BCCMS Faculty Biographies
Left to right: Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Boutwell, Dr. Luther, Mrs. Keck,
Mrs. Goodman, Miss Gehring, Mrs. Barger, Mr. Barger
Mrs. Linda Barger, Piano
Mrs. Linda Barger has been teaching piano students for thirty years. She studied piano and organ with Dr. J. James Greasby, former head of the music department at Bryan College. In 1989 she received the Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (organ study with Dr. Walker Breland). Linda lives with her husband, Roy (a classical guitarist and string instrument builder) in Dayton with their children.Mr. Roy Barger, Guitar
Mr. Roy Barger holds a Master of Music degree in guitar performance from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He studied under Dr. Mario Abril, who is a former student of the Spanish guitarist, Andrés Segovia. Roy is an adjunct instructor of guitar for the Bryan College Department of Music. He teaches community students as well, and has been doing so for over thirty years. Roy is also a Master Chief in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Roy is a string instrument builder and especially enjoys building musical instruments which were in common use during the Renaissance and Baroque periods of music history, such as the lute and viola da gamba. He is a life member in the United States Chess Federation and a member of the Viola da Gamba Society of America. He and his wife, Linda, have four children.Mrs. Jane Barnett, Piano
Mrs. Barnett has taught piano for more than 30 years. She returns to full time piano teaching after a four-year hiatus during which she focused on her job at Chattanooga Christian School. She was Director of BCCMS from 2004-2009 and is a member of the Chattanooga Music Teachers' Association. Her students consistently received the highest marks at annual CMTA regional auditions, and one of her former students won the state TMTA competition. Mrs. Barnett teaches piano at all levels. She is the wife of Dr. Stephen Barnett, professor of science at Bryan College, and has three adult children and six grandchildren.Mrs. Mary Blackburn, Piano, Organ
Mrs. Mary Blackburn graduated from Bryan College with a degree in Piano Pedagogy. While at Bryan, she studied piano and organ with Jason DuRoy. She teaches private piano lessons (both Traditional and Suzuki) and preschool music in the greater Chattanooga area and is currently serving as adjunct faculty in the piano department at Bryan College. She is the Vice President and Program Chair of the Chattanooga Music Teachers Association. She resides in Soddy Daisy, TN, and is involved with the music ministry at her church. **not taking students at this time
Mrs. Allison Hall, Piano
Mrs. Allison Hall has been teaching private piano lessons for close to ten years. She graduated from Bryan College with a piano pedagogy degree in 2008 and has taught piano since high school. Allison loves teaching a variety of ages and levels, and her students range from kindergarten through adult age. Allison and her husband Josh live in Dayton, TN, and are expecting their first child in February! **not taking students at this time
Mrs. Rachel Jones, Piano
Mrs. Rachel Jones has taught piano lessons for three years and has studied piano under several teachers for 15 years. She has been playing since she was 4, and she is offering private piano lessons for beginning and elementary students using a combination of Suzuki and traditional methods. Rachel is a member of the Chattanooga Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association. She graduated from Bryan College with a B.A. in English Literature in 2010. She lives in Dayton with her husband, Keith.
Dr. Sigrid Luther, Piano
Dr. Sigrid Luther and her husband David have taught at Bryan College for 32 years. She is Vice President and National Senior (high school) Competitions Coordinator for the Music Teachers National Association. The Drs. Luther have two married daughters and three grandchildren. More info... **not taking students at this time
Miss Alissa Passburg, Piano
Alissa Passburg has been teaching private piano lessons for eight years during which time she has taught students ranging in age from 5-84 and ranging in level from beginner to advanced/pre-college. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Piano Pedagogy from Bryan College and is currently in the process of becoming a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through the Music Teachers National Association. She is the Coordinator of BCCMS and a member of the Chattanooga Music Teacher's Association. Please visit her website for further information here.
Mrs. Sally Powell, Voice, Piano
Mrs. Sally Powell, NCTM, holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Moody Bible Institute. In 2012, she received a grant to study at The Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University, where she completed Level I certification in Somatic Voicework© The LoVetri Method. Her performance experience includes five seasons with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Maestros Duane Wolfe and Daniel Barenboim. A member of NATS and MTNA, she has taught voice and piano students for over twenty years in her private studio as well as a suburban Chicago high school. Sally serves as Vice President of the Chattanooga Music Teachers Association, and her students have been finalists and winners in regional and state competitions. In addition to her work with private students, she directs the Bryan College Community Youth Choir, which she founded in 2010. Sally lives in Dayton with her husband, Ken, and their sons, Joshua and Clayton. More info...
Mrs. Alicia Roberts
Alicia Roberts completed a B.S. degree in Musical Theatre from Bryan College this past May. During her time at Bryan, Alicia appeared in numerous musical and theatrical performances, some of which include "Annie Get Your Gun" in 2009, "The Man of LaMancha" in 2010, and her senior musical showcase, "Dear Old Friends", this past February. While at Bryan, Alicia attended regular voice lessons, sang in both the Bryan College Chorale and Chamber Singers, and competed in the National Association for Teachers of Singers (NATS) competition. She is currently residing in Dayton with her husband and is teaching musical theatre, music lessons, and drama lessons part-time at Rhea County Academy.
Mr. Jamie Smith, Percussion
Jamie Smith holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is the director of bands at Dayton City School. Mr. Smith has taught percussion in public and private schools for over ten years and has performed with and taught award winning drumlines and percussion ensembles. He was also a percussionist with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera from 2000-2002 under the direction of Maestro Robert Bernhardt. Mr. Smith's students have received numerous regional and state awards and scholarships. Mr. Smith is a member of the ETSBOA, TSSBDA, TBA, TBA, and PAS. He currently resides in Dayton with his wife, Bethany, and two children, James and Chloe.
Miss Kristen Underwood, Violin
Kristen Underwood is recent graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Music Administration. She began playing the violin at age seven and since that time has participated in the music ministries of several churches, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Youth Orchestras as well as many of Bryan's musicals and showcases. Most recently, she has joined with two Bryan students to create the Benedict Trio, a bluegrass/jazz group.
