Cline School of Music Faculty and Instructional Staff

Jackie Griffin, D.M.A.

Associate Dean of the Cline School of Music
Chair of the Department of Music
Professor of Music

Dr. Jackie Griffin serves as associate dean of the College of Fine Arts, chair of the Music Department, and a professor of music at NGU. She holds her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of South Carolina and her Bachelor and Master of Music in organ performance. Griffin has served various churches in the area as organist and choir director, and she has been a featured recitalist throughout the region. She enjoys traveling with her husband and composing music.

Phone: (864) 977-7081

Email: jackie.griffin@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 133

Brent Coppenbarger, D.M.A.

Professor of Music

Dr. Brent Coppenbarger serves as professor of woodwinds in the Music Department at NGU. Coppenbarger earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet performance from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Music degree in performance from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. He has authored two books, both published by Rowman & Littlefield. He is married to the author Sonja Condit and has two children.

Phone: (864) 977-7089

Email: brent.coppenbarger@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 121

David Cudd, M.M.E.

Associate Professor of Music Education
Program Coordinator for Music Education

David Cudd serves as the director of music education at NGU. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University, a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Doctor of Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Cudd completed a 28-year career as an instructor in the public school system. He has also maintained a 30-plus-year history as a visual designer, consultant, and adjudicator in the Marching Arts. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, being outdoors, and spending time with his family.

Phone: (864) 977-7503

Email: david.cudd@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 171

Christopher Davis, D.M.A.

Associate Professor of Music

Dr. Christopher Davis serves as Associate Professor of Percussion at NGU, where he teaches applied percussion and directs the NGU Percussion Ensemble and the NGU Marching Crusaders Drumline. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Arts degree in percussion performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance from Capital University. He is the Principal Percussionist with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, while also presenting clinics and performances on a regular basis. Christopher and his wife, Jennifer, have four children and attend Grace Church-Greer.

Phone: (864) 977-7176

Email: chris.davis@ngu.edu

Office Location: M1

Mark Eshenbaugh, M.M.

Instructor of Music Worship Studies
Program Coordinator for Music Worship Studies

Mark Eshenbaugh serves as the coordinator of music worship studies at NGU, and also as an instructor of guitar. Eshenbaugh earned his bachelor's degree from NGU and his Master of Music from Converse College. He is a versatile performer, conductor, director, and band leader in a wide variety of musical endeavors, from rock and jazz to musical theatre and opera. In addition to his work as a studio bassist and guitarist, he is also a classical and musical theater singer. Eshenbaugh also enjoys songwriting and arranging. He has been an active worship leader at Vineyard Church of Greenville and Brushy Creek Baptist Church in Taylors, and he has actively performed as a contemporary church musician for more than 20 years. He lives in Taylors with his wife and three girls.

Phone: (864) 663-0172

Email: mark.eshenbaugh@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 125

Cheryl Greene, D.M.A.

Professor of Voice
Program Coordinator for Voice

Dr. Cheryl Greene serves as the coordinator of the voice program at NGU. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in sacred music and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Bob Jones University. Her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance was completed at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She is also a certified teacher in Somatic Voicework The LoVetri Method. Greene lives in Taylors with her "diva dog" — a shih-tzu named Yum Yum — and enjoys knitting and working in the yard.

Phone: (864) 977-7262

Email: cheryl.greene@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 124

Stephen Griner, M.M.

Instructor of Music
Collaborative Pianist

Stephen Griner serves in the Music Department at NGU as Collaborative Pianist. He holds a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's degree in piano performance from Bob Jones University. After graduating, Griner took four years of further study with Marta Mihich. Griner has been music director for the South Carolina Children's Theatre mainstage productions since 2008, and he has performed with Centre Stage in Greenville and at the Peace Center. Griner is an elder and the music director at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in Greer. He enjoys writing and arranging music, and has seen his work published and recorded. He runs a private studio from home.

Phone: (864) 977-2196

Email: stephen.griner@ngu.edu

Office Location: Room 112

Seth Killen, D.M.A.

Associate Professor of Voice

Dr. Seth Killen serves as an associate professor of voice at NGU. He joined the NGU faculty in Fall 2014.  Previously, he served on the faculties of Transylvania University and Eastern Illinois University. He holds a Master of Music in voice performance and literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Doctorate of Musical Arts with a cognate in voice pedagogy from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He was the recipient of several awards recognizing singing and scholastic achievement, including the Dorothy E. Bowen Award at the University of Illinois, the Emilie M. Dieterle Voice Scholarship at CCM, and two awards from the National Society of Arts and Letters. Killen enjoys performing in recitals, concerts, opera, and musical theatre. As a Corbett Young Artist with the Cincinnati Opera, he was a member of the main stage opera chorus for three seasons. He has performed leading roles in “La Bohéme,” “L’heure Espagnole,” “The Scarecrow,” and “Ariadne auf Naxos.” Killen lives in Taylors with his wife and three daughters. 

Phone: (864) 977-7084

Email: seth.killen@ngu.edu 

Phil McIntyre, M.A.Ed.

Director of Athletic Bands
Recruiter

Phil McIntyre serves as director of athletic bands at NGU. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts in education from Furman University. McIntyre taught at Blue Ridge High School and then James F. Byrnes High School as director of bands for 30 years. McIntyre and his wife Wanda have been married since 1975 and have two daughters that are both middle school band directors.

Phone: (864) 663-0280

Email: phil.mcintyre@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 108

Fabio Parrini, M.M.

