Meet the Music Faculty
Dr. Barb Berwin
Dr. Barb Berwin is a Professor of Music at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, where she teaches World Drumming, Aural Skills, Keyboard Techniques, Applied Piano, and Take Flight (Freshman orientation). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music and Religion from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska; a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln; and a PHD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. Berwin serves as organist at Calvary Episcopal Church in Columbia, Missouri.
Prof. Thomas Clark
Professor Thomas Clark, Director of Choral Activities at Central Methodist University, is a native of Buffalo, New York and an active director and vocal performer. He is known for his interpretive conducting skills and unique baritone voice. Praised for his versatility, Clark has performed in 47 of the contiguous United States as a music director and vocalist.
Clark’s notable achievements include being selected to conduct his choir at the World Trade Center’s Ground Zero St. Paul’s Chapel for relief workers following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Since earning his bachelor’s degree, he has taught music at every level – from middle school to community college and university – in five different states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri.
His educational background includes a master’s in Choral Conducting from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Music Education from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Currently, he is finishing his doctoral thesis on vocal pedagogy for the 21st-century music educator, with a specialization in transgender and non-binary voices. Clark firmly believes in helping each student discover their authentic voice.
In his own words: “My philosophy of teaching is that every voice is unique, and I would like to help students find their authentic voice, whatever that may be. And through our journey together, we can help each other grow.”
Clark has served as guest artist at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and has performed as a soloist with the Knox Galesburg-Symphony, Nova Singers, Larry Parson’s Chorale, and Muskegon Chorale Arts Society. He is an active adjudicator and sought-after guest conductor and clinician. Clark enjoys performing in recital with his wife, pianist Dr. Solee Lee-Clark, in their Letters of Love concert featuring the music of Robert and Clara Schumann.
Prof. Amy Johns
Soprano Amy Johns received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri – Columbia, studying with renowned teachers Ann Harrell and Costanza Cuccaro. She has performed roles such as Laurie in Oklahoma!, Anna in The Consul, Madame Thénardier in Les Mis, Mrs. Harcourt in Anything Goes (Maples Summer Rep), and joined the ensembles in productions such as The Corps of Discovery, Grease, The Sound of Music, Godspell, Suor Angelica, and Die Fledermaus. Ms. Johns has also been engaged as a soloist on many occasions, performing as the soprano soloist in works such as Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepherd, and Chambers’ Atonement.
Professor Johns has an avid interest in vocal pedagogy and voice science and is a strong advocate for lifelong learning. As such, she is active in conferences, workshops, and professional organizations related to the field, such as the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Over the years, her voice students have consistently been awarded opportunities to participate in national competitions in classical, musical theater, spiritual, and contemporary music categories, garnered acceptance into young artist programs such as the Chicago Lyric Summer Opera program and Opera in the Ozarks, and have been accepted into prestigious graduate schools.
Currently, Ms. Johns serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Central Methodist University, where she finds great joy in teaching applied voice lessons, diction, vocal pedagogy, and other voice-related courses. Outside of CMU, you can find her spending time with her family, cross-stitching, working in her yard, or being dragged along hiking trails by her two energetic pups.
Zachary Kierstead
Zachary Kierstead is a pianist and vocal coach based in Columbia, Missouri. Grateful to be in a location with many wonderful musicians and musical opportunities, he strives to bring value to all parts of that community. As such, Mr. Kierstead holds pianist positions in a variety of locations, both educational and professional.
At CMU, he is a full-time collaborative pianist and Instructor of piano. As instructor, he teaches keyboard techniques classes and piano lessons. As the departmental collaborative pianist, he accompanies and coaches the Opera Workshop, student recitals, competitions, lessons, weekly recitals, and juries. Additionally, Mr. Kierstead collaborates on faculty recitals and accompanies the Central’s Got Talent yearly scholarship competition.
