Steve Allison
Drumset | Percussion | Rhythm Section
Steve was born in Houston, Texas where he began studying the drum set at age6 with the famed jazz drummer and teacher, Joe Raynor. He later studied with Dick Jones while attending MacArthur High School and was a member of the All-Region Jazz Band and All-Region Symphonic Band for two years, and also received the NAJE Outstanding Soloist at the U.T. Jazz Festival. Steve also attended the University of Arizona during the Summer months to study with Dr. Gary Cook. He has also studied briefly with Roy Burns (jazz great), Ed Soph (performer/educator at Universityof North Texas), Will Kennedy (Yellow Jackets), James Metcalfe (hand drumming), and most recently studied percussion with Chris Deviney(Principal Percussionist, Philadelphia Symphony) while attending Sam Houston State University.
Nicholas Costello
Pastor of Worship Arts | Instrumental
Piano Instructor | Music Notation
Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Nicholas received his call tothe ministry at an early age and began his vocational ministry in Louisiana at the age of 22. His stylistic approach to music is defined by a combination of influences ranging from southern and black gospel to jazz; all infused into hymns and music from the current worship genre. In addition to his primary call to the local church, Nicholas has served as pianist for several national conferences and has arranged and performed for the Marshall Symphony Orchestra and the 1992 presidential inauguration. He also served the community on the board of directors for the Shreveport Summer Music Festival. Nicholas has served churches in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. In Louisiana, he served as the administrator and piano instructor for the Willow Point School of Performing Arts. Currently, he leads the instrumental arts ministry at The Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston. The multi-faceted ministry of The MET requires administration of multiple bands and instrumental ensembles, as well as extensive scoring of arrangements and orchestrations written exclusively with Finale Notation software. Nicholas and his wife, Melissa have been married since 1994 and have two children, Kerrington and Landon.
Tim Dillon
Guitar
Tim is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and spent his early childhood as the son of a youth pastor, which made his involvement in the church immediate and practically constant. Tim developed an interest in music at an early age as he was exposed to music through his musically inclined parents.
At the age of 10, Tim and his family moved to Tomball, TX by the calling of God on his Dad, Dennis Dillon. This calling was to start a church in the Tomball area. At the age of 11, Tim began playing trumpet for the school band and soon he was enthralled with a passion for the great and profoundly expressive art of music. At 16 years of age, Tim picked up the guitar and started learning how to play worship tunes and soon began playing at church and helping out on the praise team. He immediately fell in love with the guitar and knew that this is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, as long as the Lord would allow. After a couple of years playing, he began teaching guitar and became excited about being able to help others feel what he felt in this amazing gift from the Lord.
Tim is now playing and recording with various artists, and is currently playing guitar for Christian recording artist, Jimmy Needham. He has recorded on several projects and has been on a handful of tours with Jimmy. He loves what he does and hopes that he will be able to continue working for the glory and supremacy of Christ on earth.
Tims' musical influences include : Scott Henderson, Pat Martino, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Brad Paisley, Phil Keagy, John Scofield (just to name a few).
Tim has many hobbies which include reading books that expound the truth of hte Scriptures and help him to be more biblically minded, listening to wise men talk about hte dep things of life, going to concerts with friends, writing music, touring, records, etc....
Anna Ingebrigsten
Ballet | Dance Worship
Anna grew up in Huntsville, TX and has been dancing since the age of 3. Anna was raised with dance constantly around her. Her mother, Tracey Ingrbrigtsen, owns a dance studio that Anna grew up in and where she matured as a dancer. At the age of 12, Anna knew that she wanted to pursue dance as a professional career.
After this realization, she attended numerous summer events at prestigious dance companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Austin, Tulsa Ballet and Boston Ballet. Throughout high school, Anna was a part of a ballet group called the Woodlands Ballet Theatre and continued to grow as a ballet dancer.
