---

Dr. Paul Plew Chairperson, Department of Music Professor of Music B.S.M., Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania M.M., Pacific Lutheran University Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University Joined TMC 1979 Paul T. Plew, Ed.D., has been the chairperson of the Music Department and Director of Choral Activities at The Master’s College since 1979. He was educated at Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania; Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington; and received his Doctorate in Education with Music specialization from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, co founder and past president of the Santa Clarita Music Educators Association, and past president of the National Association of Church Musicians (formerly Choral Conductors Guild). Dr. Plew has adjudicated for, as well as participated in, numerous choral festivals around the nation. His emphasis in the classroom includes conducting, church music-related classes, chorale, and hymnology. Dr. Plew conducts the Collegiate Singers, a one-hundred-sixty voice campus choir, The Master’s Chorale, a sixty-five member choir, and Majesty, a small contemporary directions group. He has led these groups on tours to England, Ireland, Russia, Canada, Italy, Israel, Germany, Spain, and virtually every state in the union. In May of 2003 he conducted The Master’s Chorale in a solo concert at Carnegie Hall. In the spring of 2006, Dr. Plew was granted a sabbatical which took him to England and Ireland to study the life and hymnody of Charles Wesley. In 2007 he was invited back to Carnegie Hall to conduct the mass choir in “The Rutter Gloria” and Don McCullough’s “Canite Tuba.” His choirs have recorded for Word, Fred Bock Music, Lillenas Publishing, Ligoiner Ministries, and Pavanne Publishing companies as well as numerous custom albums for the college. In March, 2008, The Master’s Chorale recorded, by request, an album for Ligoiner Ministries. In addition to his ministry at the college, he also serves as Music Pastor at Santa Clarita Baptist Church in Canyon Country, California. Dr. Plew led the faculty of the Music Department in the accreditation process through the National Association of Schools of Music, which was granted in November, 2007. E-mail contact:

Dr. Stephen Opfer Professor of Music B.M., University of Northern Iowa M.M., California State University, Fullerton D.M.A., University of Southern California Joined TMC 1992 Dr. Opfer is director of instrumental studies and is head of the music education track. His responsibilities include director of the wind ensemble and jazz band, overseeing the music computer lab, coordinating the applied instrumental instructors and chamber ensembles. Dr. Opfer completed his undergraduate degree in music education with an emphasis in trombone performance. He taught bands and orchestras in public and Christian high schools for twenty years during which he received a Masters degree in instrumental conducting. Dr. Opfer served as adjunct music instructor at Biola University while beginning work on a doctorate. While at TMC, he completed his doctorate in music education that includes specific training in conducting, computer technologies, and music history. Dr. Opfer is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society, Music Educators National Conference, College Music Society, and the College Band Directors National Association. He serves as guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and trombonist at numerous musical events including national music organizations such as Music in the Parks and Festivals of Music. E-mail contact:

Dr. Kimberlyn Jones Director of Vocal Studies and Opera Professor of Music B.M., Mississippi University for Women M.M., D.M.A., University of Texas at Austin Joined TMC 1986 Dr. Kimberlyn Jones, mezzo-soprano, specialized in opera performance for her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The University of Texas at Austin, with a Master’s degree in vocal performance. She serves on the music faculty at The Master’s College as Director of Vocal Studies and Opera. Dr. Jones spends the greatest part of her time teaching private voice and directing the opera, for which she has been recognized in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers". She has performed in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, England and Wales, as well as the Southern, Southwestern and Eastern seaboard states and in California. She has more than 25 opera roles to her credit and has also sung many solo recitals and appeared as soloist in numerous chamber music concerts and oratorio performances. A highlight of this activity was serving as alto soloist with The Master's Chorale at Carnegie Hall in 2007. Dr. Jones teaches master classes in voice and adjudicates vocal competitions on the national, regional and local levels. She is a member of both Sigma Alpha Iota and Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary societies. In addition, she is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and serves on the board of NATSLA. Dr. Jones also holds membership in the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Classical Singers Association of Los Angeles, The Opera Buffs of Los Angeles, The Opera League of Los Angeles, and has been a performing member of the Opera Guild of Southern California. She and her husband, Taylor, who is head of the TMC Science and Math Departments, have two grown children, Marcella and Trevor, and one grandchild. Dr. Jones is a member of Grace Community Church, through which she and her husband have long hosted a Bible study in their home. E-mail contact:

