Instructors

Present Class Instructors

2024 Grand Rapids Instructors

Johathan Bading, Sacred Heart

We are very pleased to welcome Jonathan Bading to the June teaching classes this year. Jon has served as one of our Scholarship Program instructors this past year. He had two of our students plus some four others, all new beginners, in his classes, and I can say they did wonderfully well with just a few months on continuing instruction. He will be teaching the first classes at his parish church, Sacred Heart, in NW Grand Rapids.

Chan Gyu Jang, Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church

Chan Gyu Jang is the Director of Music at Calvin University and a Resource Development Specialist at Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Chan will be teaching the second classes, at the Seminary Chapel of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, and assisting with the end Recital to be held at Mayflower Congregational Church.

Julia Brown, mayflower congregational church

Dr. Julia Brown is currently the Director of Music and Organist at Mayflower Congregational Church, Grand Rapids. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Dr. Brown studied piano, harpsichord and organ in her native Brazil before receiving her MM and DMA from Northwestern University as a student of Wolfgang Rübsam. She began teaching as a teenager and has continued teaching piano, harpsichord and organ, all ages, and levels, throughout her life, both privately and in masterclass settings. Julia will be teaching the third classes at her home church, Mayflower Congregational, and assisting with the Recital.

2024 Holland Instructors

Rhonda Sider Edgington

Rhonda Sider Edgington is the Organist and Music Director at Hope Church, Holland MI, and an organ Instructor at Calvin University in Grand Rapids MI. She maintains an active performing career in the US and Europe. She is often commended for her innovative programming, colorful use of registrations, and exciting playing. She spent seven years studying, working and performing in Bremen, Germany, originally under a Fulbright scholarship. Edgington has played recitals at venues such as St. Thomas Fifth Avenue in New York City, Arizona State University, and the Cadet Chapel at West Point. Edgington has performed at national and regional organ conventions of the American Guild of Organists and Organ Historical Society. She has taught organ at Concordia University (IL), and Houghton College (NY). Edgington has performed at national and regional organ conventions of the American Guild of Organists and Organ Historical Society. She is an avid collaborative musician, accompanying on organ, piano, and harpsichord, and also plays the carillon.

Aaron Goodyke

Aaron Goodyke is a native of the Zeeland/Holland area. He is a 2016 graduate Summa Cum Laude from Hope College, earning the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Education with an emphasis in organ studies with Huw Lewis. He has performed at several churches and venues throughout West Michigan as a keyboardist, vocalist, and collaborative artist. Aaron currently serves as Sub-Dean of the Holland AGO and is a member of the Grand Rapids AGO, the Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and the American Choral Directors Association. In the spring of 2017 he was recognized by the Network of Michigan Educators and the Michigan Department of Education as a Teacher of Promise. He is in his sixth year as the Middle School Choir Director at Caledonia Community Schools, where he directs choirs for grades 6-8 and assists with the Caledonia Theatre Guild programming (CKT, CMSP, CHSP, & CCP). In addition, he serves as Co-Director of Music at Second Reformed Church where he and his wife Kristin coordinate a rich music program and the Second Recital Series. Recently, he served as MSVMA 6-7-8-9 SSA State Honors Choir Coordinator, Secretary for the Caledonia Education Association, and accompanist for various students in Statewide MSBOA & MSVMA events.

Dr. Elizabeth west

Dr. Elizabeth (Claar) West presently serves at the Music Director and Organist at First Reformed Church in Holland, MI. She also serves as an assistant organist at La Grave Avenue CRC, following 11 years as organist at Trinity Lutheran Church. She has taught organ and theory at Hope College and Cornerstone University, and she is a collaborative pianist at Hope. In addition, she has taught private organ students ages 8 to 94. Dr. West earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Houghton College in New York and her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Michigan, where she also completed a certificate in music theory pedagogy. Her organ teachers have been James Kibbie, the late Robert Glasgow, Huw Lewis, William Haller, Judy Congdon, and Susan Klotzbach. In addition, she studied harpsichord with Edward Parmentier. West directed two highly successful Pipe Organ Encounters at Hope College for the American Guild of Organists, and she served on the national AGO Committee on the New Organist, which supervises all Pipe Organ Encounters. Dr. West spent the 2006-2007 school year in Armenia, where she immersed herself in Armenian culture and researched Armenian organ music. She resides in Holland with her husband and son.

Past Class Instructors

Norma DeWaal Malefyt, Central Reformed Church

Matthew Jakubisin, Cathedral of St Andrew

Dr. Peter T. Kurdziel, Basilica of St Adalbert

Brian Bartusch, Central Reformed Church

Charles Nolen, Cathedral of St. Andrew

Linda Fridsma, Calvin CRC

Private Instructors

Dr. Julia Brown, Mayflower Congregational Church

Chan Gyi Jang, Seymour CRC