Faculty & Staff

Studio Faculty - Voice

Biography

Dr. Ali holds degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Columbia University; University of California, Irvine; and San Diego State University. She has enjoyed performing in opera, oratorio, concert, musical theatre, and concert venues. Los Angeles Times critics exclaimed that in the title role in Carmen, “Ali is...the type of women who could make a bishop kick in a stained glass window...a charismatic singer with a rich, dark tone and ease of projection...the role doesn’t come any more passionate and seductive than Ali’s version.” As the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, LA critics noted she gave the entire production a jolt... “...energetic, with a clear, radiant voice...a fully developed and daring performance of comic ingenuity.” Other roles include Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti; Sally in Follies; Lucy, the beggar woman, in Sweeney Todd; Maria in The Sound of Music; Nancy in Oliver!; and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. 

Featured with South Bay Opera, Orange County Opera, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Concordia Masterworks, Orchestra Irvine, Montage Orchestra, Dana Point Orchestra, and Pasadena Pops, Susan has enjoyed a variety of performing venues. Solo performance engagements include Mahler Symphonies No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4; Verdi Requiem; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; and the dramatic Witch of Endor in Honegger's King David Oratorio. Ms. Ali performed as Mezzo-soprano soloist in the premiere of Under the Shadow, an oratorio for Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, and Choir, composed by Robert Denham, and conducted by Pacific Symphony Maestro, Carl St. Clair. She has sung as mezzo soloist in Falla's El Amor Brujo, numerous Summer Pops concerts, and Handel's Messiah all with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. 

Dr. Ali has served on the Executive Board of the National Association of Teachers of Singing-Los Angeles Chapter, heading the Collegiate Auditions, the Young Artist Program, and the Student Evaluation Program. For the National Opera Association, Dr. Ali presented Pair Me a Parody, a program associating student learning of grand opera scenes by engaging first in parodies from light opera. Students joined her at the conference to perform excerpts from the program. Ms. Ali is a soloist/section leader at the Community Church, Congregational in Corona del Mar.  

Studio Faculty - Clarinet

Biography

Sierra Allen is a freelance clarinetist and educator in Los Angeles. Some of her projects in the Hollywood Studio Orchestras include principal clarinet on The Call of the Wild, Encanto, and The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild. Sierra has performed with a variety of orchestras in and around the LA area, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, New West Symphony, and Muse/ique. She has also performed in Washington with the Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Sierra received her BM in Music Education at Biola University and MM in Clarinet Performance at California State University, Fullerton. She received her DMA in Clarinet Performance at UCLA and published her dissertation on E-flat and bass clarinet doubling in orchestral and chamber music in June 2022. She is passionate about teaching both auxiliary clarinets. While at UCLA, Sierra worked as a Graduate Research Mentorship recipient during her dissertation year and was the teaching assistant for the woodwind chamber music course for two years. She believes in teaching the clarinet as a physical and mental endeavor, encouraging students to find their own positive ways to think through their performances. She enjoys teaching at Concordia University Irvine, Biola University, and privately. Sierra maintains a healthy studio of in-person and online clarinet and saxophone students from multiple states. Her mentors include Ray Guyll, Joshua Ranz, and Boris Allakhverdyan.

Studio Faculty - Composition

Biography

Described by the New York Times as “…abrasive outbursts…monstrous climax…yearning melody in a rapturous surge,” music by Elliott Bark (b.1980) has been performed in many venues, such as Stern Auditorium of Carnegie Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Seoul Arts Center, Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival and Korean Composers Festival. Elliott has worked with many groups, including Pacific Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra members.

Elliott, two-time recipient (2012, 2014) of The Korean National Composer Prize (the most prestigious award for Korean composers), received the Susan and Ford Schumann Fellowship from Aspen Music Festival and School and numerous prizes including the 2017 Agape Church Music Festival, 2013 Indiana University Dean’s Prize, 2010 Bowdoin International Music Festival Composition Competition and 2009 First Music Commission.