As a passionate large ensemble collaborator, Mr. Kierstead works with a variety of choirs across various institutions/organizations, such as University of Missouri- Columbia (MU), Central Methodist University (CMU), Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri, Columbia College, Missouri-Valley College, St. Louis Community College - Meramec, and many high schools and middle schools across Missouri. Through these he has worked closely with talented directors, including R. Paul Crabb, Emily Edgington-Andrews, Jeremy Wagner, Jerry Myers, Gary Gackstatter, Claude Westfall, Patrick Dill, and Jason Martin, among others.
Mr. Kierstead is a pianist/coach with several opera programs, including Opera in the Ozarks (2024), Landlocked Opera (2023-present), Opera Workshop at CMU (2023-present), and Show-Me Opera at MU (2022-2023). Through these he works closely with conductors and coaches such as Tom Cockrell, Stephen Karr, Kristin Roach, Johnathan Ray, and Christine Seitz.
Mr. Kierstead is excited to work with potential and emerging musicians in Columbia area schools and collegiate institutions. He gives recitals, accompanies lessons and juries, and records auditions with all manner of musical student, beginner to professional. He regularly accompanies district, state, and national level competitions through MSHSAA, MMTA, MTNA, NFMC, and NATS organizations. Additionally, he is involved in various musical theatre productions, holds accompanist positions at two churches, and eagerly looks for additional opportunities to involve himself in the musical community. Through these endeavors, Mr. Kierstead enthusiastically brings high-quality collaboration to all level of musical individuals.
Mr. Kierstead holds his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Central Methodist University and Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Throughout his education, he owes much to those he has studied with as well as those he continues to draw inspiration from: Helen Hendry, Gwendolyn Peiper, Dr. Rene Lecuona, Dr. Melissa Loehnig-Simons (CMU), Dr. Janice Wenger (MU), and Dr. Rachel AuBuchon.
Dr. Kara Metzger
Kara Metzger is originally from Waukesha, WI and currently serves as the Director of Bands at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. At CMU, Kara teaches marching, concert, and jazz band. She also teaches applied trombone and courses in music education. She has earned a bachelor’s in music education and a certificate in adaptive music from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Kara earned graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota Duluth (MM-Music Education) and the University of Iowa (DMA-Wind Conducting). Whilst earning her graduate degrees, Kara was a teaching assistant within both schools’ band departments, teaching/conducting concert bands, assisting with the athletic bands, and performing many other supportive roles at both institutions. Throughout her time at the University of Iowa, Kara also served as Director of Symphonic Band at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA.
Prior to her graduate work, Kara was the director of bands at Whitman Middle School and associate director of bands at West High School in Wauwatosa, WI, where she was responsible for middle school concert bands and jazz ensembles and assisted with all high school ensembles. She continues to engage with high schools by being active in writing drill, choreography, arranging, and clinicing for numerous high schools and colleges throughout the country.
Since 2016, Kara has been working at the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and has served as brass and visual caption head for them since 2017 and brass manager since 2024. She has also served as a baritone technician at the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps since 2020. She has held additional staff positions at the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle corps for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. She is also an active low brass player and enjoys performing whenever she is able.
Dr. John Perkins
Dr. John D. Perkins teaches courses in applied trumpet and horn, brass pedagogy, and music history and coaches brass ensembles at Central Methodist University. Perkins' students have won the state competitions of the Music Teachers National Association – Young Artist Brass, and the Missouri Music Teachers Association – Upper and Lower Brass Division Competitions. Under his direction, the CMU trumpet ensemble was selected to perform at the 2014 International Trumpet Guild Conference at King of Prussia, PA. Adjudicating frequently at MSHSAA solo and ensemble contests, Perkins enjoys working with younger brass players. He organizes and directs the high school trumpet clinics for the biennial CMU Brass Invitational and offers trumpet lessons and high brass clinics to middle and high school students.
Perkins has performed trumpet with a multitude of orchestras in mid-Missouri, including the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Odyssey Chamber Music Series Orchestra, Columbia Civic Orchestra, 9th Street Philharmonic, and Missouri Contemporary Ballet Orchestra. He held the principal trumpet position with the Shippensburg Festival Symphony Orchestra for 15 years, as well as two seasons as principal with the San Angelo Symphony. He has held positions and/or performed with the Abilene Philharmonic, Johnstown Symphony, York Symphony, Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony, Austin Handel/Haydn Society Orchestra, Kerrville Symphony, St. Cloud Symphony, and the Heartland Symphony. He has performed several works as world or U.S. premieres with various ensembles.
