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Meet Our Faculty

Dr. Roger Breland
Vice President of Project Development
Director, Center for Performing Arts
Founder/Director of TRUTH
Gospel Music Hall of Fame

B.M.E., Troy University
Doctor of Humanities, Liberty University

During 31 years as the founder and director of the internationally known contemporary Christian ensemble TRUTH, Roger Breland raised up a generation of successful leaders in Christian music. Avalon, Alicia, Kim Noblitt, Russ Lee, 4Him, Jason Breland, Steven V. Taylor and Anthony Evans are just a few examples of his impact on the Christian music industry that earned Dr. Breland election to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Today, the UMobile Center for Performing Arts is preparing the next generation of Christian leaders in all genres of music, from classical to contemporary. Through his world-wide contacts, Dr. Breland is opening doors for UMobile graduates to honor God with excellence. "Many Sounds, One Song" is the motto of this outstanding program with 21 diverse performing ensembles. “There’s really only one song to sing, and that is the song that will honor God. We want to do that with excellence,” Dr. Breland says.

rogerbreland@aol.com
251.442.2216

Dr. Mihaela Buhaiciuc
Assistant Professor of Music

B.M. Transylvania University, Romania
M.M. State University of New York at Stony Brook
D.M.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook

A summa cum laude graduate of Brasov Music Conservatory at Transylvania University in Romania, Dr. Buhaiciuc holds master's and doctor of musical arts degrees in voice performance from State University of New York at Stony Brook. A full scholarship recipient throughout her academic career, she is a member of the Romanian Fulbright Alumni Association in Bucharest, Romania and a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing in the United States. She made her debut in 2000 with Brasov National Opera House in the world premiere of the Romanian show "A Wolf, a Roe and Three Kids" by Marcel Patriciu and George Marcu. She toured as a soloist and lyrical artist throughout eastern and western Europe and the east coast of the United States, and performed a variety of roles with Stony Brook Opera. She has performed solo recitals and taught master classes in New York schools and has written concert reviews, poems and philosophical essays for Brasov Musical Magazine.

mbuhaici@umobile.edu
251.442.2447

Mr. Randy Davis
Assistant Professor of Music

B.M.E., University of Southern Mississippi
M.M.E., University of Southern Mississippi
E.D.S., Alabama State University

Representative Randy Davis was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in November, 2002. He received his B.M.Ed and M.M.Ed from the University of Southern Mississippi and Ed/Sp from Alabama State University. He has served as teacher/administrator and executive to the superintendent of the Mobile County Public Schools and as Public Relations Coordinator for the Baldwin County Public Schools before retiring in 2004. He has served on the Mobile Arts Council, Boys & Girls Club Board, Bounds YMCA Board, United States Sports Academy Board, and the Board for the Daphne/Spanish Fort Rotary. Representative Davis was also a member of the Mobile Arts Council, Mobile Opera, Mobile Symphony, and Daphne High School PTSA. He is resident conductor for the Baldwin County Pops Band and started the North Mobile Community Symphony in 2006.

rdavis@umobile.edu
251.442.2552

Mr. Bruce Earnest
Associate Professor of Theatre
Chair & Director, Musical Theatre

B.A., Westfield State College
M.M., University of Miami

Tenor Bruce Earnest has appeared in over 50 operatic and musical theatre roles in Europe and the United States, performing with the Munich State Theatre, State Theatre Passau, Opera Roanoke, The Berkshire Opera, Vienna Folks Opera, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Walt Disney World, the Hamburg Musical Orchestra and the Orlando Philharmonic, among many others. His directing or music directing credits include Camelot, The Fantastiks, Big River and Oklahoma, just to name a few. He has conducted master classes and workshops on singing for the stage and musical theatre acting interpretation in the U.S. and throughout Europe, and has over 35 former students working in major productions in the UK, Europe, on Broadway, and in national tours in the U.S. He has served as voice and artistic consultant for Stage Entertainment and European productions of AIDA by Elton John, Mama Mia, and Phantom of the Opera. He was co-founder/managing director of MusicTheatre Bavaria, a professional training program for music theatre and opera located in Oberaudorf, Germany.

bearnest@umobile.edu
251.442.2383

Mrs. Becky Fox
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Piano Studies

B.M., William Carey College
M.M., William Carey College
Doctoral Studies, University of Southern Mississippi

Mrs. Fox is a versatile musician and committed educator. She is the director of keyboard studies at UMobile, where she has taught for more than 24 years. Mrs. Fox has a wide range of performance experience. She has been concerto soloist and duo artist for the Mobile Piano Ensemble and also presents sacred piano concerts and dedicatory recitals. As a church musician, she has served in the areas of minister of music, children’s choir director, pianist and organist. Mrs. Fox believes that the University of Mobile is her place of service. She encourages her students and brings out their best musically, personally and spiritually.

bfox@umobile.edu
251.442.2323

Mr. Kenn Hughes
Director of Instrumental Studies and RamCorps

B.M.E. University of Oklahoma
M.M.W. Wichita State University

Hughes also serves as musical director for Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, a horn-driven band from Nashville, Tenn. which placed third on "The Next Great American Band," a reality show that aired on Fox during the Fall of 2007. He has toured with Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Avalon, Jaci Velasquez, Carman, TRUTH, and Michael English. Additional performances include The New Young Messiah Project with Ralph Carmichael and the group Salvador.

