & Littlefield, 2011). Amanda lives in Manhattan with her husband, violinist Justin Smith, and their two children.

Emily Snider Andrews is Assistant Professor of Church Music and Worship Leadership and Executive Director of the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. She believes worship lies at the heart of what it means to be a Christian disciple and seeks to enable Christ’s church to worship with godly wisdom and Spirit-led imagination. An ordained minister, Emily has served congregations in Alabama, Texas, and California. She is especially interested in the interlacing of music and theology, focusing her research on evangelical worship, sacramental theology, and modern worship music practices. She is married to Matt, a minister, and is mother to three little ones.