Perkins has played lead trumpet in more than 40 musical productions, including at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, CMU’s Little Theatre, MU’s Summer Rep Theatre, Stephens College, William Woods University, and Video Games Live. Chamber ensembles include the Big Bang Brass, Pinnacle Brass, Southside Philharmonic Champion Brass, Odyssey Chamber Music Series, Missouri Consortium Brass, Cumberland Valley Chamber Players, Icehouse Brass, Summit Brass (participant), and several brass quintets and ensembles. He has performed at the International Trumpet Guild Conference and has more than 20 media reviews articles published in the ITG Journal.
Perkins has made solo appearances with the CMU Concert Band, Karl King Band, Marshall Philharmonic, Hagerstown Municipal Band, Grand Sousa Festival Band, Angelo State University Wind Ensemble, Shippensburg University Concert Band, and the St. Cloud State University Concert/Chamber Band. He has played the National Anthem at minor league baseball games and frequently enhances church services through his playing. His primary teachers include Raymond Crisara, John Aley, and Albert Moore, and he studied briefly with Frank Kaderabek and Don Jacoby.
Dr. Jonathan Ray
Jonathan Ray serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Central Methodist University, where he teaches applied voice, Italian diction, and beginning conducting. He also directs and conducts the operas and music directs/conducts the musicals.
Hailed for his "very rich, full tenor" (Broadway World), Dr. Ray has performed as a soloist with such companies as Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, The American Festival Chorus, The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Heartland Opera Theatre, The Missouri Symphony, Opera in the Rock, The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Opera, Music On Site, Lawrence Opera Theatre, Opera in the Ozarks, and Greensboro Light Opera and Song. He has been invited to appear as a professional concert soloist in institutions of higher education such as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Missouri, Missouri Southern State University, Louisiana State University, Hesston College, and Clarke University. He has appeared with professional Columbia, MO choir Prometheus and is a regular member of the professional Columbia choir Vox Nova. As a rising director and conductor, Dr. Ray has appeared with Landlocked Opera, Opera Kansas, and the Odyssey Chamber Series.
Known for his "stamina and unrelenting concentration, as well as his lovely singing" (Arktimes), some of Dr. Ray’s operatic highlights include the principal tenor roles in Così fan tutte, Roméo et Juliette, La Traviata, La finta giardiniera, Die Fledermaus, Il barbiere di Siviglia, L’italiana in Algeri, La Cenerentola, Béatrice et Bénédict, Don Giovanni, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Albert Herring, Die Zauberflöte, Le nozze di Figaro, L’elisir d’amore, Gianni Schicchi, Candide, The Gondoliers, Pirates of Penzance, Trial by Jury, and others. His musical theater credits include roles in She Loves Me, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Into the Woods, Amazing Grace, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd, Assassins, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, South Pacific, A Little Night Music, and many others. An active recitalist, his major performances include Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin, Beethoven’s An die ferne Geliebte, Finzi’s A Young Man’s Exhortation, Schumann’s Dichterliebe, Philip Glass’s Songs from Liquid Days, and many cycles by Benjamin Britten. His concert work includes the tenor solos in Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Orff's Carmina Burana, Stravinsky’s Cantata, Bach BWV 78, 148, & 211, and Mozart’s Requiem in D minor and Great Mass in C minor.
Dr. Ray received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance with a minor in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University, where he studied with tenor Robert Grayson and coached with renowned vocal pedagogue Loraine Sims and Metropolitan Opera tenor Paul Groves. He received his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he studied with Carla LeFevre. He earned his Bachelor of Vocal and Instrumental Music Education from Arkansas Tech University, where he studied with Jon Clements and Arlene Biebesheimer and his major instruments were voice and tuba. In 2019, Dr. Ray completed his apprenticeship as the tenor Apprentice Artist with The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, where he studied with tenor Vinson Cole.