In May 2009, Anna graduated from Alpha Omega Christian Academy and continued to pursue her dancing career that summer by attending Dance Ad Deum's Christian dance company's summer intensive. Anna was asked to join the company after the summer program and has been living in Houston and performing with Dance Ad Deum since August 2009.
Anna feels blessed to be a part of something so unique a sa Christian dance company and feels that God has led her to where she is today. She is also thankful to be a part of the Contemporary School of Fine Arts faculty and looks forward to teaching the art of dance through the Christian perspective.
Chasen Little
Drums | Percussion
Chasen started playing drums at the age of 2 and was very fortunate to be around gospel/jazz musicians who influenced him to play drums in a professional environment. He grew up playing drums in the church which taught him alot of discipline of how to master his craft. At the age of 14, Chasen started recording in the studio and playing shows around his home town of Owensboro, Kentucky.
In high school, Chsen participated in the drum-line up to his senior year. After high school, he decided to go straight to college and study at Eastern Kentucky University for a percussion studies degree. He learned the basic rhythms and grooves for Brazilian music, African dance and drumming, Indian drumming, Latin jazz, Caribbean and steel pan drumming and world percussion drum making. He then transferred to Morehead State University for a jazz studies and studio degree. Chasen later joined a cover band that led him to more connections in the contemporary Christian music genre.
Chasen has performed and recorded with Jazz, Christian / Pop, and blues artists. Some of those include Jimmy Needham, Toby Mac, Ayiesha Woods, and others.
Ellen Huai-Lun Lui
Piano
Born in Taiwan into a Pastor's family, at the age of six, Ellen took her first piano lesson. Ellen began playing piano for church services when she was in fifth grade. She was part of a special department of music in both her junior and senior high years and majored in piano performance. Ellen has also played viola to learn subsidiary music skills. While in school, Ellen experienced many music opportunities, not limited to playing piano solos, piano ensembles, string ensembles, symphony orchestra and choir. At the age of 18, she attended the Soochow University in Taipei, Taiwan and majored in piano performance and began to teach private piano lessons.
Since obtaining her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts, Ellen continues to both teach and accompany all kinds of instruments which include both western and traditional Chinese instruments. Ellen has traveled internationally for concert tours in China, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, Brazil and the United States. She has also played in many major concert halls in Taiwan.
In 2002, Ellen came to the United States due to her husband's job relocation. In 2004, she obtained her Master's Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Houston.
Jean Mays O'Neal
Voice
Jean Mays-O'Neal is a native of Dallas, Texas. She began singing at the age seven at her local church. In middle school she discovered a love for classical voice which led her to audition for the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts. She was accepted and began studying with Marsha Henderson (Voice), the late Michael Terrell (Chorus), and the late Nina Johnson (Vocal Technique). She had many accomplishments there including top ratings in district and regional competitions and "The Most Outstanding Vocalist" during her senior year.
Jean attended Prairie A&M University and received a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She studied with the late Dr. Rubye Hebert. As a student, she served as a student Mentor, voice teacher and performed for many on and off campus events representing the university. She received awards and recognitions including scholarships, a National Association of Teaching of Singers Semifinalist and the HBCU Vocal Extravaganze in Black, "Most Outstanding Female Vocalist" in Las Vegas Nevada. Also as a student, she was a member of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild performing many operas and galas.
Jean's professional career includes performing with Delaware Valley Opera and held roles such as The Telephone (Lucy), Amahl and the Night Visitors (Amahl) and The Merry Widdow (Lady 3). Vocal coaches who aided her career are Jing Ling Tam, Phyllis Lewis, Diane Warden-Lawson and Charles Rocker. She has also gained a lot of experience in musical theatre, dance and drama. Positions that she has held include a performing and visual arts coordinator, voice instructor and high school choir director. Not forgetting her roots, she has served in the church as a director of music and praise and worship leader. She has a four-year old daughter, whom she loves very much, named Anna, who also loves to sing, dance and act. Her mission in life is to win souls for Christ, lead children and youth to a deeper level in Christ and use her gift to glorify God.