Elliott has recently been commissioned by Pacific Symphony, Soli Deo Gloria Music Foundation, The New York Classical Players (for Grammy-nominated flutist Carol Wincenc), Barkada Saxophone Quartet (Fischoff Competition Grand Prize Winner), Linda Strommen (Indiana University Oboe Professor), among many others.

Elliott, currently the director of the Instrumental Music Program at Crean Lutheran High School, an adjunct faculty member at Concordia and Biola Universities, received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in composition from Indiana University where Elliott served as an Associate Instructor and Graduate Assistant in the composition department. He has studied composition with Claude Baker, David Dzubay, Don Freund, Jonguk Kim, P.Q. Phan, and Sydney Hodkinson and instrumental conducting with David Effron, Arthur Fagen, and Cliff Colnot.

Trumpet Instructor

Biography

Richard Chasin holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan, where he was a student of Armando Ghitalla, former principal trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Further study was done at the Aspen Music School and the Tanglewood Institute.

Richard has been teaching trumpet for over 25 years and has had many of his students perform with the All Southern California Honor Band as well as the California All State Honor Band at both the high school and junior high school levels. Richard's students have also been members of the Orange County Youth Orchestra and the Pacific Symphony Institute. Professor Chasin is currently a music faculty member at five colleges and universities. He has also taught trumpet at UC Irvine and Irvine Valley College.

Biography

Dr. Hyunjoo Choi received her M.M and D.M.A degree in piano performance from Michigan State University under Yong hi Moon. While completing her D.M.A. degree in Michigan State University, Dr. Choi has been recipient of scholarship with working as staff accompanist in the same school. Since she moved to California, she has served as a staff accompanist at Hope International University and Saddleback College. She was also teaching piano lesson in Flint School of Performing Arts and pianoforte. She has performed and studied in worldwide music festival such as the Millennium Keyboard Festival in Spain, The Banff Keyboard Festival and The Orford Music Festival in Canada, and The Chautauqua institute Summer Festival in New York. As a soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Choi performed Rachmaninoff 2nd concerto as keyboardist in Contemporary Music night with Flint Orchestra, The Real New Music 2009, and many solo recitals in Auditorium of Michigan State University.

Studio Faculty - Keyboard Improvisation (Jazz Piano)

Biography

Mina Choi is a pianist, composer, and arranger from Seoul, South Korea. Mina has received a Master Degree of Music from California State University, Fullerton, where she studied piano and arranging with Grammy award winning jazz composer and pianist, Bill Cunliffe. Since her journey here she has also had the opportunities to write and arrange many pieces for jazz combos and jazz orchestras. Her big band arrangements of tunes by the legendary pianist George Cables were featured recently at a performance by the Harvard Jazz Band at Harvard University. Her arrangement of “Bolivia” was chosen by the ASMAC judging committee in the 2015 ASMAC Pete Rugolo Big Band Arranging & Composing Competition. Also, her original of “Paddle through the Lake” was awarded in the 2017 Bill Conti Big Band Arranging and Composing Competition.

She won the 38th Downbeat Outstanding Performance Award with her own original composition, “Sing ChaCha” and arrangement, “Falling away with you” of Muse. In 2016, she was selected Outstanding College Performer of the year, at the Reno Jazz Festival. Internationally, the Mina Choi Trio was a finalist at the 10th Bucharest International Jazz Competition. Her message to the world, that she wishes to share through music, is one of hope and love.

Studio Faculty - Drum Set

Biography

Professor Mark Converse received his Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Northridge where he studied with Karen Ervic-Pershing, Joel Leach and Jerry Steinholz. He also studied drum set with legendary musicians: Nick Ceroli, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Schaeffer, and Peter Erskine. After completing his degree, Converse continued to study snare drum technique and drum set with Freddie Gruber and Latin percussion with Luis Conte.

Uniquely qualified as a teacher by both university and individual study with some of southern California’s most esteemed percussionists and drummers, Mark is busy as a free-lance musician and brings real world experience to his teaching philosophy. This philosophy balances technique, literature, and musicianship with practical application.

