CMS Battle Creek Faculty

Jodine Bandlow (piano) Jodine has a Bachelor of Science in sacred music, piano and voice from North Central University, and a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Miller College. She is a skilled choral and instrumental accompanist and church pianist. Jodine has been a vocalist for singing groups touring the US and Canada, and a children's choir and musical productions director.

Kara Black (Music First) Kara holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal general music education, K-12 from Michigan State University, and is a certified instructor in the Gordon Music Learning Theory from Michigan State University. She has been a Battle Creek area music educator, elementary through junior high, and is a soloist for churches and weddings.

Meredith Bowen (voice) Meredith holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. She has held directing and singing positions in local churches, taught in public schools, and earned her B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University, PA. Meredith directs the Battle Creek Girls Chorus and Sistrum, Lansing Women's Chorus. She also teaches at Lansing Community College and directs its Concert Choir.

Nancy Brown (piano) Nancy earned a Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University, with a double major in piano performance and composition. She is pianist, organist, and choir director at Wakeshma Community Church near Athens, Michigan. For several years, Nancy accompanied and directed the choral ensembles of Battle Creek’s SHARE, a home school support group, and now accompanies Union City Community Chorale and the Kellogg Singers of Kellogg Community College. Nancy became Director of the Community Music School in 2001.

Janet Channells (French horn & beginning piano) Janet has training in music education from Western Michigan University. She is a member of the Battle Creek Symphony, Kalamazoo Concert Band, and the International Horn Society.

Cathi Crawford (flute, piccolo) Cathi completed Beauty School at Kellogg Community College. She is a music theatre performer. She has directed flute choirs for Battle Creek Youth Orchestra, and been an orchestra and band musician, including Post Band and Battle Creek Symphony. Cathi currently plays in Kellogg Community College’s Community Band.

Bill Dowdy (percussion, beginning jazz piano) As a member of the Three Sounds Trio, Bill has recorded on the Blue Note label and is listed in Feathers Encyclopedia of Jazz. He currently leads Bill Dowdy’s Jazz Trio Plus. Bill has taught at Western Michigan University and Kellogg Community College.

Laurie Elmen (guitar) Laurie holds a Bachelor's degree in management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University and an Associate's degree in Applied Science from the State University of New York. She is a liturgical guitarist specializing in 12-string guitar.

Lucas Florin (oboe and English horn) Lucas is completing his Bachelor's degree in oboe and English horn performance at Albion College. He has been principal oboe for the Adrian College Concert Band and he Albion College Symphonic Band. He has chamber music experience and is the 2009 oboist for the National Intercollegiate Band of the United States.

Scott Grupke (trombone and low brass) Scott holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Western Michigan University and a Master of Music Performance from the University of Cincinnati. He has been a member of the Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Lansing Symphony Orchestras, Blue Wisp Big Band, and PsychoAcoustic Orchestra.

Dixie Hamlin (voice) Dixie holds a Bachelor in Music in music education and a Master of Music in vocal performance from Western Michigan University. She has studied privately with Levi Dees, Marcella Faustman, and Mel Ivey. She is a former Kellogg Community College instructor, was founder and former director of Battle Creek Girls’ Chorus, 1987-96, and a soloist with Battle Creek Boychoir 1981-95.

Ian Heim (guitar) Ian has music and education training from Kellogg Community College and Glen Oaks Community College. He is skilled in a wide variety of styles, and adds Suzuki ear training, composing, and improvisation to his teaching as well as performance. Ian is currently playing rhythm and lead guitar in a Christian rock band.

Laura Hirleman (Concert Band) Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Western Michigan University. She currently directs middle school bands at St. Joseph Catholic School in Battle Creek, and is assistant director of Cereal City Concert Band. Laura is adjunct faculty at Kellogg Community College and has performed as clarinetist with pit orchestras and bands throughout the area.

Jodi Jones (piano) From 1993-2001, Jodi studied under Kathryn Mix, a certified piano teacher in Hastings, as well as at the International Academy of Music in Indianapolis. An accompanist for churches, schools and weddings, she has traveled extensively with Life Action Ministries as pianist and vocalist. Jodi is a member of Michigan Teachers National Association, Michigan Music Teachers Association, and Battle Creek Area Music Teachers Association.

