Faculty

Karen De Young

Auxiliary Faculty

Email: kdeyoung@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Qualifications

Karen is an avid teacher and pianist who has performed for over 30 years in a wide variety of settings. In addition to solo performing, she has performed extensively as accompanist for numerous soloists and ensembles throughout the Sacramento region. Currently at William Jessup University, Karen directs the piano program, helps produce university recordings and serves as accompanist for William Jessup's University Choir and the Alumni & Community Choir.

Derek Keller

Adjunct Faculty

Email: dkeller@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Qualifications

Derek Keller is an award-winning composer and guitarist. Keller is co-founder of Guitar Expressions Music Series
(GEMS), an exciting new collection of concerts featuring the music of the Sacramento region’s most inspired guitarists. Keller is also the curator for the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Music Series, focusing on highlighting original avant-garde and improvisational music in Sacramento.  Keller has received commissions from Empyrean Ensemble, Fondation Royaumont,
RedFishBlueFish, NOISE, Cantoria Choir at Truman State University, Cappella Gloriana, Athens Master Chorale and Mark Menzies. Keller has performed in master classes with Christopher Parkening. His music has been performed in the U.S.,
Mexico, France, Germany and Brazil.  He studied under the direction of Roger Reynolds at the University of Caifornia at San Diego, where he earned a Ph.D. in 2004. He has also studied composition with Anthony Davis, Chaya Czernowin, Rand Steiger, George Crumb, Jean-Luc Hervé, Brian Ferneyhough, David Lang, and Charles Wuorinen. Keller’s guitar mentor is John Sutherland of Atlanta.

Kevin Neuner

Adjunct Professor/Lecturer

Email: kneuner@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Guitar

Music & Worship
Seminar in Worship Leading

Introduction to Media Technologies

Currently teaches Worship in Contemporary Culture

Qualifications

Kevin has been in ministry for 20 years in the areas of Worship, Youth, Pastoring, Leadership, and Teaching at various congregations throughout Bay Area. He is currently the Spiritual Life Director at the King's Academy, a Junior & Senior High School in Sunnyvale, CA. Prior to that he was an Associate Pastor overseeing Student Ministries at Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Mountain View, CA. An accomplished guitarist and pianist, Kevin leads worship for youth and adults as well as speaks and consults for other ministry organizations. In addition, Kevin co-leads trips to Israel with his wife Danielle Parish through That The World May Know Ministries, and is an Advisory Board member of the Biblical Language Center in Jerusalem, Israel.

Van B. Crane

Adjunct Instructor

Email: vcrane@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Qualifications

Van Crane has taught music from Junior High School through College levels for many years. He has also conducted orchestras, bands and choirs in community, church and school settings for over thirty years. He was conductor of the North Bay Wind Ensemble, a community band located in the Napa Valley, for a number of years before moving to Placer County where he currently serves as Instrumental Music Instructor at William Jessup University and conducts the University Community Wind Ensemble.

Brandon Yip

Applied Instructor, Guitar

Email: byip@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Qualifications

Brandon Yip has been performing professionally since 1985. His current work is described as Ethno-Classic Music; a fusion of ethnic and classical styles that explores music from around the world. In 2007, Mr. Yip premiered a concerto written for him by Gang Situ. The work was commissioned by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra as part of their Gold Mountain Project, which celebrated the contributions of Chinese Americans to the history of California. Edward Ortiz of the Sacramento Bee wrote, “Yip handled the concerto with poise and sophistication… a guitarist capable of great clarity and artistic flair.” Mr. Yip's awards include finalist in the 1999 Carmel Music Society Music Competition, silver medalist in the 1993 and 1994 Portland International Guitar Competitions and more. Mr. Yip's studies include masterclasses with the world's top artists as well as attending the class of Maestro Oscar Ghiglia at the Accademia Chigiana in Sienna, Italy. Mr. Yip studied formally at CSU Sacramento and at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with David Tanenbaum. His CDs, Global Impressions, Dedicatoria and Magnificat have drawn rave reviews from the industry's most respected artists. He has recently released his fourth recording Agua y Vino, which features music from South America. Mr. Yip has served on the faculties of CSU Sacramento and American River College. He is currently the guitar professor at William Jessup University. Mr. Yip is also the worship pastor at Bayside of West Roseville Church in Northern California. Before that he served as a worship leader at Bayside of Granite Bay with Lincoln Brewster. www.brandonyip.com