Professor Converse has performed and or recorded with a wide variety of ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony, and the Pageant of the Masters Orchestra. He has had the privilege of backing up such noted artists and entertainers as Paul Anka, Maureen McGovern, Carol Burnett, Carol Channing, Jason Alexander, Robert Goulet, Joely Fisher, Peggy Lee, Dudley Moore, and Steve Allen, to name a few.

Converse is an accomplished teacher of drum set, Latin and ethnic hand percussion, and symphonic percussion. His students have been accepted into high school and collegiate honor ensembles and won scholarships to various four-year institutions.

Studio Faculty - Bass

Biography

Dana Decker, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, began his career as a touring bassist playing a wide variety of venues from intimate clubs to stadiums. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music as well as an Master of Music from CSU Los Angeles. Dana is an in demand session and live bass player, as well as a highly regarded audio instructor who has performed with The Pussycat Dolls, The Dan Band, Katherine McPhee, and Danny Seraphine. He has been seen as a performer on television programs: Matchmaker Millionaire, Fraiser, and Ally McBeal. Dana has also taught audio courses at major colleges and universities throughout the Southland.

Studio Faculty - Guitar

Andrew Doolittle has performed with a broad palette of artists representing a wide variety of styles, including Rita Wilson, Idina Menzel, Taylor Hicks, Joy Williams (The Civil Wars), David Tao (陶喆), A-Mei (阿妹), Patti Page, the Pasadena Pops and the Houston Symphony. He has performed on TV shows including the The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Today Show. Andrew earned his BM in jazz performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music and his MM in jazz performance from The New England Conservatory of Music. He keeps an extensive live performance schedule and his guitar work can often be heard in film trailers, video games and TV shows.

Studio Faculty - Voice

Studio Faculty - Jazz Trumpet

Studio Faculty - Tuba

Biography

David is a dedicated performer boldly exploring creative initiatives as a soloist by commissioning and premiering new compositions, heightening the awareness and expansion of the solo tuba repertoire as well as entertaining audiences with his ostentatious interpretations of the standard repertoire. He is an active member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA), and has been featured as a soloist and clinician at ITEA-sponsored regional tuba-euphonium conferences.

David’s commitment to nurturing the love of music through education is apparent in his duties as professor at Concordia University, Irvine, California State University Fullerton and Cerritos College as well as a music coach at a number of middle and high school music programs across the southland, and as a private instructor.

David embarked on his musical journey in 1985 near Pittsburgh, PA, achieving degrees in music from the Eastman School of Music (B.M. ’96), University of Arizona (MM, ’00) and the University of Southern California (DMA, ’11). His major teachers include Sam Pilafian, Daniel Perantoni, Jim Self, Norm Pearson, Cherry Beauregard and David McCollum; a list of iconic figures diverse in talent whose pedagogical ideas have helped David discover his unique sound and versatile style of playing. Dr. Holben has performed with the Pacific, San Diego, Santa Barbara, New West and Pasadena Symphonies, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and various professional brass ensembles across the Southwestern United States. He has performed with artists such as Victor Vanacore, Jeff Tyzik, Scott Copeland, Chris Botti and Andrea Bocelli, and his solo appearances have taken him from Fresno to France, from Greensburg to the Great Lakes performing innovative programs of new music.

Studio Faculty - Double Bass

Chris Hornung received his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University and his Master of Music degree from Michigan State University. An active double bassist, he is the principal bass of the Dana Point Symphony, Symphony Irvine and Orchestra Collective of Orange County, and was principal of the Orange County Symphony from 2008-2016. In the past he performed with the Kalamazoo, Jackson, Lansing, Battle Creek and West Michigan Symphonies, Opera Tampa, and the California Chamber Orchestra. Chris is also active as a chamber musician and solo recitalist, and has been featured as a soloist twice with the Orange County Symphony.

