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.

Ayesha Franklin (voice) Ayesha holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University. She has been a choral and general music instructor in Indiana and Illinois, and currently directs the choir at East Leroy Elementary School in Athens. Ayesha is Arts & Culture Chair for Athens Community Foundation and Secretary for the Executive Committee of the Calhoun County Arts Council Board of Directors. She is pianist and vocalist at North Athens Baptist Church.

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.

Renee Hill (piano) Renee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Western Michigan University. She is church pianist at Southside Bible Church in Battle Creek, providing accompaniment for choir, soloists, congregation, weddings and funerals.

Laura Hirleman (Concert Band) Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Western Michigan University. She currently directs middle and high school bands for Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools.  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.

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.

Paula Krontz-Harris (piano) Paula holds an Associates in Arts degree from Kellogg Community College and a Bachelors in Worship Arts, piano concentration, from Spring Arbor University. She is the Worship Director at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, and teaches piano and accompanies choirs, classes, and musicals at Kellogg Community College.

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.

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.

Doug Peterson (accordion, guitar, piano) Doug holds an Associates degree in Music Composition and a Bachelors degree in French from
Western Michigan University. He has taught privately and for schools in the Kalamazoo area. Doug is skilled in a variety of musical styles, including Celtic music.

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.

Sara Saarela (cello) Sara is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in cello performance at Western Michigan University. She has attended seminars and summer camps as a cellist and played in youth and other orchestras.

Carmen Smith (voice) Carmen holds a Bachelors degree from Western Michigan University and is pursuing a Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, both in Vocal Performance. She has taught private and class voice for area schools and summer camps, including music theater instruction.

Robert Squiers (violin & viola) Robert is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Composition from Western Michigan University. He has been Operations Manager for Kalamazoo College Orchestra and is a dedicated chamber musician. Robert is knowledgeable in music history and traditional Chinese music.

Alexis Stark (voice) Alexis holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University. She has been tour manager for Singers of United Lands, a quartet of international singers teaching communities about world music and culture. Alexis has also toured internationally as a member of World Youth Choir, performing under conductors such as Gunnar Eriksson and Bob Chilcott.

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 Music. He has played with Reflection in Syracuse, New York. Presently he plays with On The Road, a band made up of Community Music School faculty. Ed has appeared in several productions of Marshall Civic Players and well as in Kellogg Community College productions.

Mark Wells (voice, piano) Mark holds a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Master of Music from the University of Louisville School of Music, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Currently director of Ars Voce, Mark is also an adjunct instructor of voice and piano at Kellogg Community College and Music Associate for St. Philip Catholic Church of Battle Creek.

Stephen Williams (acoustic & electric guitar, electric bass, violin, fiddle, banjo, mandolin) Stephen holds an Associate in Science from Grand Rapids Community College and has studied classical music and jazz at Grand Valley State University, Kalamazo Valley Community College, and Kellogg Community College. He currently performs with the Lew Boyd Band (big band swing) and the Timbre Ramblers (old time and bluegrass). Stephen has played violin in several ensembles in a variety of styles including country, rock, blues, polka, bluegrass, and Celtic music.