Professor of Music
Program Coordinator for Piano

Fabio Parrini serves as coordinator of the keyboard program and professor of music at NGU. He received his Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from Boston University and his Piano Diploma from the Conservatory of Padua, Italy. A Steinway Artist, he has released five albums, worked with the Philadelphia International Music Festival and the chamber group Pan Harmonia, and taught master classes across the U.S. As a hobby, Parrini enjoys recording performances by his wife Sherry and their kids Maria and Sam, all musicians as well.

Phone: (864) 977-2196

Email: fabio.parrini@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 119

Darian Washington, D.M.A.

Associate Professor of Music Program
Coordinator for Brass

Dr. Darian Washington serves as the director of the concert band, associate professor of horn, and brass coordinator at NGU. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park; Master of Music from the University of Georgia; and bachelor's degree in music education from Augusta State University. Washington is a freelancer in the greater Greenville area, playing with the Greenville Symphony, Hendersonville Symphony, GMAC orchestra, and Spartanburg Philharmonic. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two young sons.

Phone: (864) 977-2197

Email: darian.washington@ngu.edu

Office Location: M9

Michael Weaver, D.M.

Professor of Music
Program Coordinator for Strings

Dr. Michael Weaver serves as the director of orchestral activities and string program coordinator at NGU. He received his Doctor of Music degree from the Florida State University in viola performance. He also holds a Master of Music degree in viola performance and suzuki pedagogy, and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education, from East Carolina University. Before teaching at NGU, Weaver worked as the orchestra director and taught strings at Elizabeth City State University. In his spare time, Weaver serves as a group leader in Bible Study Fellowship and enjoys camping, kayaking, and fishing with his wife Cathy.

Phone: (864) 977-7994

Email: michael.weaver@ngu.edu

Office Location: FAC 108

 

Angela Horn-Barrett, B.M., Artist Diploma, Julliard

Adjunct Instructor of Voice

Angela Horn-Barrett, serves as a Voice Instructor at NGU. She received her undergraduate training in voice performance at the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City and completed her advanced vocal studies at the New England Conservatory in Boston and the Juilliard School in New York City, where she was a graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center.  

She has sung leading roles and as a soloist with many prominent opera companies and orchestras nationally and worldwide, one of which was the New York City Opera, where she was named “Outstanding Artist of the Year”. 

She now lives in Greenville with her children Andrew and Alyse and husband, Tom Barrett, the Director of Worship Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, where they serve together in music ministry.

Tom Burns, D.W.S.

Adjunct Instructor in Music Worship Studies

Dr. Tom Burns serves as an adjunct professor in the Music Worship Studies program at NGU. He holds a master's degree in church music and a doctorate in worship studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Having served as a church musician at Fairview Baptist Church in Greer for more than 25 years, Burns enjoys working with wood and doing building projects, as well as spending time at his Lyman Lake retreat.

Tony Christopher

Adjunct Instructor in Percussion

Tony Christopher teaches drum set for the Music Department. He also teaches privately at Eastside Guitars and Drums in Greenville. Christopher has instructed various drumlines in and around the Greenville, S.C., area for 10 years. He performs weekly as a member of the Horizon Church praise and worship team. In addition to playing and doing recording sessions locally, he has played in England and Panama. He is a graduate of the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, earning a certification in live/studio performance.

Craig King, M.M. 

Adjunct Instructor of Brass

Craig King serves in the Music Department at NGU. He holds degrees in trumpet performance from Furman University and Yale University School of Music. He performs with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, GAMAC Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, South Carolina Philharmonic, Greenville Jazz Collective Big Band, and the Greenville Brass Quintet, and he is a founding member of the West End Brass Quintet and the Reedy River Brass Trio. King has performed at New York City's Lincoln Center, with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He also serves on the faculty at Converse College. He spends his spare time as a portrait artist and coffee roaster.

Christine Lee, M.M. 

Adjunct Instructor of Cello

R. Christine Lee is on our adjunct music faculty as the cello instructor. She has her degrees in Cello Performance from University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music and Bob Jones University. She has taught cello for over 20 years and began conducting in 2007. She continues to freelance as a cellist, conductor, and teacher. She is also an experienced barista and dabbles in latte art.

Greg Sundt, M.M.

Adjunct Instructor of Brass

Greg Sundt has served with the Music Department at NGU since 2007. He holds degrees from Wayne State University and Ohio State University. He has taught privately for over 40 years and served previously on the faculty of Hillsdale College, where he taught brass lessons and brass methods and conducted the college brass and wind ensembles. He has conducted choirs and orchestras in churches and business conferences and has performed in ensembles, including the Upstate Brass Quintet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, and Palmetto Posaunen. Sundt lives in Greer, S.C., with his wife Marcia and their children.

Jacob Johnson

Adjunct Instructor of Guitar

Jacob Johnson serves as an adjunct guitar instructor in the Music Department at NGU. He has nearly 15 years of experience in teaching private lessons at all levels, as well as various guitar workshops and clinics throughout the southeast. As guitarist for Streamsound recording artist Austin Webb, Jacob shared stages with such acts as Little Big Town, Five for Fighting, and Kellie Pickler. Jacob continues to tour nationally and release music as a solo performer, often opening for such celebrated musicians as Tommy Emmanuel, Phil Keaggy, and Grammy-winner Victor Wooten. Jacob is also involved with the music ministry at Berea First Baptist Church, which he attends with his fiancé, NGU alum Jessica Snyder.