Justin Oneacre
Bass Guitar
Justin first picked up a bass guitar in Junior High School and has not put it down since. What started as playing bass for the youth group at his church grew into playing bass for the main services on Sunday morning and then leading the youth services by high school.
Justin has over 13 years of experience playing at youth groups, large churches, youth camps, special events, concerts, and DNOW (Disciple-Now) weekends. While he was mostly a self-taught musician, Justin recently took 2 years of private bass instruction from first-call bassist, Rankin Peters.
Justin has recorded bass tracks with several award-winning bands with which he has been a part of in the Houston area, and has also recorded material for other singers / songwriters. His bands have had the privilege of sharing the stage with nationals acts that include Thousand Foot Krutch, Hawk Nelson, Everyday Sunday, Matthew West, and Bebe Norman. Most recently, Justin served as the Interim Student Worship Director at The MET where he could meld his love for music with his call to worship and develop the next generation of worship leaders.
For the past nine months, Justin has been studying music production and technology from Berklee in order to further develop his knack for pullng out the best elements n people and music. He will compelte his master certificate in the Fall 2010.
Justin has been married to his high school sweetheart, Rachelle, for nearly three years. He loves to see God's hand at work in their lives and ministries.
Michelle Thompson
Piano
Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Michelle began learning piano under her mother's instruction at the age of four. She also received vocal training from both her parents from a very early age, singing with her family from the age of five. She continued her training throughout her school years, competing in Church of God Teen Talent and UIL competitions. She was a member of the Kingwood High School Marching Band from 1982 to 1986 and played keyboard for the Stage Band her senior year. She attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. While she was there she sang in the touring group, Lee Singers, for one year, for two years sang and was the pianist for the Campus Choir and then her last year accompanied The Evangelistics with a focus on black gospel music. Upon graduation, Michelle began to play piano and lead worship at the various churches she would attend over the years. She has worked at North Cleveland Church of God in Cleveland, TN, First Assembly of God in Humble, TX, Lakewood Church of Houston, TX, with Cindy Ratcliff, and Covenant Church in Charlottesville, VA. She has been Assistant to the Fine Arts Pastor at Spring First Church for the past seven years and has led worship and played piano there for 17 years. For close to 15 years, she has also been involved n the youth's Fine Arts Competition as coach and accompanist for vocal ensembles and soloists, director of the youth choir and judge for district competitions. In 1995, she began solo recording on EMI's project Prayers and Worship which featured a guest appearance from Rebecca St. James, then continued on to record solo performances and background vocals on various cds, as well as solo performances in various cantatas and musicals with Spring First Church. The passion of her heart is to use the gifts God has given her to connect people to Him through worship. She enjoys imparting this passion to her students as she trains them up in the talents the Lord has blessed them with. She is married to Paul Thompson and together, they have eight children.
Dr. Jennifer Trent
Piano
Dr.Jennifer Trent has been teaching piano since the age of seventeen, running studios in Dallas and Houston. She began studying piano with her mother, who manages Gray School of Music in Dallas. In addition, her brother and sister are also pianists with D.M.A. degrees. She received her B.M. with distinction in Piano Performance from Eastman School of Music in 1992, a M.M. in Piano Performance from the University of Texas-Austin in 1994, and a D.M.A. in Piano Performancefrom University of Houston in 2000. She is an active performer, with numerous solo and collaborative recitals given in Dallas, Austin, Houston, Aspen, CO, Columbus, GA, Rochester, NY, and Switzerland. An entrant of competitions nationwide, she was the 1993 Mu Phi Epsilon Doty Award winner and semi-finalist in the 1999 Beethoven Club competition. Dr. Trent has held staff positions at University of Houston, North Harris College, San Jacinto College North, American Festival for the Arts, and St. John’s School. She was a member of TMTA, National Guild, and NFMC while she taught privately. Most recently, she has enjoyed playing praise and worship music at local churches. Dr. Trent is married to Mike Trent and is mother to Tyler, Carolyn, and Jonathan.