Heather-Lynn O'Mara

Applied Instructor, voice

Email: hcurtis@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Qualifications

• Performed in 3 choirs and 2 small vocal groups, serving as the leader of one small vocal group, including 9 ministry tours
• Accomplished pianist and Lyrical Soprano
• Performed with the Gary Bonner Singers
• Served as lead soprano for the William Jessup University Alumni and Community Choir
• Featured soloist at churches all across the USA, including Ca, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Texas as well as British Columbia and Alberta Canada
• Musical theatre includes: Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, the White Rabbit in The Wizard of Wonderland, and Chorus in Brigadoon
• Continues to study under reknowned vocal instructor Brenda Reinebach
• Has led worship and served on music teams all over California, currently at Lakeside Church in Folsom

Lorin Miller

Adjunct Faculty

Email: miller@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Qualifications

For the past 25 years Lorin Miller has enjoyed performing nationally and internationally in Japan, China, Europe and the Philippines in a variety of styles ranging from Bach to Broadway. Lorin, a California native, grew up in Grass Valley. His undergraduate degree is from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied Music/Voice and Biblical Studies. After graduation, he produced, recorded and toured with a solo album before moving to Los Angeles to attend U.C.L.A. to pursue film scoring. After establishing a successful career in Hollywood television production, Lorin made the transition back into the music arena. Currently, he is finishing a Music Humanities Masters at California State University, Dominquez Hills.

As a conductor, Lorin is currently Artistic/Musical Director for the Placer Pops Chorale ( formerly the Sierra Community Chorus) in Rocklin, California, Worship Pastor at Auburn Grace Community Church and Executive Musical Director and founder of the performing arts organization, A Gift of the Heart.

As a tenor soloist, Lorin is featured frequently by the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, where he performed the role of Charlie Dalrymple from Brigadoon in their recent Lerner and Loewe production. He was a featured soloist in SCSO’s performances of the Haydn Mass, Harmoniemesse, Mass No. 12 in B-Flat and Symphony No. 2, Op 52, Lobgesang, by Mendelssohn at the Sacramento Community Center and Mondavi Center. He was also on stage in Prague’s prestigious Smetana Hall; Budapest’s famed Liszt Academy of Music and Vienna’s iconic cathedral, Stephansdome, as the tenor soloist with the SCSO’s European tour. With Gift of the Heart, Lorin has recently produced, directly and soloed in 2009’s Songs of Enchantment which performed throughout Slovenia and Northern California, and in the 2010 summer production of Homeland, a patriotic salute to America.

Lori True

Applied Instructor, voice

Email: ltrue@jessup.edu

Education

Courses Taught

Applied Voice

Qualifications

At a young age, Lori True developed her passion for making music by becoming classically trained in both piano and voice. After attending Stanford University, where she was named “Vocalist of the Year,” she discovered her passion for making music through worship and transferred to Azusa Pacific University, where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Gary Bonner, obtaining her Bachelor’s of Music in Education. Following her studies, Lori went on to become a noted songwriter, arranger and studio musician recording with such artists as Twila Paris and featured artist on a nationally-released cd in collaboration with Kay Arthur, and has recorded several worship cds. She recently completed her Masters of Music at CSUS, studying with renowned conductor, Don Kendrick. Lori served as Pastor of Worship Arts at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville from 1994-2004 as the church and worship ministry grew from a congregation of 150 to 5000 regular attenders. She draws from her extensive experience in the church music field as she’s been active in producing large-scale musical productions, conducting professional orchestras & choirs and overseeing all aspects of a large music and arts ministry. Lori currently serves as Worship Pastor at Grace Church in Rocklin.