In addition to teaching at Concordia, Chris has worked with private students of all ages and as a sectional coach at numerous high schools. In the summers he is a faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, where he teaches double bass and music history in addition to performing as principal bass of the Festival Orchestra. Chris is also on faculty at Chaffey College where he teaches bass, Music Appreciation and History of Rock, and at Coastline College where he teaches Music Appreciation, History of Rock and History of Jazz and is chair of the Visual and Performing Arts department.

Biography

Professor Johnson teaches at Concordia as well as her own private violin studio. She has performed with The American Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, The Bolshoi Ballet and touring Broadway shows including "The Light in the Piazza", "The Color Purple", "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber", "South Pacific", "West Side Story", Disney's "The Lion King" and "White Christmas". In addition, she is also an active freelance musician with local symphonies in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, a studio recording musician for the movies, and has performed with various artists including Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Bebe Newirth, The Vandals and Steve Perry.

Education

• Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland
• Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland
• Bachelor of Music - University of California, Irvine

Teaching

• Individual Violin Lessons

Studio Faculty - Songwriting

Studio Faculty - Harp

Biography

Gretchen Sheetz Kirby is a solo, chamber, and orchestral harpist in Southern California and an adjunct professor at Concordia University Irvine. While classically trained, Gretchen has enjoyed performances featuring a diverse range of repertoires, including jazz combo gigs, musical theatre shows (such as The Fantasticks and A Little Night Music) and new music premieres. Her freelance career has provided her with opportunities to accompany artists from the Metropolitan Opera and the Los Angeles Opera and play at unique venues, from The Montage hotel in Laguna Beach to the Soka Performing Arts Center. She has performed with the San Luis Obispo Opera Symphony, Irvine Symphony, and Masterworks Orchestra (Irvine, CA), as well as with orchestral and choral ensembles at multiple universities throughout Orange County.

Gretchen earned her Master’s in Music in harp performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in May 2017, where she was a student of Ina Zdorovetchi; she completed her undergraduate education at Concordia University Irvine (B.A. ’14, music, Summa Cum Laude) and harp studies with Mindy Ball. While at Concordia, Gretchen received the Outstanding Senior Award and the Senior Music Performance Award. Her time in Boston included many performances at the Conservatory, services at Park Street Church, and a harp teaching position at Wellesley College. Additionally, she taught several music history courses as a graduate assistant. Her harp experiences also include masterclasses and private lessons with Susann McDonald, Jessica Zhou, Heidi LehWalder, and Yolanda Kondonassis, and performances with the Pacific Harp Ensemble and The Boston Conservatory Harp Ensemble. Gretchen currently serves as the Director of Music and Worship Arts at Aliso Creek Church, teaches music history classes at Concordia, and maintains private harp lessons and a busy freelance career. She shares her passion for music and education with her husband, Jordan Kirby, a high school choral director.

Studio Faculty - Songwriting

Studio Faculty - Flute

Biography

An active freelance flutist in the Los Angeles area, Julie Long has played with nearly every major local ensemble at every major local venue.  Hailed “a terrific flutist” by Julius Baker and called “the real deal” by Jim Walker, Julie is creatively satisfied playing a variety of classical generas: from early music to contemporary, from solo to large ensemble.

As an orchestral flutist, Julie has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Music Center Opera Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Long Beach Symphony and many others.  She plays piccolo in the Long Beach Municipal Band, a 114 year-old professional ensemble which provides 20+ concerts each summer in Long Beach parks.  As a studio recording artist she has played on about 50 major motion picture soundtracks, such as Fantastic Four, Superman Returns and Horton Hears a Who.

Julie is passionate about playing chamber music.  She is a member of the Resonance Flute Consort, a unique recording ensemble with two albums consisting of original arrangements of movie and television music.  She was the flutist for the Los Angeles new music group, Ensemble Green, from 1999 to its dissolution in 2011. Two chamber music pieces were written for her by composer Frederick Lesemann and recently released on the Centaur label: Concertino for Flute & Mixed Quintet (Burning Pierrot) and Notturno for Alto Flute & Guitar. With a D.M.A. minor in early music, Julie plays wooden Renaissance and Baroque flutes and has performed with Musica Angelica, Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, Bach Collegium San Diego and Con Gioia Early Music Ensemble.

