Dexter Music Academy

 Jerad Atherton

Jerad is a music producer, multi-instrumentalist, music director, worship leader, husband, and soon to be father. He is the Associate Pastor of Worship Arts at Newport Mesa Church. Jerad has been playing music for over 20 years and received his BA degree in 2004 from Vanguard University with a major in Music with an emphasis in guitar performance.

 Lisa DeBlauw

Growing up around the world, Lisa developed a diverse taste in music and cultures. She has studied voice and piano for 8 years and is well qualified with her Bachelor of Musical Arts: vocal emphasis from Biola University.  Lisa is newly married and loving it!

 Megan Grafton-Cardwell

Megan received her Undergraduate degree at Biola University in Viola and Voice Performance. She has been teaching for over 10 years and really enjoys teaching people of all ages and helping them to express themselves through music.  She currently plays in multiple Indi/Rock bands as well as hip hop and folk music.

 David Garvin

David enjoys everything about music. Playing it, teaching it, and listening
to it. He has been a student of music since he was a kid and never
wants the learning process to stop. He is currently a Senior
at Vanguard University studying communication.

 Julia Wood

Julia started playing piano at 3 years old and could read music before words. After years of piano lessons she joined the school orchestra, switching from violin to cello after 2 years. She keeps busy doing freelance work with contemporary artists, recording sessions, events, and playing for various churches throughout Orange County and LA. She is part of Orange County's premier choir Pacific Chorale under John Alexander, Artistic Director, while pursuing a degree in Choral Directing. She studied vocal jazz under Kristin Korb and Jamie Shew, and went to Berklee College of Music under scholarship for vocal jazz.

 Aaron Ellis

Aaron and his wife, Jackie, dwell in Huntington Beach California and together they have a one-year-old son named Boaz.  With a Bachelor’s degree in music from Vanguard University of Southern California, When not teaching music, Aaron spends his time writing songs and leading worship at a local church.

 Nic Lauten

Nic was instilled with a deep love for music from a young age, taking piano lessons from his mom at age 5.  He started playing drums about 10 years ago.  A graduate of Vanguard University with a degree in Communications, Nic was heavily involved with worship bands throughout his college years, usually playing with fellow Dexter instructor Jamey Cassell.  NIc thinks music is one of the best forms of expression, and just began learning guitar to expand his creative opportunities.  

 Katie Kuroshi

Inspired to play the piano when she was very young, Katie showed exuberant promise to play and to create.  She started taking lessons at the age of five and began experimenting with songwriting as soon as she could carry a tune.  She began composing in Junior High.  At that time she got involved in a talent competition led by the Assemblies of God called Fine Arts.  For the next five consecutive years of competing, Katie advanced to perform not only piano, but also vocal solo and songwriting at the National level.  She took vocal lessons for two years and was involved in several choirs at the same time as her competing years.  Now she is currently a Music Composition Major with a very unique writing style and she hopes to attend Grad school in the next few years.  

 Steve Wilmot

Having received his BA in Music; Percussion Performance from Vanguard University, Steve plays and teaches from classical to rock and roll. He loves teaching students of all ages and skill levels. One rather interesting note: he shares Paul McCartney's eyes.

 Jamey Cassell

Jamey is a grad student at Fuller Theological Seminary and a newlywed husband. He has been playing drums for about 14 years, guitar and bass for 9 years, and piano for 6 years. He is involved with the worship ministry at Rock Harbor church, and is always on the lookout for great new music. 

 Katie Jordan

Katie's first experience with the flute was when she was eleven years old. At the time, she knew only what it was, what it was meant for, but she had no idea the impact it would have on her life. Katie has spent the last seven and a half years learning not only how to play the flute, but how to create works of art through it. Similarly, she has studied the piccolo for three years. Now a Music Minor at Vanguard University, Katie hopes to pass on all that she has learned to any and all who are interested.

 Gabriella Montoya

Gabriella is at Vanguard University majoring in music performance with an emphasis in voice. She's played piano and guitar for years and performing with her voice since elementary school. Most of her life has been showered in music- from leading music in churches back home in New Mexico, to playing in the band she fronts.

 Aubrey Bailey

Aubrey has been playing piano since the age of ten, and began teaching at fifteen! Since that time she has developed a passion for teaching music, and has continued to learn and develop. She teaches beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.

 Dan Curran

Dan has always credited music for his most passionate creative inspiration in life. Knowing that it would always be more than just a hobby, he received a degree from CSU Monterey Bay in Film and Music Production. He has written, recorded, performed, and taught music ever since.  Teaching music has become most rewarding towards his musical purpose, as it has proven to be a most effective way to make a lasting difference in other's lives.

 Robert Carter

Robert has been involved with various aspects of music since a very young age, playing piano, guitar, saxophone, drums, and bass. He is a Junior a Vanguard University where he plans to receive his degree in Youth Ministry. Loves furthering their passion for music in kids and adults alike.

 Andrea Newcomb

Andrea graduated from Carson-Newman College in TN with a Bachelor of Music in voice. She currently sings and plays the piano on several worship teams at her church.She has been teaching music for 3 years.  She enjoys singing jazz as well as going to concerts to see what other artists are doing.

 Ben Polanco

"Being a teacher is one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done in my musical experience." After graduating high school, Ben took a semester of general percussion at CalArts. Now he is a Business Major at Vanguard University and plays drums for their chapels. he also plays regularly at three other churches and occasionally at local coffee shops in his Jazz trio.