Dr. Carolyn Simons Professor of Music B.M., M.M., Baylor University Ph.D., The University of Iowa Joined TMC 1999 Dr. Simons teaches Music History, Literature, World Music, and conducts the Women’s Chamber Choir. After completing her master’s degree, Dr. Simons took a 16-year break from academia to raise six children with her husband Jack (Chairperson, Communication Department). She returned to school at The University of Iowa in 1987 to pursue a doctorate in musicology, then spent the school year 1991-92 in Nuremberg, Germany on a Fulbright grant for dissertation studies. From 1992 to 1998 she taught courses at Cedarville College in Music, English composition, German and French, led a missionary team to Germany and started and served as advisor for the German club. Dr. Simons has been on the board of Governors for the American Musical Instrument Society and has been chairman of the archive and nominating committees. She has given numerous papers at their meetings as well as at meetings of the Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society, the American Musicological Society, and at a special conference celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano’s invention. In August, 2003, she gave a presentation at a joint meeting of the Galpin Society and the American Musical Instrument Society in Edinburgh. She has written entries for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the Garland Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments: Vol. III, The Harpsichord and Clavichord, book reviews for The Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, their newsletter, and several articles for Continuo magazine. Dr. Simons currently writes articles for the music department and served as coordinator for the self-study leading to accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music. E-mail contact:

Dr. Kenneth Mays Professor of Music B.M., Fort Wayne Bible College M.M., Ph.D., Indiana University Joined TMC 1986 Dr. Ken Mays is the resident Professor of Piano at The Master’s College. He received his MM and Ph.D. from Indiana University. Dr. Mays has played solo recitals throughout the United States, Canada, Germany and Great Britain for more than 40 years. He was on the staff of the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College for 19 years before coming to The Master’s College in 1986. In 1982 he was personally invited by the founder to attend the European Teachers’ Conference in London, England. Dr. Mays continues to be an Associate Member of this organization. He has also presented papers at several American Musicological Society conferences. More locally, Dr. Mays is a member of the Music Teacher‘s Association of California and the San Fernando chapter of NACM. He has been an adjudicator for various piano competitions and has been involved in leading church music for most of his life. Dr. Mays’ latest recording is titled “Reflections & Praise”, a series of hymn arrangements for piano. E-mail contact:

Prof. Claire Blackwell Adjunct Faculty, Music & Mathematics B.A., Concordia College Joined TMC 1982 Prof. Blackwell has been ringing handbells since 1977 with a special interest in solo ringing. She co-authored a book on solo techniques for handbells and has taught at workshops in national and regional handbell festivals. In the Fall of 1982, Prof. Blackwell came to The Master's College to teach students ringing techniques and specifics for directing handbell choirs. Prof. Blackwell taught mathematics at the junior and senior high school level before coming to The Master's College and enjoys tutoring in mathematics at all levels. E-mail contact:

Dr. Ruta Bloomfield Adjunct Faculty, Music B.M., Bowling Green State University M.M., Northwestern University D.M.A., Claremont Graduate University Joined TMC 1989 Dr. Bloomfield taught at Muscatine Community College (Iowa) before joining the music faculty at TMC in 1989. She teaches two sections of Aural Skills and Introduction to Music and Art with great enthusiasm. Three times a year she can be found teaching Music Components and Techniques and Introduction to Music and Art in the Center for Professional Studies. After receiving a B.M. in Music History and Literature and Harpsichord Performance at Bowling Green State University (Ohio), she completed a M.M. degree in Musicology and Harpsichord Performance at Northwestern University (Illinois). She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Historical Performance Practices at Claremont Graduate University. She performs on her Dowd French Double whenever possible. Mrs. Bloomfield is active in a local church, particularly by helping teach 5th and 6th grade Sunday School and being a member of the Missions Committee. She is also an avid softball player. E-mail contact:

Dr. Katherine Kelly Adjunct Faculty, Piano D.M.A., University of Southern California M.M., University of Southern California B.M., University of Victoria Joined TMC 2005 Katherine Kelly was born and raised in Canada. She teaches piano instruction, piano classes and piano literature at The Master's College. She also started the Music at Noon concert series at The Master's College in the fall of 2006. Katherine began her piano studies at the age of four at the Mount Royal College Conservatory and studied at their prestigious Academy of Music for ten years. During high school, she received her associate performance diploma from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. Katherine received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria and she also received a pedagogy diploma from the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Katherine received her Master of Music degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where she was a pupil of Kevin Fitz-Gerald. She was a teaching assistant at USC for five years and was the recipient of the June Davison Endowed Piano Pedagogy Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship and academic awards. Katherine was actively involved in the USC Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association during her studies at USC. She is also a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honour Society. Katherine's professional training includes studies at the Banff International Keyboard Festival and the Banff Centre for the Arts, where she was a scholarship student for nine years. She has also studied at the Adamant School of Music in Vermont, the Aspen Music Festival, The Johannesen International School of the Arts, the Orford Arts Centre in Montreal and the University of Indiana Piano Academy. Katherine has performed in master classes given by John Perry, Menahem Pressler, Marc Durand and Marek Jablonski. E-mail contact:

Prof. Lauren Shackelford Adjunct Faculty, Piano and Piano Pedagogy M.M., University of Oklahoma B.M., Cedarville University Joined TMC 2007 Prof. Shackelford is an Adjunct Instructor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at The Master's College and serves as co-director of TMC Piano Camps. A nationally certified teacher of music, she currently maintains a piano studio in Valencia, California and performs as a collaborative pianist in the Santa Clarita Valley. She received her M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and her B.M. with highest honors in Keyboard Pedagogy from Cedarville University. She is also the recipient of several awards including the Music Teacher's National Association Star Award, the Gail Boyd deStwolinski Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Dorothy Detrick Kendall Memorial Piano Scholarship, and the Cedarville University Faculty Scholarship Award. Prof. Shackelford is an experienced piano teacher, having taught lessons from beginning through collegiate levels since 2000. Prior to her employment at The Master's College, she was on the faculty of the First Baptist Fine Arts Academy in Norman, Oklahoma and taught piano lessons in both Fairborn, Ohio and Cedarville, Ohio. Prof. Shackelford is a member of both the Music Teachers Association of California and Music Teacher's National Association. E-mail contact:

Prof. Kellie Cunningham Instructor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy B.A., The Master's College M.M.E., University of Oklahoma Joined TMC 2007 Prof. Kellie Cunningham serves as Director of TMC Theatre Arts, teaches Piano and Piano Pedagogy as an Adjunct Instructor, and co-directs TMC Piano Camps. She received her M.M.E. in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and was awarded B.A. degrees in Communication and Music from The Master’s College. Kellie has been the Assistant Director for TMC Theatre Arts for our productions of The Happiest Millionaire and The Importance of Being Earnest. During her time as a student at TMC, she performed roles in My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has received numerous awards, including the Margorie Martin Caylor Scholarship Award and the Gail Boyd de Stwolinski award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as recording as a solo vocalist on a Grammy-Award-winning album. Kellie has been teaching private and group piano lessons in California and Oklahoma since 2000. She adjudicates for local music events and has presented nationally on incorporating educational philosophy in the piano studio. She is a member of the Music Teacher’s National Association, the Music Teachers Association of California, and the California Scholarship Federation. Kellie is committed to seeing the arts as one way to express the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice to a dying world. E-mail contact:

Prof. Sarah Dixon Adjunct Faculty, Voice B.M., The Master’s College M.M., California State University Northridge Joined TMC 2006 Prof. Sarah Dixon, soprano, is an Adjunct Instructor of Voice at The Master’s College. She teaches private voice as well as Class Voice, along with working as an Administrative Assistant in the music office. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from The Master’s College and a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from California State University, Northridge where she studied with Dr. Deanna Murray. Sarah has performed much oratorio repertoire along with opera and musical theater. Her favorite roles have been Marion in The Music Man, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte. Sarah also teaches privately, and has led various voice workshops as well as been a choral clinician for the Invitational High School Choral Festival in Santa Clarita and the ACSI Choral Festival in Pasadena. She is a member of the Classical Singers’ Association. She continues to expand her performance experience in the concert and operatic repertoire, and enjoys singing for various studio recordings as well as in choral venues. Sarah and her husband, Matt, live in Valencia and are very involved at Santa Clarita Baptist Church with the young adult and music ministries. E-mail contact:

Prof. Aroussiak Baltaian Adjunct Faculty, Violin B.M., University of Central Arkansas M.M., University of Southern California Joined TMC 2004 Described as “a remarkably mature young violinist with extraordinary stage presence”, “emerging as if a highly burnished and glowing ruby”, violinist Aroussiak Baltaian has gained an international attention through her extensive appearances as a prominent recitalist, soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. Ms. Baltaian has performed in major cities throughout the United States, Great Britain, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. She is a First and Grand prize winner of numerous competitions including the 2002 Burbank Philharmonic Competition, the 1997 “Maurice Warshaw Prize” Competition in Great Britain, the 1993 “Beethoven Club” Young Artists Competition in Memphis, (TN) and the 1985 “Yaroslav Kotzian” International Violin Competition in the Czech Republic where she was also awarded the honorary citizenship of the city. Among her other honors include winning awards at the 1996 “Rudolfo Lipizer Prize” International Competition in Italy and the 1990 “Aram Khachaturian” International Competition in New York City. She is the 1993 National Winner at the MTNA Collegiate Competition in Spokane, WA. Her 1993 recording of the Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto was released on a compact disc in The Netherlands. Prof. Baltaian’s principal teachers have been Martin Chalifour, Professor Yfrah Neaman, Kevork Mardirossian and Garo Baltaian. She has also worked with various artists such as Andre Previn, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Sir Colin Davis, Esa-Pekka Salonen, James Conlon, David Zinman, Leonard Slatkin, Richard Hickox, Jorge Mester, Ivan Fischer, John Williams, Eudice Shapiro, Eric Friedman, Midori, Menahem Pressler. Prof.Baltaian performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra, the New West Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay. She also maintains a private teaching studio and acts as a string coach for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2004, Prof. Baltaian was on the faculty of The International Festival-Institute at Round Top. She joined the faculty of the Music Department at the Master’s College in the Fall of 2004. You may visit Prof. Baltaian’s web site at www. baltaian.com for a complete biographical information and more. E-mail contact:

Prof. Mark Converse Adjunct Faculty, Music B.A., California State University, Northridge Joined TMC 1998 Prof. Converse graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in percussion performance. Since graduating, Prof. Converse has performed and recorded with a diverse collection of artists including Paul Anka, Peggy Lee, Lucy Arnaz, Dudley Moore and many others. As a free-lance drummer and percussionist, he works often in the Los Angeles theatres, does television, film and record work and appeared in a concert series with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Prof. Converse has been privileged to study with a number of L.A.'s finest percussionists and brings a unique blend of training and practical experience to his teaching at The Master's College. E-mail contact:

Prof. Tim Dolinar Adjunct Faculty, Saxophone B.M.,Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music M.M.,California State University, Fresno Joined TMC 2007 Tim Dolinar is emerging as one of his generations most versatile and sought after saxophonists. Equally capable in both the classical and jazz language, Mr. Dolinar has toured various cities in Germany and Italy as both an ensemble member and featured soloist with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. He was a founding member and performer with various saxophone quartets, including the Northcoast Saxophone Quartet, the Cleveland Saxophone Quartet and the Common Ground Saxophone Quartet. Mr. Dolinar has also performed with numerous orchestras, such as The Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, The Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra and The Fresno Philharmonic. His most recent solo performances include a 2008 summer tour in Japan performing the music of John Williams, Phil Woods and others. In his formal training, Mr. Dolinar earned a B.M. in saxophone performance from the Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music and an M.A. in performance from California State University, Fresno. Mr. Dolinar is currently on the faculty at the Master’s College in Santa Clarita, CA and is the Instructor of Woodwinds at the Santa Monica Academy of Music and Canyon Charter Elementary School. E-mail contact:

Dr. Susan Allen Adjunct Faculty, Harp B.F.A., California Institute of the Arts M.A., Ph.D., Schools on Borders Joined TMC 1998 Dr. Susan Allen comes out of six generations of female church musicians. She performs music of all genres on the concert harp and kayagum (Korean zither). Known for her premiere performances of new music for the harp, she tours internationally and has many recordings. Dr. Allen holds the B.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Schools on Borders. She has taught the harp and improvisation in many venues, and is currently Faculty at The Master's College and California Institute of the Arts, where she is also Associate Dean of the Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts. More information about Susan may be found at her website: www.susanallenharpist.com E-mail contact:

Prof. Sam Rotman Adjunct Faculty, Piano B.M., M.M., Juilliard School Joined TMC 2001 When Sam Rotman made his debut at the age of 16 with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra before an audience of 6,000 people, the Baldwin Keynote Magazine wrote, "Sam Rotman is a pianist with abundant potential." Prof. Rotman received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School in New York City. While a student, he was the recipient of nine awards in the form of grants, scholarships, and prizes. Subsequently, he has been among the winners in five piano competitions, both in the United States and Europe. The most prestigious award was that of Laureate Winner in the 4th International Beethoven Competition in Vienna, Austria. Prof. Rotman participated in the 6th International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, Russia. He has given over 1800 performances in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, South Africa, Europe and Asia, totaling 57 countries. Prof. Rotman has devoted a specific area of his musical life to the study and performance of the works of Beethoven. Beginning with a series of all Beethoven concerts in 1970 (the Beethoven bi-centennial), he was presented on Public Broadcast System in a special Beethoven concert. Prof. Rotman continues to perform the works of Beethoven in recital and with orchestra. Prof. Rotman has released four recordings. Portrait of a Piano includes the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, Impressions: Piano Portraits of Claude Debussy, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and Rachmaninoff Piano Works, and his most recent recording is The Piano Music of Beethoven, including the Moonlight and Pathetique Sonatas. A video entitled Sam Rotman, Concert Pianist: The Music and Testimony of a Jew for Jesus has also been produced. Sales of Prof. Rotman's recordings and videos have exceeded 50,000. These recordings and the video are displayed on Prof. Rotman's PRODUCTS webpage, complete with ordering and pricing information. Prof. Rotman has performed in the following countries: NORTH AMERICA: United States, Canada & Mexico SOUTH AMERICA: Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina & Chile AFRICA: South Africa, Rwanda CENTRAL AMERICA: Guatemala THE CARIBBEAN: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba & Haiti EUROPE: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Monaco, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Croatia, Kosovo, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Norway, Finland & Sweden MIDDLE EAST: Israel ASIA: China, India, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand. E-mail contact:

Prof. Gustav Hoyer Professor of Music B.A., Southern Colorado State University M.A., Hartt School Joined TMC 2009 Gustav Hoyer studied composition, piano, and conducting at the University of Arizona, Southern Colorado State University, and the Hartt School where he was awarded a Master of Arts in Musical Composition. His music has been heard in concert, film, and on radio around the world. Several of his works are available on releases from the ERM Media label. His latest activity is focused on building innovative ways to create and present orchestral music to a new generation of listeners through his ensemble, The Orchestra Unleashed. E-mail contact:

Prof. Tavi Jinariu Professor of Music B.A.,The Master's College M.Div., The Master's Seminary PostBaccalaureate, UCLA Joined TMC 2010 During the past 10 years, Tavi Jinariu has distinguished himself as one of the preeminent classical guitarists in the Los Angeles area. His artistry is defined by deep emotional expression, focused attention to technical accuracy and details, as well as a certain performance pathos that never fails to captivate audiences. Tavi hails from the beautiful Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, Romania. His musical explorations began at age thirteen when he began a course in basic guitar foundations. At the age of sixteen, Tavi was exposed for the first time to the sound of the classical guitar, after which he fell in love with the lyrical and melancholic sound of the instrument. Within three short years of studying the classical guitar, Tavi drew attention, being invited to tour America in the fall of 1998. During this tour Tavi played some sixty concerts in twenty-seven states. In the fall of 1999 Tavi was awarded a generous scholarship that made it possible for him to receive the personalized instruction of the world's preeminent classical guitarist, Christopher Parkening. During his years in college Tavi began a fruitful collaboration with luthier Thomas Malapanis and has since performed exclusively on Malapanis Guitars. Tavi won 1st prize in The ASTA Classical Guitar Competition for the greater Los Angeles Area (2001 and 2002) and the ASTA Artist Guitar Competition for the State of California (2003). Tavi's guitar performances have taken him to numerous European countries (Romania, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands), to Israel, and through most of the United States. He has been featured as a solo artist with various orchestras (New West Symphony, Calabasas Chamber Orchestra, The Master's College Orchestra) and participated in numerous recording projects and radio appearances. Currently Tavi teaches guitar at the Master's College in Santa Clarita CA and maintains a busy performance and teaching schedule while pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Classical Philology. Tavi and his wife Melissa reside in Southern California and enjoy living their busy but exciting lives together. They both share a deep commitment to their faith in Jesus Christ. E-mail contact: