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Concordia Conservatory
Concordia Conservatory exists for the purpose of creating musicians through the Church’s
music and to share the love of Christ with our neighbor. Our congregation, Concordia Lutheran Church, has served the Jackson, Tennessee community since 1934 by gathering to be served in Christ’s Divine Service. The Divine Service is what we call our worship service, which is built upon ancient liturgy and the ever-relevant preaching of God’s Word of Law and Gospel. This sacred time we share each week also provides an opportunity for budding musicians to use their skills for the glory of Christ in our midst. We commend this new initiative into God’s gracious hands with the hopes that many will be strengthened and confirmed in Christ the crucified, all while being enriched in the godly art of music.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor Eric Rudsenske
Music knows no age limit!
There’s no such thing as being too young. While the myth that playing Mozart to your unborn child will turn them into a genius has been debunked, you can start giving your child a great musical foundation right from birth. Music is like a language.
Is it harder to learn an instrument when you’re older?
No, not at all! While it is possible (and easier) for your cognitive functions to forge new paths during childhood, that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn to play music as an adult. In fact, because of your life experiences, you’re able to bring all of that information to the process.
Contact the Conservatory today to begin your journey.
Introducing our Faculty
Alex Lobo, Director
The Essentials of Theory and Piano
Alex, a native of Brazil, was literally raised in a music school! His first music teacher was his father. At 14 years old, he was already playing piano and organ in his church. Alex holds two master’s degrees, one in Theology and one in Divinity. During his college years, he took piano, voice, and organ. Alex was a pastor of two churches in Brazil, and has now served through music ministry in Jackson, TN for more than 20 years. Presently he is the Parish Music Director and Organist for Concordia Lutheran Church. He is also the Concordia Conservatory Director.
Aaron Brock
Guitar
Working as a Mid-South area artist and instructor, Aaron Brock is implementing his vision to bring a fresh yet scholarly approach to guitar performance and education. He holds a master’s degree in Guitar Performance from the University Of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. Aaron brings a wide variety of skills and talents to his field. His current teaching engagements include Union University, Bellevue School of Performing Arts, and a growing studio in Covington, TN. He performs in many varieties of venues including but not limited to concerts, weddings, grand openings, and private dinner parties. Aside from his passion for performance and teaching, Aaron is also an arranger and emerging composer.
Elise Dougan
Violin Ensemble
Elise Dougan, a native of Brazil, has played violin for the past 29 years. In 2006, she earned a bachelor’s degree in church music from Lambuth University. She currently enjoys serving as a member of the Jackson Symphony. Elise provided private violin instruction for 15 years and now conducts Camerata Strings and Sinfonia Strings, two ensembles for young players. As part of a string quartet—The Jackson Four—Elise provides instrumental music for weddings, churches, and special events throughout West Tennessee.
Tere Ervin
Flute
Tere Ervin is a Jackson native and classically-trained flutist who performs extensively throughout Middle and West Tennessee. She serves as principal flutist for the Jackson Symphonic Winds, where she has been a featured soloist. Her chamber trio, Silver and Strings, performs regularly for numerous events and special occasions. The trio consists of Ervin, flute; Elise Dougan, violin; and Penny Kendall, cello. Mrs. Ervin is a private flute instructor and master class teacher, and occasionally adjudicates several area competitions, including All West Tennessee Jr. and Sr. High School auditions, and West Tennessee Solo and Ensemble in Jackson, Martin and Memphis. For the last several years, she maintains and conducts the high school flute choir at Madison Academic Magnet High School. Mrs. Ervin studied flute at the University of Mississippi and Union University. She also plays in several local church orchestras for holiday and other special events; and for various stage musical productions throughout the State. In addition to flute, Mrs. Ervin plays bass and alto flutes, piccolo, Barong, Quena, recorders, Irish whistles, and Napali flute. Performance music includes classical, chamber, jazz, contemporary, Celtic, Latin, and sacred. Her favorite among those is sacred music.