Shelly Ullrich
Pre-School Ballet and Creative Dance
Shelly loves being a tool in God's hand to initiate worship in the hearts of young children. She fully believes that the best way children learn to praise God is to learn more about His matchless character. Shelly is able to weave Biblical truth about the Lord into fun, creative learning activities. Shelly started dancing as a child here in Houston, and continued training and performing during high school and college. Shelly graduated from the University of Houston with an Elementary Education degree. Years after, she saw dance in a church setting where it glorified God as she had never before experienced. Shelly started dancing again. She trained and taught Ballet at Christian Dance Center. She asked to be part of His Company International Dance Ministry, and enjoyed a special season of local and international out-reach, through the the art of dancing in God's redeemed form, and for His purpose. Currently, Shelly is the Lamb School Music and Motor Skills Teacher for preschool children at The MET. Working with this age group is where Shelly's gifts seem to really shine. Shelly has been married since October 1993 to her high school sweetheart, Kevin. They have three wonderful children : Christopher, Jessica, and Caleb. Being a Mom is Shelly's greatest honor. Her favorite Scripture and heart's desire is wrapped up in Psalm 115:1 : "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your Name give glory because of Your mercy, because of Your truth."
Monica Voss
Strings
Monica's goal in teaching is to share her love of music with her students. She has shared her gift by playing the violin and viola for the past ten years and teaching students age two through 70, including ensemble classes and theory classes. She was a member of the Chandler Symphony Orchestra in Phoenix, Arizona for seven years and currently plays principal 2nd violin for Symphony North of Houston. Mrs. Voss enjoys performing in various styles and settings ranging from wedding quartets and formal orchestras to church bands. She loves to use fiddling to teach bow techniques and fast fingering. She is also able to teach improvisation and how to follow a chord chart that would be used in a worship band situation.
Monica taught a pilot program at a public school in Mesa, Arizona with the goal of stimulating student brain power through early introduction of musical instruments. The program, mandatory for all 2nd and 3rd graders is enjoying ongoing success as students continue to show high test scores. Mrs. Voss also taught for five years at a non-profit music academy targeting underprivileged children in inner city Phoenix. Many of the students who studied there considered instrumental instruction a luxury completely out of reach until they found the music school.
During her time in Phoenix, Monica studied with Dr. William Magers, student of the famed Dorothy DeLay. Mrs. Voss is registered as a Suzuki teacher through the Suzuki Association of the Americas and had the privilege of studying under master teachers Michelle George, Alice Joy Lewis, Joanne Bath, Nancy Lokken, Linda Case, and Edmund Srpunger.
Monica's deepest thrill with her music is using it to worship Jesus Christ. She finds that when she plays with a worship team, all the Scripture that she has read that week comes flooding into her mind and fills her emotions with love for God. She loves to encourage her students to pursue music as a gift, not only from God, but also a gift back to Him.
Monica and Mark, her husband of 12 years, attend Bethel Presbyterian Church and have a son named Reagan.
Dr. John Wolfskill
Woodwinds
John Wolfskill has been teaching music in the greater Houston area for over 30 years. Graduating from Sam Houston State University with a BME and ME, he was a public school band director for six years. He has also taught band in private Christian schools for six years. As an adjunct artist for local colleges, he completed a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Houston in 2004. In July 2008, Dr. Wolfskill was given the opportunity to build an instrumental program for the Lone Star College / Cy-Fair. He is the Director of the new resident Symphonic Band and the new Jazz Ensemble. Wolfskill has been a free-lance musician the past twenty years on his instruments of choice: the flutes, clarinets and saxophones. His teachers include: Toni Campise and Clain Johnson (Flute), Jeff Lerner (Clarinet) and Larry Slezak (Saxaphone).
Making melody to the Lord giving thanks, Wolfskill is grateful for every opportunity to encourage others of all ages to do the same. John currently participates in the orchestra at The Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston, TX.