In addition to teaching at Concordia, Julie is flute professor at Long Beach City College and Santa Ana College. Julie received a B.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music and has M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from the University of Southern California.

Education

• B.M. Flute Performance - Cleveland Institute of Music
• M.M. Flute Performance - University of Southern California
• D.M.A. Flute Performance - University of Southern California

Teaching

• Individual Flute Lessons
• Director, Flute Choir

Interim Music Department Chair, Music Department Administrator

Biography

Siri Lyon received her Master of Music in Oboe Performance at the University of Southern California, and her Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance at New England Conservatory of Music. Her former teachers include David Weiss, Mark McEwen and Basil Reeve.

Known for her dynamic musical interpretations and expression, Siri has performed throughout the United States and internationally as an orchestral, chamber and solo artist. Based in Southern California, Mrs. Lyon has served as Principal Oboist for the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, and has also appeared with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra, the Dana Point Symphony and the 2012 Piatigorsky International Cello Festival Orchestra where she collaborated with members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. She has played under the baton of many celebrated conductors including Hugh Wolff, Helmuth Rilling, Carl St. Clair and Mei-Ann Chen, and has performed in St. Peter's Basilica, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Boston's Jordan Hall and Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

Mrs. Lyon has given solo recitals in Los Angeles, Boston and the Twin Cities. As a native Minnesotan, she returns regularly to give special concerts and has organized performances of Bach cantatas, traditional hymns and other vocal pieces with local musicians in addition to solo engagements. Committed to the education of young musicians, she has also offered master classes and private lessons to budding oboists in the area, including Concordia's annual Double Reed Day.

Studio Faculty - Saxophone

Biography

JAY MASON graduated from CSU, Long Beach, playing lead alto and soprano saxophone in that school’s top-rated wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and orchestra. In 1981 he was a featured soloist at the North American Saxophone Alliance national convention, and in 1983 the University Saxophone Quartet, of which he was a member, were finalists in the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition.

After graduation Jay has had a busy freelance performance career. Based in the Los Angeles area, he appears regularly on numerous live concerts and on many studio projects for motion pictures, television and video games. A few of the performers he’s worked with are Michael Buble’, Johnny Mathis, Michael Finestein, Peabo Bryson and Christina Aguilera, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Pacific Symphony. Live performances include Broadway shows such as Kinky Boots, Wicked, Spamalot, Jekyll and Hyde and The Addams Family, and he is a member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band which has toured throughout the United States, Canada and Asia.

Motion picture and television credits include American Dad, Disney’s ‘Frozen’, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Princess and the Frog, The Tonight Show, Dragon Tales, Toy Story 3 and a number of commercials for companies such as United Airlines and Ford Motor Company. He has also performed on recordings for artists such as Barry Manilow, Michael Finestein, and John Lithgow of Third Rock from the Sun fame.

Jay rounds out his activities by teaching at the Bob Cole Conservatory at CSU Long Beach, Concordia University, and his teaching studio in Irvine, CA. as well as appearances as a guest artist and clinician for high schools and universities throughout the United States. His students have consistently won chairs in the SCSBOA All Star Jazz and Wind Ensemble Honor Groups, are attending major music university programs at schools like Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, CSULB, University of North Texas, and Berklee College of Music. Several have gone on to careers in music as professional performers, educators and producers.

Jazz Orchestra

Music Department Chair, Professor, University Organist, Director of Keyboard, Church Music, and Jazz

Biography

Tom Mueller serves as Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Music at Concordia University Irvine in California. He previously served as Music Department Chair and brings extensive experience as an educator and academic leader.

As a performing artist, Mueller won first place in the 2014 Schoenstein Competition in Hymn-Playing at the American Guild of Organists national convention and was honored by The Diapason as a member of the inaugural "20 Under 30" list of influential figures in organ and church music. He maintains an active concert schedule across the United States and Europe, with notable achievements including a complete performance of J. S. Bach's organ works in seventeen concerts. His compositions have been broadcast on national radio and television, and his recordings include works released on the Gothic label. His published organ and choral works are available through ECS/MorningStar Publishing and Concordia Publishing House.

