Our professors are distinguished scholars, active researchers, published writers, and faithful Christians who demonstrate what it means to be both Christ-followers and leaders in their academic fields. As mentors and role models, they play a huge role in the integration of faith and learning at Bethel.
Department Chair
Jonathan Veenker
Department Chair and Associate Professor of Music | j-veenker@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1988
Veenker teaches composition, music theory, and orchestration courses. He is a frequently commissioned composer and arranger writing primarily for choir, wind ensemble, orchestra, and solo voice.
Faculty
Brent Adams
Associate Professor of Theatre | brent-adams@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Acting, drama ministry, development of original works, directing, and playwriting.
Leigh Anne Adams
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theatre | l-adams@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Acting, directing, new script development, and teaching acting for the BUILD program.
Kimberly Allmann
Private Lesson Instructor in French Horn | k-allmann@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1995
Kimberly Allmann is a horn performer and instructor in the Twin Cities, MN. She teaches horn because of a passion for connecting with horn players and helping them improve, whatever their starting skill level. Through her decades of teaching horn, Kimberly has relied on teaching with encouragement and humor, rather than through intimidation and fear. Kimberly was principal horn of the Rochester Orchestra from 2002-2010, and now performs as a freelance hornist throughout the area.. . . read more.
Trudi Anderson
Private Lesson Instructor in Flute | tja59526@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Anderson is an active freelance flutist in the Twin Cities and has performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minneapolis Civic Orchestra, the St. Cloud Symphony, and the Orquesta Filarmonica de Merida (Venezuela).
Robert Berglund
Professor of Music Emeritus | info@robertberglundchoralseries.com | Started at Bethel: 1959
Professor of Music Emeritus
Jeff Brueske
Private Lesson Instructor in Jazz Bass | jefjbrue@hotmail.com | Started at Bethel: 2003
Jeff Brueske has distinguished himself as a bassist for over two decades performing with Wessel Anderson, Grammy-winner Ted Nash, Ron Miles, Marcus Printup, Tim Armacost and a host of Twin Cities jazz luminaries.
David Crittenden
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music and Private Lesson Instructor in Guitar | d-crittenden@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1988
Crittenden is a classical guitarist and composer. He has published work through Amoriello Guitar Publications and Alfred Music Publishing and was a member of the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet for ten years.
Gary Crowe
Private Lesson Instructor in Saxophone | gwc57224@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1982
Crowe teaches private saxophone lessons and is an active performer in the Twin Cities area.
Mary Fall
Associate Professor of Music Emerita | wkfall@gmail.com | Started at Bethel: 1979
Associate Professor of Music Emerita
Ann Fredrickson
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music | a-fredrickson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music
Weily Grina-Shay
Adjunct Instructor of Music | whs68972@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Weily Grina-Shay is a freelance clarinetist in the Twin Cities area and performs frequently with her two chamber ensembles, Chione Woodwind Quintet and 10th Wave Chamber Collective.
Merrin Guice Gill
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities | meg25835@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Associate Professor of Music Director of Choral Activities
Emily Hagen
Private Lesson Instructor in Viola | emh86475@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Hagen teaches private viola lessons and is an active performer in the Twin Cities area.
Angela Hanson
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music and Private Lesson Instructor in Violin | adh68496@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Hanson teaches violin lessons and performs frequently around the Twin Cities and is in the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, and is concertmaster of the Saint Paul Civic Symphony. In addition to teaching at Bethel, she teaches at the Free Lutheran Bible School and Seminary and at home.
Jason Harms
Adjunct Instructor of Music | j-harms@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Adjunct Instructor of Music; Director of Jazz Orchestras
Robin Helgen
Adjunct Professor of Music | rjh47597@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Robin Helgen has sung with the Minnesota Opera and the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus under conductor Helmuth Rilling. She maintains a voice studio in her home and teaches voice at area high schools. Helgen is the alto section leader/soloist at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and is in her tenth season with the Ensemble Singers of VocalEssence.
Paula Holmberg
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music | pjh95295@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Professor Holmberg conducts the Bethel Lucia Chorum and teaches in the vocal music education course sequence.