He also has numerous recordings to his credit. Along with Denver & the Mile High Orchestra's nine CDs, Hughes has recorded with Bart Millard of Mercy Me on the Grammy-nominated album "Hymned Again," with Ron Kenoly on the Integrity recording "Sing Out," and with Camp Kirkland on "Gloryland Band 5."

A freelance arranger and orchestrator, Hughes has published works with Word Music and LifeWay. He has worked as a performing artist, arranger, and church staff member, and is actively involved in world missions as ministry director for Global Missions Project.

khughes@umobile.edu
251.442.2321

Dr. Patrick Jacobs
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Vocal Studies

B.M., Loyola University
M.M., University of Cincinnati
D.M.A., State University of New York at Stonybrook

Baritone Patrick Jacobs’ voice has been described as “a major one in the making.” In 2000, he made his European operatic debut with the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy. He has performed operatic roles with opera companies throughout the United States, including the New Orleans Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Mobile Opera, Pensacola Opera, Light Opera Oklahoma, and Bronx Opera. During 2003-04, he was a resident artist with the Pensacola Opera while also performing in Louisiana, Connecticut and New York.

pjacobs@umobile.edu
251.442.2554

  Mr. Christopher Lovely
Instructor in Music

A.A., Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
B.M., William Carey College
M.M., University of Southern Mississippi

Mr. Christopher Lovely has served as a church musician, director of music, director of music ministries, and worship pastor in various churches in southeast Mississippi.

clovely@umobile.edu
251.442.2896

Dr. Alan Miller
Associate Dean, Center for Performing Arts
Associate Professor of Music
Director of the A Cappella Choir and the Voices of Mobile

B.M., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
M.M., Samford University
Ph.D., Florida State University

Dr. Miller’s classical and contemporary music training and practical experience bring an eclectic approach to music education at the Center for Performing Arts at the University of Mobile. He founded and directed vocal groups in churches, high schools, colleges, universities and in the professional field for the past 35 years. The groups with which he has performed and those he founded/directed have presented concerts  throughout the Far East, Europe, the Caribbean and the United States of America including several White House appearances. He received several 2003 awards from the National Religious Broadcasters convention in music, video, and audio production. His heritage in both educational and church atmospheres brings a unique complement to the faculty of the Center for Performing Arts.

amiller@umobile.edu
251.442.2357

Mr. Duane Plash
Assistant Professor of Music

B.M., Florida State University
M.M., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

An outstanding, all-around musician, Mr. Plash has vast experience as a pianist, organist, composer, and director of handbell choirs and ensembles. Over 100 of his handbell arrangements and compositions have been published, as well as choral compositions. Mr. Plash specializes in theory, teaching sophomore and  junior levels at the university and maintaining a studio of applied piano undergraduates.

dplash@umobile.edu
251.442.2285


 

 

Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Steve Bowersox
Adjunct Professor of Worship Leadership

Mr. Jason Breland
Adjunct Instructor of Music

Mrs. Joanie Brittingham
Adjunct Instructor of Voice

Mrs. Melba Brown
Adjunct Professor of Voice

Mr. Stan Chapman
Adjunct Instructor of Electric Bass Guitar

Mr. Sam Chappell
Adjunct Instructor of Worship Leadership

Mr. Pat Crowley
Adjunct Instructor of Percussion

Mrs. Michelle Dykes
Director of Crosswinds

Mr. Wes Dykes
Director of Symphonic Winds

Mrs. Darla Earnest
Adjunct Instructor of Voice & Musical Theatre

Mrs. Carol Evers
Adjunct Instructor of Piano

Mrs. Susan Fontaine Godwin
Adjunct Instructor of Worship Leadership

Mr. Robbie Fleming
Adjunct Instructor of Jazz Guitar

Mr. Keone Fuqua
Adjunct Instructor of Musical Theatre

Mr. Mark Habib
Adjunct Instructor of Guitar

Ms. Monica Henry
Adjunct Instructor of Dance

Dr. Guo-Sheng Huang
Adjunct Instructor of Cello

Dr. Sharon Hudson
Adjunct Instructor of Piano

Mrs. Vicki James
Adjunct Instructor of Piano

Mr. Ryan King
Adjunct Instructor of Worship Leadership

Mrs. Barbara Laurendine
Adjunct Instructor of Piano

Mr. Eric Leday
Adjunct Instructor of Tuba

Mr. Jon Mattox
Adjunct Instructor of Drumline

Mrs. Heather Messick
Adjunct Instructor of Commercial Voice

Mr. Wilbur Moreland
Adjunct Professor of Woodwinds

Mr. Mark Moses
Director of Exit 13

Mrs. Annette Oden
Adjunct Instructor of Church Music

Mrs. Kadisha Onalbayeva
Adjunct Instructor of Piano

Mrs. Patricia Ramirez Hacker
Adjunct Professor of Advanced Conducting

Dr. Susan Ruggiero-Mezzadri
Adjunct Professor of Voice

Mr. Scott Sanchez
Adjunct Instructor of Media

Dr. Rob Seebacher
Adjunct Instructor of French Horn

Mrs. Joyce Sylvester
Adjunct Instructor of Voice

Mr. William Taylor
Adjunct Instructor of Organ

Dr. Wes Tuttle
Worship Arts Development

Mrs. Susan Unger
Adjunct Instructor of French Horn

Mr. David White
Adjunct Instructor of Trap-set Percussion

Mr. Dana Wilson
Adjunct Instructor of Voice

Ms. Enen Yu
Adjunct Instructor of Violin

Mrs. Lori Zachary
Adjunct Instructor of Flute


 
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