Dr. Ray serves on the board for Mid-MO NATS (National Association of the Teacher of Singing). His students have gone on to earn top prizes in various NATS categories (as well as other nationally recognized vocal competitions), teach at secondary and higher levels of education, and are seen performing throughout the Midwest and beyond. Dr. Ray serves as music director for traditional worship at First Baptist Church in Columbia. He is also the co-founding artistic director for Landlocked Opera, a non-profit opera company that he runs with his wife, Christina. The mission of Landlocked Opera is to make opera accessible to the community by celebrating historic works while also championing new works, ideas, and artists.
Dr. Melissa Loehnig Simons
Active as a solo pianist, chamber musician and collaborative performer, Dr. Melissa Loehnig Simons is currently on faculty as Professor of Music in Piano and Theory, Chair of the Fine Arts Division, and Dean of the Swinney Conservatory of Music at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO.
Simons spent five summers as a staff pianist at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS in Graz, Austria) and has most recently served on the piano faculty for the Red Lodge Music Festival (Red Lodge, MT). During the summer while pursuing her degrees, she was chosen from a national field of applicants for the Opera Theatre Music Festival of Lucca (Italy), the Baldwin-Wallace Art Song Festival, and for the highly competitive Songfest Program (Malibu, CA). Dr. Simons has performed throughout the United States, most recently with Choral Arts, a semi-professional chorus based in Seattle, with whom she performed the world premiere of William Averitt’s The Dream Keeper, for chorus and piano four hands. Dr. Simons has performed as a guest artist for the Spokane Steinway Gallery, Eastern Oregon University, Anderson University, Clarke University, and the El Paso Summer Music Festival. She has also been invited to do guest artist work with the University of Washington Chamber Singers and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Singers. She is featured on two recently released CD recordings: Chimera, produced by Albany Records, and Mornings Like This, produced by the Gothic Recording Label. Dr. Simons has had the honor of working with such musicians as Rachel Barton Pine, Warren Jones, Martin Katz, Graham Johnson, Barbara Bonney, Christa Ludwig, Stephanie Blythe, Margo Garrett, Jake Heggie, and many others.
Simons received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance, graduating with honors from Whitman College. She also holds a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from Florida State University and has completed her Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance with a focus on collaborative piano from the same institution.
Dr. Lucas Willsie
Praised for his “accentuated juxtaposition of lyrical lines and passage work” (The Clarinet Online), Lucas Willsie continues to make a name for himself as a soloist and pedagogue. Currently, Dr. Willsie teaches woodwinds and music theory at Central Methodist University’s Swinney Conservatory of Music in Fayette, MO.
Lucas has performed as a soloist across North America and Europe. He is a member of the Hijinx Clarinet Quartet, which regularly performs around the United States with the goal of bringing a hybrid of musical experiences to diverse audiences using traditional chamber music, new compositions, multimedia, and more. He regularly performs at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre for their summer musicals. Lucas has performed with the North Texas Symphony Orchestra and can be heard on several recordings as a member of the North Texas Wind Symphony, including a recording of Gernot Wolfgang’s Three Short Stories as bass clarinet soloist. He has been the featured soloist with the Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra, the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, the Sherman Symphony Orchestra, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, and Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra. He also performed William Bolcom’s Concerto for Clarinet with the Truman State University Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the Gold Medal Concerto Competition.
Willsie completed his DMA in clarinet performance at the University of North Texas, where he taught woodwind methods for undergraduate music education students. He also holds a master's degree in clarinet performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was a graduate teaching assistant, and bachelor's degrees in music education and clarinet performance from Truman State University. His primary teachers include Dr. Kimberly Cole Luevano, Dr. Diane Barger, and Dr. Jesse Krebs.
Adjunct Faculty
Prof. Robin Anderson
Robin Anderson has extensive experience in the music industry. With a Master of Education in Learning Teaching & Curriculum (Music) and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (K-12 Vocal) from the University of Missouri - Columbia, along with a Core Certificate in Arts Management from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Robin's career as a musician and educator is robust and multifaceted.