Mueller's scholarly interests encompass the early organ and keyboard works of J. S. Bach, performance practice of organ continuo in classical-era German and Austrian sacred music, and the American reception of nineteenth-century opera star Jenny Lind. He has presented workshops and lectures for numerous professional organizations and has served in leadership positions with the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Lutheran Musicians.

He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music, a Master of Sacred Music in organ from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz composition and piano from the University of Maine at Augusta, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Publications

• Mueller, Tom. “Joachim Burmeister’s Musica Poetica and Applications for Liberal Music Education.” In Reading by Starlight: Core Texts from Confucius to Zadie Smith, edited by Tuan Hoang, Michael Dink, Samuel Stoner, Alan Pichanick, Catherine Klancer, and Elizabeth-Jane McGuire, 133–142. Association for Core Texts and Courses, 2025. https://coretexts.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/81/2025/08/READING-BY-STARLIGHT-2025.pdf.
• Mueller, Tom. “A Compositional Case Study: Seven Versets on “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern.” In CrossAccent 2020, no. 3: 21-35.
• Mueller, Tom. “A New Evaluation of ‘Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,’ BWV 739.” In CrossAccent 2020, no. 2: 16-25.
• Mueller, Tom. “Mindful Hymnody and Leadership.” In In Tempo 2018, no. 2.
• Mueller, Tom. “Towards the Recovery of Authentic Organ Continuo Practice in Haydn’s Concerted Sacred Music.” In Online Journal of the Haydn Society of North America 7, no. 2 (Fall 2017). https://remix.berklee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=haydn-journal.
• Mueller, Tom. “The 2016 EROI Festival—Breath for Singing: The Organ and the Human Voice.” In The Diapason 1293 (2017): 22.

Published Compositions

• Chorale Prelude on “From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee” for organ solo. In Proclaim! Preludes and Harmonizations for the Hymn of the Day, Vol. 3. Concordia Publishing House, 2025.
• Lift Your Voice Rejoicing, Mary for two-part chorus, organ, and optional flute or violin. ECS, 2025
• Five Chorale Preludes on Joyful Themes for organ solo. Concordia Publishing House, 2024.
• Seven Versets on “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” for organ solo. ECS, 2023.

Papers, Presentations, and Workshops

• “Symbolism and Rhetoric in Bach's Orgelbüchlein,” Long Beach AGO Chapter, January 2021.
• “Organ Consoles and Hymn Registrations for Church Musicians,” LCMS All Workers Conference, November 2020
• “Leading the Church’s Song from the Organ,” Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Conference, Portland, OR, June 2019
• “J. S. Bach’s Clavier-Übung III,” St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, CA, February 2019
• “Text-Driven Interpretation and Leadership in Congregational Hymnody,” Lectures in Church Music, River Forest, IL, October 2018
• “Musical Poetics: Rhetoric and Music in the Seventeenth Century and Applications for Modern Liberal Education,” Association for Core Texts and Courses 24th Annual Conference, Framingham, MA, April 2018
• “A Leader and a Servant: Preparing Hymns for Congregational Singing,” LCMS Institute for Preaching, Liturgy, and Church Music, Chicago, July 2017
• “Organ Continuo Practice in Viennese Concerted Sacred Music,” American Guild of Organists National Convention, Houston, June 2016
• “Jenny Lind Sheet Music in Pre-Lindomania America,” North American Conference for Nineteenth-Century Music, Andover, MA, July 2015
• “Seventeenth-Century Influences on the Earliest Organ Works of J. S. Bach,” University of Notre Dame, October 2014
• “A New Evaluation of ‘Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,’ BWV 739,” American Guild of Organists National Convention, Boston, June 2014