Herbert Johnson
Professor of Music | herbert-johnson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Johnson teaches piano, piano theory, and piano pedagogy. He is an active solo and collaborative pianist in the Twin Cities and participates in numerous musical activities in the metropolitan area including chamber music recitals, worship services, and sacred concerts.
Mark Kausch
Private Lesson Instructor in Double Bass | mkausch@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1991
Kausch teaches private double bass lessons with research interest in historically-informed performance.
David Orton
Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Arts | djo52897@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Arts
Tina Park
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music and Private Lesson Instructor in Piano | l-juan@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Tina Juan Park teaches private and group piano lessons at Bethel University as well as maintaining an active private studio. In addition to teaching, Dr. Park is an accomplished performer.
Dennis Port
Professor of Music Emeritus | porden@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1995
Professor of Music Emeritus
John Povolny
Adjunct Instructor of Music | jgp72794@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Adjunct Instructor in Percussion
Cindy Reents
Office Coordinator | c-reents@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1977
Office Coordinator for the Music and Theatre department
Rick Rees
Professor of Theatre Emeritus | reeric@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1980
Technical theatre, stage design, costume design, light design, directing, and children's theatre.
Mark Rhoads
Professor of Music | rhomar@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1988
Rhoads teaches courses in church music, music education, and gen. ed. arts courses. He is a member of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada and is active in discussions on music and worship, with current research in American hymnody, especially the reform movement in the American Protestant church in the early 19th century. Rhoads is active in church music as director, hymn and tune writer, and worship planner. He also writes and publishes poetry.. . . read more.
Hannah Schendel
Instructor of Music | h-schendel@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Hannah Schendel conducts the Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonic Community Orchestra, coaches chamber ensembles, and teaches violin. She was a Conducting Fellow with the Allentown Symphony during the 2018-2019 season, and recently has appeared as Guest Conductor with the Bemidji Symphony and the Brevard Philharmonic. She is an active guest conductor, guest clinician, and violinist.
Kevin Shull
Adjunct Instructor of Music and Manager of Music Organizations and Director of the Handbell Ensemble | kevin-shull@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Shull oversees the management of all activity of the music department's performance ensembles including the planning, organization, and promotion of all music tours, performances on campus, as well as the production of Bethel's annual Festival of Christmas. He conducts the Bethel Handbell Ensemble and coaches smaller handbell ensembles and soloists.
Marcus Simmons
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music | m-a-simmons@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2020
Dr. Simmons is Conductor of Bethel's Royal Register and teaches private voice.
Pam Sohriakoff
Staff Accompanist | psohriak@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2007
Accompanying, vocal coach, private piano lessons
Gerard Sundberg
Adjunct Professor of Voice | gbs45988@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Sundberg has distinguished himself as a concert artist with his mastery of the bass/baritone repertoire whose opportunities of solo performance have been balanced with his passion for teaching.
Steven Thompson
Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Activities | s-thompson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Thompson teaches courses in instrumental conducting, instrumental pedagogies, private trumpet instruction, and conducts the Bethel Wind Symphony. Thompson maintains an active performing schedule as a trumpeter in the Upper Midwest and the Eastern United States. He is sought after as a clinician and as an adjudicator for numerous contest events.
Emily Urban
Staff Accompanist | e-urban@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Collaborative accompanist
Marshall Urban
Adjunct Instructor of Music | m-urban@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Adjunct Instructor of Voice
Hong Wang
Private Lesson Instructor in Cello | h-wang@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Recognized as an outstanding performing recitalist, soloist, cello teacher and chamber music coach, Wang has performed extensively in concerts, recitals, and presented master classes throughout the United States and abroad. He has inspired audiences with his virtuosic, lyrical and colorful playing.
Katherine Willow
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music | k-willow@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2020
Elementary Music Education
Meg Zauner
Associate Professor of Theatre | mzauner@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Director/choreographer. Shakespeare, musical theatre, directing, theatre history, dance, and children's theatre.
Larry Zimmerman
Private Lesson Instructor in Low Brass | larry-zimmerman@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Zimmerman is a member of the Grammy award-winning Chestnut Brass Company and principal trombonist in the Duluth-Superior Symphony and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra. He also presents and performs chamber music concerts with Music Saint Croix, a professional ensemble in Stillwater, MN.