Robin has served as Assistant Music Faculty at Columbia College, Coordinator for Community Programs and Music Entrepreneurship at the MU School of Music, adjudicator for the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), and accompanist for Moberly Area Community College, Columbia Public Schools, and Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri (CAAM).
As a solo recording artist and freelance musician, Robin has performed with The Quorus, Cabaret for a Cause, and The Upsides. She has produced and performed in the "Strange New Worlds: New Works by Artistic Creators" series, collaborating with composers, musicians, and playwrights.
In arts administration, Robin is development and outreach coordinator for Vidwest Studios, co-establishing its 501(c)(3) status, and serves as co-producer for the "Blind" Boone Piano Concert Series at the Boone County History & Culture Center. She is also a digital media and marketing strategist for arts and cultural nonprofits, consulting for Grammy Award-winning performers and ensembles. Her insight in these realms equips college students with the skills to develop their personal marketing strategies effectively.
Robin's leadership extends to The Quorus, an LGBTQ community choral ensemble, and as a board member and secretary for the Odyssey Chamber Music Series. With a rich blend of teaching, performance, and leadership experiences, Robin continues to impact the music community, fostering growth, creativity, and excellence in every endeavor.
Prof. Jonelle (Jonie) Loehnig
Jonie Loehnig began her formal music studies with a church BME music degree from Baker University, where her major instrument of study was organ. After master’s studies at Eden Seminary, she served in pastoral ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for 25 years. She is an Adjunct Professor of Organ and Collaborative Pianist for Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. She completed internships with composer/musician Austin Lovelace and Schudi Pipe Organs in Dallas, TX. Loehnig has extensive experiences in church music and organ concerts.
Prof. Lisa Thill
As a Freelance Performing Artist and Studio Instructor, Lisa Thill Franck has been kicking it in Columbia, Missouri since 1993. Not only does she play standard flute and piccolo, she is also accomplished on 17th Century Traverso (the Baroque Era flute). Ms. Thill established the LTF Flute Studio and has maintained 35 to 55 students in Columbia since she finished her Masters degree in 1995.Prof. Thill joined the team at CMU in 2015 as Adjunct Professor of Flute.
Her musical collaborations include:
- 1996-present flutist for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Columbia, MO
- 1997-2006 flutist for Our Lady of Lourdes in Columbia, MO
- June 1998 flutist for the Carlos Gomez Orchestra in Belém, Pará, BrazilIntermittently substitute flute/piccolo for Missouri Symphony
- 1999-2018 Thilman Duo with cellist Mary Manulik
- 2007-2012 Lirali Trio with violinist Lisbeth Yasuda and pianist Rachel AuBuchon
- 2010-present Totally Franck with guitarist Gordon Franck and vocalist Teeney Franck
- 2012-present Lira Duo with pianist Rachel AuBuchon
- 2013-2015 Lisa & Flute Kings with flutists Steven Geibel and Michael White
- 2014-2017 White Chocolate with jazz pianist Nancy Geibel
Inspired by Electric Flutist, Melissa Keeling in 2019, Lisa took up amplified flute and now uses loop machines. As a soloist Thill uses a Boss VE20 effects box with a Silver Bullet microphone and Roland Micro Cube amplifier. In collaboration with Totally Franck she uses the Boss RC300 Loop Station.
In her quest to become the Full Spectrum Flutist, Thill now uses the Glissando Headjoint for her jazz improv. In 2018 she started taking Extended Techniques for flute more seriously including beat boxing. Also at that time she finally made a commitment to learning how to Circular Breathe!
Lisa Thill Franck’s formal flute instructors include Marsha Neher and Beth Jensen of Wenatchee, Washington. She earned her Bachelor degree with Hal Ott at Central Washington University (1988-92) and her Masters at MIZZOU with Steven Geibel (1993-95). The aforementioned teachers provided masterclass experiences with Louis Moyse, John Barcellona, Web and Gail Coffee, Felix Schoronek, Roger Martin, Richard Hahn and Sandra Schoebel during her formative years.