Professional Service

• Region 4 President, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, 2018–2023
• Chair, Organ Study Grant Program, Orange County AGO, 2018–2023
• Member, Committee for Continuing Professional Education (CCPE), American Guild of Organists, 2015–2021
• Member, Education Committee, Los Angeles AGO chapter, 2014–2016
• Co-chair, Programming Committee, American Guild of Organists 2019 Regional Convention
• Subdean, Orange County AGO chapter, 2015–2017

Courses Taught

• MUS 303 Music Theory III
• MUS 304 Music Theory IV
• MUS 306 Music Theory III: Commercial
• MUS 403 Orchestration and Instrumentation
• MUS 430 History and Analysis of Modern Music
• MUS 102 Music Fundamentals
• MUS 111 Experiences in Music
• MUS 331 Music History I
• MUS 332 Music History II
• MUS 305 Arranging

Applied organ, composition, harpsichord, and jazz piano

Director, Concordia Jazz Orchestra and Ensembles
Director, Concordia Americana Ensemble

Studio Faculty - Percussion

Biography

Dr. Clarissa Shan joins the Concordia University Irvine Music Faculty in the Fall 2015 Semester. Dr. Shan received a doctorate of musical arts degree at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. She also holds a master’s degree from USC and a bachelor of arts degree from La Sierra University.

Dr. Shan is an active soprano performer throughout southern California. She has sung roles such as The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Cendrillon in Viardot's Cendrillon,Lauretta and Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Crobyle in Massenet’s Thaïs,Giannetta in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, Cissy in Albert Herring, and Annina in La Traviata. Ms. Shan’s other major works include soprano solos in the Bach Cantata 140, Fauré Requiem in D minor, Handel Messiah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Mass in C minor, Rutter Requiem and Magnificat, and the Vivaldi Gloria.

Ms. Shan has won first place in competitions such as the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the Redlands Bowl Young Artist Competition, and the grand prize in the Brentwood Symphony Young Artist Competition. Besides performing, Ms. Shan also shares her passion of music with the younger generation by teaching voice to undergraduate students as well as classes at USC.

Studio Faculty - Guitar

Biography

Dr. Donovan Raitt is an internationally recognized guitarist, composer, and educator, blending percussive fingerstyle techniques, strong melodic hooks, live looping, and improvisation, drawing on influences from rock, pop, jazz, and classical traditions.

Donovan has released several acclaimed recordings, including his original solo albums Strategic Tension (2012), Pursuing the Horizon (2014), and Water and Light (2019), as well as collections of hymns and worship music such as Guitar Hymns vol.1 and 2 (2013) and Modern Worship Hymns (2024). His music has been featured internationally through tours across the United States, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. He has shared the stage with leading fingerstyle guitarists such as Don Ross, Preston Reed, Andy McKee, and Antoine Dufour.

Donovan has served in church music leadership for over two decades, currently as Director of  Contemporary Worship at Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, CA. His recordings of hymns and worship arrangements reflect his deep commitment to sacred music. Dr. Raitt also  received a continuing education certificate in worship arts from Concordia University, Irvine, in 2024.

Donovan earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Guitar Performance from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, with concentrations in Musicology, Arts Leadership, and Flamenco Guitar. He also holds a Master's of Music in Jazz Studies from Cal State Long Beach and a Bachelor of Music from USC. His research on Michael Hedges and the  history of the fingerstyle guitar tradition has positioned him as a leading scholar of contemporary acoustic guitar.

He has been recognized with the USC Thornton School of Music Outstanding Graduate Doctoral  Award, the Paul LaRose Memorial Scholarship, and membership in Phi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Dr. Raitt also teaches at Golden West College, Hope International University, and The University of San Diego, and previously taught at The University of Southern California and Musicians Institute. His contributions to education include the widely used  Practical Guitar Method series of guitar instructional books as well as curriculum development in guitar, worship arts, music technology, and music history.

