Doctor of Pastoral Music: Student Profiles

I am the Reverend Dollie Howell Pankey, a church musician for more than 40 years and a former pastor of 20 years in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Texas and Alabama. My vocational goals include training church musicians and clergy for vocational ministry; employing my gifts as a musician, chaplain, and pastor in a higher education setting; and broadening my reach as singer-songwriter D’ Marie. I chose the Doctor of Pastoral Music program to broaden my access and preparation for teaching positions in practical ministry, as a dean of chapel, and/or as a consultant for congregations or denominational bodies.

Secondly, I aim to strengthen myself as a listener, observer, and interpreter through theological and ethnomusicological lenses so I can better learn from diverse musical and worship cultures. Pastoral music ministry on the broader scale will require me to examine music and worship practices within local congregations across our Connection as well as in other Christian faith traditions and cultures. This means acting as an interpreter (or translator) and integrator of vital worship practices to help congregations engage with God and others in their varied contexts.

Dollie Howell Pankey
Creative Arts Ministry Consultant, Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
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As an ordained Deacon in Full Connection in the UMC, and having served the church in various capacities for more than three decades, this degree program came along at exactly the right time! When I read the words “vocational renewal of practicing and experienced church musicians” describing this degree on the website, I knew this was the answer to prayer. Entering into the last decade (or so) of ministry, I was seeking such renewal, and also seeking some way of articulating that synthesis between pastoral ministry and music and worship ministry. My experience has taught me over and over again that they are intimately related, and cannot be separated. This degree affirms that. I am looking forward to the renewal, the inspiration, the expanding of my worldview, and the honing of my skills that this program offers.

Dirk Damonte
Minister of Music and Worship Arts
Los Altos United Methodist Church
www.laumc.org

Yvette Lau
Chief Executive
Anabas Ministry
Website: www.anabasministry.org
Email: anabas@anabasministry.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anabasministry/

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 SMU. She is an active member in The Hymn Society, American Guild of Organists and Choristers Guild.

Cristen Mitchell is the Director of Music Ministries at Blacksburg United Methodist Church in Blacksburg, VA. There she oversees the music ministry of the entire congregation and directs the Chancel Choir, Convergence Worship Band, Early Service Ensemble, WOW Children’s Choir, and Wesley Singers at the Virginia Tech Wesley Foundation. She is an assistant director for the Blacksburg Children’s Chorale, and the president and co-creator of the professional young adult choir The Voices of Appalachia.

Cristen felt a strong calling towards music ministry at young age, but her family encouraged her to pursue other paths. However, Cristen could not deny this call and eventually devoted her college career to Music education and working in music ministry. She’s excited to begin a new journey towards the Doctor of Pastoral Music degree at SMU and apply what she’ll learn in her community in Virginia.

Cristen holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from James Madison University, a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Radford University, and a Church Music Certificate from Virginia Wesleyan College. She will take her Chancel Choir to Carnegie Hall next spring to sing with Mid-America Productions. Previously, the Director of Music Ministries at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church, she took their Chancel Choir to Carnegie Hall to sing Appalachian Winter with Joseph Martin and Bluegrass Band, Dailey and Vincent. Cristen has been a soloist on stage at the Lincoln Center in NYC and is the 2018 recipient of the John & Mary Virginia Foncannon Choral Conducting/Sacred Music Scholarship and the 2019 recipient of the John & Mary Virginia Foncannon Conducting/Coaching Scholarhip.

David Anderson serves as Director of Music at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois. At the parish, he serves as the principal organist and directs the four parish choirs. In addition to his liturgical music duties, he coordinates several of the parish’s adult spirituality and ecumenical outreaches, such as, the weekly ecumenical Christian meditation group, small faith groups and retreat days throughout the year. In 1992 he established and continues to direct and coordinate a monthly prayer in the spirit of Taizé bringing together Christians from many different traditions.

David is Editor-at-Large for GIA Publications, Inc., after having also served as Vice-President for Church Music. He continues to work on various hymnal committees (Gather 3rd edition, RitualSong 1st and 2nd edition, and both editions of Singing Our Faith, GIA’s hymnal for children) and projects related to the Taizé Community.

David holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Church Music from Concordia University, Chicago. Additional post- graduate studies in vocal pedagogy and choral conducting were taken at Westminster Choir College, Princeton. Having just completed a Master of Liturgy and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, (2020) he looks forward to beginning the doctoral program at Perkins/SMU.
David was drawn to the DPM program for its emphasis on ecumenism, and missional outreach through the integrated practice of liturgical theology and pastoral music.

Bryan Black has worked as a church musician, arts advocate, and community music director in metro Atlanta for twenty-six years. He is presently the Director of Worship Arts (Organist/Choral Music) at North Avenue Presbyterian Church and conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra Chorus based in Marietta. He has prepared choirs of all ages for denominational events, professional conferences, NPR broadcasts, the Piccolo Spoleto festival, and concert tours across Europe and Scandinavia.

Bryan is a past-president of Georgia ACDA and beginning his second term as the National Chair for Music in Worship. Most recently, he designed the sacred music track and worship service for the 2019 national ACDA conference in Kansas City and will oversee plans for the 2021 conference in Dallas. His article “Please Observe the Rest: Self-Care for the Church Musician” appeared in the July 2018 Choral Journal and he also contributed several entries for Tim Sharp’s recent book, “Sacred Choral Music Repertoire: Insights for Conductors” published by GIA.

He holds degrees from Samford University (BM church music), Florida State University (MM choral conducting), and the ZDaF, a German language certificate from the Goethe-Institut in Berlin. Bryan finds his greatest joy in helping others find their voice, rejoicing in the God who gives creation voice, and sharing life in true community through music and reconciliation. The challenge and encouragement offered through the DPM program is a long-anticipated hope for deeper learning and more effective leadership in the church and community.

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 Southern Methodist University 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 SMU. 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.

Bryan Page has been a church musician for 23 years. Having been raised in the Church of Christ, his ecclesial journey has been long and winding, traversing Lutheran and Episcopalian traditions, finally landing him in the Presbyterian Church. He is currently Music Director at Northridge Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX where he directs adult, teenage, and children’s vocal and handbell choirs. Bryan began his musical career as a trumpeter, and has since studied composition, voice, and conducting, receiving degrees from the University of Montevallo in Alabama and Westminster Choir College in New Jersey. Bryan’s choral music is published by Paraclete Press and his instrumental music by Triplo Press. His greatest musical passion is adding to the diversity and vitality of worship by composing hymns and service music for the church. Bryan and his wife Suzanne have two amazing children, Jack and Sarah Frances. He is thrilled to join the Doctor of Pastoral Music Cohort in 2020 and looks forward to an incredible educational, spiritual, and musical journey.

Darnell St. Romain is the Associate Director of Liturgical Music at Prince of Peace Catholic Community in Plano, Texas. He has served there since 2013 where directs the Children and Handbell Choirs, as well as assists the Director of Liturgical Music with the Liturgical Choir. Darnell also has a private piano studio of over 20 students from the Prince of Peace Community. Darnell is looking forward to renewal in his vocation as a student in the DPM Program. He hopes to gain fresh perspectives in the pastoral, liturgical, and missiological fields of his vocation. Further, he hopes to engage his church community with new ideas to help them grow spiritually. Darnell holds a Bachelor of Music (Organ Performance) from Louisiana State University, a Master of Master of Music (Organ Performance), and a Master of Sacred Music, both from Southern Methodist University.

Darrell is currently serving as Director of Music at Mary Immaculate Catholic in Farmers Branch, Texas. There he supervises all aspects of the music ministry, directs the Adult Choirs, and serves as principal organist. Darrell has worked in parishes that are multicultural and multilingual in their makeup with the hope that congregants learn to sing each other’s song. Through his studies in the Doctor of Pastoral Music program he hopes to broaden his skills of engaging different communities to worship together and to develop a leadership style that will bring music ministry to the greater needs of the community-at-large.

Darrell holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Sacred Music and a Master of Music in Organ Performance from Southern Methodist University.

Daniel Dangca is the Senior Coordinator for Liturgical Life in the Office of Mission & Ministry at Gonzaga University.He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Music degree with a Choral Conducting emphasis from Western Oregon University (2013) and holds an M.A. in Theology and Leadership from Gonzaga University (2021).

Daniel’s has been a liturgical music minister for the last 15 years since he was seventeen and full-time for the last eight years. He has worked in parishes as well as schools up and down the West Coast serving in his home Diocese of San Jose, Archdiocese of San Francisco, Archdiocese of Los Angeles and most recently, the Archdiocese of Portland. His last posting before moving to Spokane, WA was as Director of Music Ministry and Sacred Liturgy at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Portland, OR where he served for four years.

 

Proud son of a Registered Nurse and Naval Officer, he never forgets his Filipino-American roots that have brought him to where he is today.A Classically trained Baritone, Daniel has sung for the Operafestival di Roma company as well as a chorister at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy. He has also had the opportunity to record for GIA Publications and Oregon Catholic Press.

As of this post, in his spare time, Daniel enjoys: reading up on current events/politics, being an amateur polygot, watching sporting events, being the occasional foodie, being active through health/fitness and is currently working on his Pilates certification. Daniel also volunteers and has been a two-time donor for the Be the Match – Bone Marrow Registry Program. Daniel looks forward to adding more hobbies to this list and making new colleagues during his DPM journey at Perkins.

M. Roger Holland, II is a Teaching Assistant Professor in Music and Religion and Director of The Spirituals Project at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary (New York City) where he received the Master of Divinity degree, Roger also served as Artist-in-Residence and director of the Union Gospel Choir for over 13 years. In 2015 Union awarded him the Trailblazers Distinguished Alumni Award, the first given to a graduate whose ministry is music, for his contributions to the legacy of African American music. He received a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music (New York City), and completed his undergraduate work at Westminster Choir College (Princeton, New Jersey) where he majored in Music Education with a concentration in piano and voice.

Roger is the newly appointed editor of the choral series In Spirit and Truth published by GIA Publications, Inc., which focuses on Black Catholic offerings. Commissioned works include The Dream and The Dreamer, The Tribulation Suite, and The Call. Original music collections published by GIA include Building Up the Kingdomfeaturing the single “Worthy God,” and his recent collection, Honey from the Rock, Vol. 1–4 He has played for the Broadway productions of Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple and the Tony award winning show Memphis. In November 2016 Timothy Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York presented Roger with the Pierre Toussaint Medallion for service.

Carolien Tantra graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Church Music from Singapore Bible College, Singapore. She has served as a music minister in Christ Jesus Church Greenville Congregation in Jakarta, Indonesia, and other churches while pursuing her degrees. Currently she is teaching as a full-time lecturer and coordinator for the church music program at Southeast Asia Bible Seminary (SAAT) in Malang, Indonesia. Her primary subjects are church music and worship. She is also a full-time mom with a four-year-old son in kindergarten. Her husband is currently pursuing a Ph.D. program at Baylor University.

Her favorite Bible verse is Col. 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Let the music that is a gift from God, be used as a means to serve and edify the people in order for them to grow towards maturing in Christ and to glorify God.  

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 Southern Methodist University 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 team member at Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore, where she oversees about ninety small groups together with the zone leaders. Previously, she served as a worship minister in a Baptist church (2013–2017) where she nurtured the musicians and vocalists in their walk with God and musical skills, crafted the weekly liturgies, starting and directing a multi-generational choir, enriching the church’s song, and educating the church on worship doctrines. Ee Hwee has also served as an adjunct lecturer at Singapore Bible College.

Through her studies in the Doctor of Pastoral Music program, Ee Hwee hopes to continue growing as a disciple of Christ in her being and doing, loving God and neighbor. She also hopes to deepen and broaden her understanding in the history and theology of worship and liturgy, the intersection between worship and discipleship, in Wesleyan theology and its implications for Methodist worship in Singapore today.

Ee Hwee holds a Master of Church Music (2009–2012) from Singapore Bible College, a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary School Education (2005–2006) from the National Institute of Education, Singapore, and a Master of Science (Statistics) (1999–2000) from the National University of Singapore. She can be contacted at wongeehwee@gmail.com.

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.