Jacqueline King (voice) Jackie is completing her Bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in Voice Performance. She has performed major roles in operas and musicals, been featured as a choral soloist, and given solo recitals. Jackie has received awards for outstanding musical achievement.

Joan King (piano) Joan holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Western Michigan University, and is a retired elementary school music teacher. Her professional accompanist activities extend also to being a church organist and pianist.

Carolyn Koebel (world drumming) Carolyn is adjunct professor in music therapy at Western Michigan University. She holds undergraduate degrees in music therapy and percussion studies from WMU, where she was named the Presidential Scholar for the School of Music. She has a Master's in Music Therapy from Michigan State University, receiving the prestigious graduate Merit Fellowship for her work specializing in the use of drumming for health and healing. In addition to maintaining an active private music therapy practice and performing extensively, she presents workshops regionally and nationally on the therapeutic applications of drumming, and holistic training seminars on rhythmic skill development.

James Kuch (guitar) James has a Bachelor of Arts in art from Kalamazoo College, and classical guitar studies with Matt Lund and Miles Kusik. He is a sound technician. James has been a member of mandolin and guitar orchestras, recorder ensembles, and the Western Michigan University Collegium Musicum.

Francine Liebhauser (cello & piano) Francine received training at Northern Michigan University and Boise State University. She is a church musician and has chamber music and orchestral experience.

Elinor Marsh (Music First) Elinor holds a Bachelor of Arts and Teacher Certification in Music Education from Hanover College, and a Master of Arts in Business from Bolz Center for Arts Administration, University of Wisconsin-Madison. A gifted soprano and former elementary school teacher, she has also served as Outreach Manager at Dartmouth College and Asst Director of Development at Wharton Center, Michigan State University. Elinor is a certified Gordon Music Learning Theory instructor, and Executive Director of The Music Center.

Tiffany Martens (piano) Tiffany has earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from Thomas Edison State College, New Jersey, and has training from Moody Bible Institute. She is skilled in sacred music and theory.

Rocky Newsome (guitar and banjo) Rocky received his musical training from Jackson Community College. He has been a worship leader and singer as well as guitarist in several churches, most recently First Baptist Church of Marshall. Skilled in acoustic guitar, bass, and banjo, his stylistic specialty is contemporary Christian.

Philip Rugel (theory and composition) Philip has studied at Eastman School of Music and The American Conservatory at Fountainbleu in France. His compositions have been aired on public radio stations and performed at arts academies and universities. Philip received the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Scholarship and was awarded Excellence in Composition for his one-act opera Purgatory.

Dennis Secord (guitar) Dennis holds an Associate degree in Arts from Kellogg Community College, and has studied music at the National Guitar Workshop. His varied playing experience including rock, folk, blues, jazz, and classical, has been guitarist for local theater productions, church praise bands, and the fusion band The Undercats (jazz/rock).

Pamela Starrett-Ingalls (violin) Pamela holds a Bachelor of Music Arts in music, a Master of Business arts, and a Master of Arts in conducting from the University of Michigan. Co-founder of the Community Music School, she is also member and former Executive Director, Battle Creek Symphony and former Music Director of the BC Youth Orchestra.

Craig Suhusky (clarinet, saxophone) Craig holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Music in clarinet performance from Michigan State University. He has been principal clarinetist of the Battle Creek Symphony since 1980. Craig has extensive chamber music and music theater orchestra experience, and has played saxophone in Phoenix Big Band.

Edward Swarthout (guitar) Ed attended the Hannibal School of Guitar and has played with Reflection, a Syracuse, NY band. He plays for Marshall Civic Players productions and is a theater technician for Kellogg Community College.

John Swender (guitar) John recently graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance, where he was also a member of the Jazz Guitar Ensemble. He was guitarist and composer for Happy Dragon, a rock band. Skilled in diverse styles, John specializes in classical guitar.

Mark Wells (voice, piano) holds a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Master of Music from the University of Louisville School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Currently director of Ars Voce, a chamber vocal ensemble specializing in a capella choral literature, Marks also serves as Music Associate for Battle Creek Boychoir and Girls’ Chorus, accompanist for Battle Creek Community Chorus, keyboardist for Battle Creek Symphony, and is adjunct instructor of voice and piano at Kellogg Community College. Mark is Music Associate for St. Philip Catholic Church of Battle Creek and is active as a conductor, tenor soloist, organist, and pianist, performing throughout Michigan and beyond.