Donovan is endorsed by Yamaha, Sonebridge, Breedlove, and Godin Guitars, Henriksen  Amplifiers, Ernie Ball Strings, G7th Capos, Journey Instruments, GruvGear Cases and Accessories, and DiMarzio Pickups.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Jared Turner is an Orange County freelance violist and educator. He is a member of the Redlands Symphony and has performed with the Pacific Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony and Opera Pacific. As part of the Orange County Philharmonic Society’s Meet the Musicians program, he performed string quartets bringing chamber music to elementary schools throughout Orange County. He has been a part of recording projects of many different musical genres including pop, jazz, gospel, and soundtracks.

Jared Turner teaches viola at Concordia University Irvine and privately. He also has worked as a sectional coach and performed side by side concerts with Orange County Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Music Sur la Mer Orchestra, and with local high schools. He received his Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin studying with Professor Roger Myers and his Bachelor of Music with Professor Robert Becker.

Studio Faculty - Vocalist

Biography

Jaime Van Der Sluys, originally from Snellville, Georgia, is an accomplished performer, educator, studio singer, arranger, and songwriter currently residing in Long Beach. She entertains audiences with her sincere approach, wide stylistic range, and natural presence. During her career as a vocalist she has performed at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill, the Dolby Theatre for the Pitch Perfect 3 Premier, The Queen Mary, Disneyland's Club 1901,The Blue Whale Jazz Club as well as many other exciting venues across the country. She can be seen performing regularly throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Jaime was the featured vocalist in the Stars Wars for Kinect video game on the song “Naturally.” She was a member of the a cappella pop/jazz caroling group Snowfall which was created by Grammy-winning arranger and producer for the Pentatonix, Ben Bram. As a background vocalist, Jaime recorded with the indie/alternative rock band Lord Huron on their most recent album Long Lost. She performed their single “Mine Forever” on the Late Late Show with James Corden. Jaime was a member of the choir for the Rolling Stones tour at Petco Park in San Diego. She also sang with the Josh Tatum Band who were the opening act for Bon Jovi.

Jaime holds a Masters in jazz studies from California State University Long Beach as well as her Bachelors from the University of North Texas. While attending Cal State, Jaime studied under the renowned Christine Guter and was a member of the award winning vocal jazz ensemble, Pacific Standard Time. She has received numerous accolades, including the outstanding vocalist award at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival and was the recipient of the Ella Fitzgerald scholarship. Jaime also received the 2017 Graduate Jazz Soloist award from DownBeat magazine.

Studio Faculty - Organ

Studio Faculty - Horn

Biography

Erika Wilsen is an active freelance horn performer and an experienced educator. She maintains a large studio, including students hailing from across the country and overseas. Students range from young beginners to university students and beyond. A passionate teacher, Erika earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at UCLA in 2021. She was the recipient of several scholarships, including the Mimi Alpert Feldman and the Gluck scholarships, as well as a Summer Graduate Research Mentorship and a Graduate Research Mentorship fellowship. She worked as a teaching assistant for six quarters, including several Musicology courses such as Writing About Music and Creating Musical Community, as well as the 125ABC sequence of music history. She also served as a teaching assistant in the Comparative Literature department.

Most recently, she has performed with Pacific Symphony, UCLA’s Gluck Brass Quintet, Left Coast Quintet, and Pacific Sound Brass Quintet. She has performed extensively in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Erika was a founding member of the woodwind quintet Avenue Winds and performed with the ensemble for 11 years. In addition to playing principal horn for Peninsula Ballet Theatre and St. Peter’s Chamber Orchestra, she has performed with the symphony orchestras of Berkeley, Fremont, Santa Cruz and Vallejo as well as Opera San Jose, San Francisco Lyric Opera, and the San Francisco Choral Society. She has performed with Josh Groban and Barry Manilow. Erika graduated with a double major in English and Music (Honors) at Davidson College and holds her Master of Music in Horn Performance from the University of Michigan. Her mentors include Amy Sanchez, Soren Hermansson, Bryan Kennedy, Frank Portone, Robert Pruzin, and Louis Stout. When Erika is not playing or teaching, she enjoys spending time outside and with her family.