The CCU Music & Worship Faculty and Staff represent a great diversity of backgrounds, experience and credentials. Each one has an active interest in music & worship in addition to his or her responsibilities at the college.

KEN E. READ – Department Chair, Professor of Music & Worship (1988); BM, College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati); MA, MMin, Cincinnati Christian University; MM, Miami University; DMA (Composition), University of Kentucky; Institute for Worship Studies. Dr. Read teaches Worship Leadership, Music Ministry in the Church, Psalms Hymns & Spiritual Songs, Music Theory, Composition, Writing and Arranging for Worship, Worship Studio Practicum, Orchestration, Survey of World Music and World Music Worship Ensemble. He also supervises Music Internships and ministry placement. He helps to lead a house church (Christ’s Community in Price Hill) and leads worship on Sundays at New Life Christian Church in Sharonville.

GARY J. GREGORY – Professor of Music & Worship (1988); BME, Murray State University; MM, Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester); DWS, The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Florida Campus; Rend Lake Community College; Milligan College; Southern Illinois University; Cincinnati Christian University. Dr. Gregory teaches Music Theory, Conducting, Worship and the Arts, Theology of Worship, Worship at the Lord’s Table, private brass lessons, Vocal Ensemble, and Handbell Choir. He directs the Winds of Praise Community Band and serves as Worship Minister at Elsmere Church of Christ.

BRENDA J. LANG – Professor of Music & Worship (1987); BA (Sacred Music, Christian Education), Lincoln Christian College; MM, University of Missouri; Chatauqua School of Music; Postgraduate work: College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). Mrs. Lang teaches private voice lessons, Voice Methods, Vocal Pedagogy, Vocal Literature, Music Fundamentals, Music Theory, Advanced Conducting, and Concert Choir. Involved at Western Hills Church of Christ.

CHRIS BARRICK – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (2008); BM, Jacobs School of Music, (Indiana University); MM, College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). Mr. Barrick teaches Music Theory and private percussion lessons and percussion ensemble. Staff Musician at ALMS Christian Church, Cincinnati, OH.

MATT COFFEY – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (2009); BM, Cincinnati Christian University, MM, Southern Illinois University (guitar performance). Mr. Coffey teaches Beginning Music Reading and private guitar lessons and guitar ensemble. Involved at First Church of Christ, Burlington, KY.

MELINDA HICKMAN – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (1997); BM, MM, DMA (Piano Performance), College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). Dr. Hickman teaches Introduction to Musical Styles, Music History & Literature I and II, Beginning Class Piano, private piano lessons, and Piano Pedagogy on a part-time basis. Involved at LifeSpring Christian Church.

CRYSTAL HUSS – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (2011); BM, Cincinnati Christian University; MM, (piano pedagogy) East Carolina University. Mrs. Huss teaches private piano lessons on a part-time basis. Involved at Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ.

KATIE READ – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (2007); BM, Cincinnati Christian University; MEd, Milligan College. Mrs. Read teaches Class Voice (Major) and private voice lessons on a part-time basis. Involved at Parkside Christian Church.

ELLIOTT SMITH – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (2010); BM, Furman University; MM (piano and choral conducting) College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). Mr. Smith directs the Celebration Singers and accompanies private voice lessons.  He works on a part-time basis as choir director at Pleasant Run Presbyterian.

SCOTT WYATT – Adjunct Faculty in Music & Worship (2011); BM, Illinois Wesleyan University; MM, Arizona State University; DMA in progress, College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). Mr. Wyatt teaches private voice lessons on a part-time basis and is full-time minister of the New Richmond Church of Christ.

KYLE BAKER – Adjunct in Music & Worship (2007); BME, University of Louisville (KY); MM, (composition) Belmont University. Mr. Baker teaches Computer Notation. Involved at Journey Church, Franklin, Tennessee.

BEN THORNBURG – Adjunct in Music & Worship (2003); BM, Cincinnati Christian University; Berklee College of Music. Mr. Thornburg teaches Introduction to Computer Music. Involved at Watermark Community Church in Erlanger, KY.

JEANNINE GEANS – Field Coordinator in Music & Worship (1995); BCE, Church Music Certificate, Great Lakes Christian College; Fort Wayne Bible College; Seminole Community College; Cincinnati Christian University. Mrs. Geans is responsible for the administrative oversight of the music & worship office and the music library. Involved at Forest Dale Church of Christ.