David Cudd, Ed.D
Interim Associate Dean of the Cline School of Music
Associate Professor of Music Education
Program Coordinator for Master of Music Education
David Cudd serves as the Interim Associate Dean of the Cline School of Music, director of music education and coordinator for the Master of Music Education program 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) 663-7503
Email: David.Cudd@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
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
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
Megan Hollifield, M.M.
Instructor of Music Worship Studies
Megan Hollifield serves as an instructor of Music worship studies in the Music department at NGU. Hollifield earned her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Worship Studies from NGU and Masters fo Music and Worship Arts from Liberty University. Prior to teaching at NGU, Hollifield worked as a music teacher for Green Charter Schools, and currently owns a music lesson studio, Hollifield Music, in Spartanburg, SC. In her spare time, Hollifield enjoys spending time with her husband, Dillon and son Huxton.
Phone: (864) 663-7506
Email: Megan.Hollifield@ngu.edu
Office Location: FAC 122
Angela Horn-Barrett, B.M., Artist Diploma, Julliard
Instructor of Voice
Angela Horn-Barrett serves as Associate Professor of Voice at NGU. She received a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri- Kansas City Conservatory, an Artist Diploma's in Advanced Vocal Studies from the New England Conservatory, and was a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard Opera Center program. Previously, Ms. Horn-Barrett has served on the voice faculties of Birmingham Southern University, University of Missouri-St. Louis and the University of Memphis.
She has performed to popular acclaim on four continents where she has sung leading roles with prominent opera companies and orchestras, including Opera de Montreal, Teatro Nacional de la Dominicana, Opera Lyra Ottawa, the New York City Opera, Baltimore Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Opera de Monte Carlo on a tour of Japan singing the title role of Carmen alongside tenor Roberto Alagna. Amongst several awards, Ms. Horn-Barrett was named one of New York City Opera’s “Outstanding Artists of the Year”.
She has also appeared as soloist with many leading orchestras, such as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Greenville Symphony, the Bach Society of Saint Louis, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago in Orchestra Hall, The National Chorale of New York City and the American Symphony Orchestra in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Always having a keen desire to mentor aspiring young artists, Ms. Horn-Barrett has directed multiple vocal institutes, directed scene programs and full length productions and has been in demand as a master class clinician nationally. She lives in Greenville with her children Andrew and Alyse and husband, Rev. Tom Barrett, the Director of Worship Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina. After a 17 year career singing professionally, Tom & Angela were called to vocational ministry, and have served in ministry together since 2006.
Phone: (864) 977-7082
Email: Angela.Barrett@ngu.edu
Office Location: FAC 123
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
Office Location: FAC 126
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) 977-7087
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
Adjunct Instructors
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 wife,
NGU alum Jessica Snyder. |