Joey Moore
Brass
Joey Moore is a trumpet player and teacher based in Jackson, Tennessee. As a performer, he
performs with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and with Psallos, an ensemble devoted to setting
books of the New Testament to music. As a teacher, he teaches at Union University and offers
individual instruction to trumpet students in Jackson and Medina, TN. He enjoys teaching
because it is a way for him to help young students discover a love for creating and enjoying
music.
Haelim Allen, D.A.
Visual Arts Advisor
Haelim Choi Allen is an installation artist and painter working in the colorist tradition. She is an Associate Professor of Art at Union University, where she teaches both studio art and Art History. She has shown nationally in such places as Washington D.C., New York City, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Memphis. She is married to husband Henry, and they have a son, Matthew. They are members of Concordia Lutheran Church.
Alicia Lewis
Piano Instructor
Mrs. Lewis began her career as a Board-Certified Music Therapist. After 15 years in the Music Therapy field, she attended Louisiana State University to obtain a degree in Music Education in 2012. For the past 13 years she has been a music teacher in both private and public schools. Last year, she was awarded the Fine Arts Teacher of the Year from over 350 Fine Arts teachers in the East Baton Rouge district. Ms. Lewis is a State Certified Mentor Teacher and has mentored many Music Education majors from Louisiana State University. She has also had a private piano studio for many years. As a native of Jackson and JCM, she decided to return to Tennessee and is now serving as the music teacher at Pope School. Mrs. Lewis is teaching piano, double-reed instruments, and is conducting one of the JSMA children’s choir at Concordia.
Dr. Sabrina Laney Warren
Voice Instructor
Dr. Sabrina Laney Warren is an accomplished teacher and performer with 20 years of experience. Dr. Warren has served on the faculty at Belmont University, Union University, and Bethel University. She currently serves as President of the Memphis Chapter of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing). Originally from Nashville, TN, Dr. Warren received her B.A. in Music from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA. She returned to Nashville where she studied at Belmont University earning an M.M. in Vocal Performance and an M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy with supplemental training at the Bill Wilkerson Voice Center at Vanderbilt University. Her DMA is from the University of Memphis in Voice Performance with specialized studies in Musicology. Dr. Warren has additional performance training from the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and the International Vocal Arts Institute in Montreal, Quebec. Dr. Warren has performed opera, concert, and oratorio works throughout North America and Europe.
David’s Harp
David’s Harp – A Center for Musical Development
David’s Harp is an outgrowth of the work and development of St. Paul’s Music Conservatory in Council Bluffs, IA. In 2009, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church established a formal music conservatory in order to raise up church musicians and proclaim the Gospel through music. This manner of music education was well received by the congregation and community alike. Over time, this conservatory not only grew but has become a center of music education within the Council Bluffs community and has developed resources specifically for use in the parish-based music conservatory. Having positive reception from across the synod, the leadership of SPMC has entertained interested ministry leaders from all across the country seeking to establish similar forms of outreach in their own context. Seeing that the work of the local conservatory, resource development, and collaboration with leaders from across the country would be too much for one parish to effectively handle, the leadership of SPMC called for help and created a new organization called David’s Harp. The mission of this entity is simple: Produce music resources and produce centers of musical development around the world.
Where David’s Harp focuses their energy:
MISSIONS: Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
OUTREACH: Reaching into communities and neighborhoods that surround our churches, schools and mission sites all over the world with the message of Christ.
EDUCATION: Catechizing all ages in the faith through the rich hymns of the Lutheran Church.
YOUTH: Teaching even the youngest among us in every community as we bring them up in the faith.
MUSIC: Using the enormous power of music as the vehicle for all of this.
How they encourage our work:
David’s Harp believes that the Lutheran church is well-positioned for intentional outreach through music. Through strategic planning and collaboration in the areas of resource generation and the establishment of centers of music, David’s Harp will support the Synod’s churches, schools and missions in spreading the Gospel.
Here are a few of our students enjoying music and sharing their talents!
