Our instructors are chosen for their musical and teaching skill as well as their Christian character. We have professional musicians, teachers, performers and dedicated church musicians in our staff of instructors.
Dr. Catherine Burge
Piano, Clarinet
Catherine Burge holds the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Piano and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.
She plays organ, piano and keyboards and acts as choir director and clarinetist for St John United Christ of Christ-Mascoutah and maintains a private music teaching studio and performance business with precollege and adult students at her home in Mascoutah, IL. She also serves as certified adjudicator for the Gateway Arch East chapter of MTNA and as clarinet section leader for Belleville Philharmonic and Greenville Municipal bands. When time permits, she sings alto with St Louis Symphony Chorus and performs as soloist or duo piano on piano recitals for Piano Society of St Louis.
In the past, Dr. Burge served on the faculty of Greenville College. There she taught piano and clarinet to music majors so they would acquire professional performance skills, as well as class piano, keyboards, accompanying and also served as performer and accompanist for the faculty, band, orchestra and student ensembles. One of her Greenville college piano students performed at the Yamaha Young Artist Institute in New York City. After the Greenville position was dissolved, Dr. Burge was employed as music faculty for Briercrest College and Seminary in Caronport, Saskatchewan, CA. She returned to the USA and found positions as piano/clarinet/class instructor for STLCC -Forest Park and SWIC Belleville and Red Bud campus. She has performed with the St Louis Wind Symphony, the St Louis Symphony Chorus, STL Bach Society and masterworks chorales Past students have received scholarships from the Music Teachers National Acheivement Awards and to Central Florida University, University of Colorado and Coe Bible College as well as professional appointments in the music industry.
Bob Eldridge
Trombone
Nancy Peterson
Organ, Piano
Nancy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Master’s degree in organ performance from Washington State University, and Bachelor’s degrees in piano and organ performance from Washington State University.
She has won several national organ playing competitions and keeps an active schedule as an organ performer. Recent performances include an appearance on the “King of Instruments” podcast and recitals or hymn festivals at numerous St. Louis area churches.
Nancy currently directs two choirs for the St. Clair County Christian Home Educators, and is the director of music and organist at Zion Lutheran Church. She works to integrate the musical resources of the academy into the worship life of the congregation.
Sylvia Phillips
Violin, Viola, Piano, Guitar
Sylvia Phillips started playing violin and piano at the age of five. She holds degrees from Thomas Edison University and University of Maine, and is currently working towards an equivalency in music therapy. Sylvia plays 11 instruments, though only four of those are solid enough to teach. 🙂 She has been teaching lessons since 2015 and enjoys sharing her love of music with students of all ages.
Andrew Renth
Trumpet
Andrew Renth was a trumpet performance major at Illinois State University, and later played under the direction of Dr. John Korak, Professor of Trumpet at SIUE. Mr. Renth graduated from SIUE with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and currently works as a Procurement Analyst with the Department of Defense at Scott AFB.
Mr. Renth remains active with music and is currently the Coordinator of Music, Director of the St. John Band, Director of the St. John Brass, and Director of the St. John Woodwinds at St. John United Church of Christ in Mascoutah. He is currently a member of the Troy Community Band, the Belleville Philharmonic Intergenerational Orchestra, and the St. Clair County Christian Home Educators (SCCCHE) Orchestra. In addition, he sounds ‘Taps’ every year during Memorial Day and is the “bugler on call” for the annual Mascoutah Historical Society Cemetery Walk. He has also played for weddings and funerals.Mr. Renth is experienced with the Bb trumpet, C trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, bugle, and piccolo trumpet.
Cary Robinson
Voice, Piano, Oboe
Cary holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in Vocal Music from Southeast Missouri State University. She has been a featured soprano soloist in various choral works, including Handel’s Messiah, Rutter’s Requiem, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. Cary was a winner of the St. Louis District Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1994. She taught general music and chorus at the elementary, middle school and junior high levels in Missouri, Georgia and Japan. Cary served as church choir director, participated in various small ensembles and choirs, and performed as soloist in military ceremonies and events worldwide. In the Metro-East area, Cary performed as Principal Soprano in the Masterworks Chorale, and was an instructor in MWC Summer Music Camps. She played oboe in the SEMO Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the St. Clair County Christian Home Educators Orchestra and the Sanctus Winds Ensemble. Cary is currently an active member of Zion’s music ministry.
ZMA Guild
Dr. Nancy Peterson, Director
DMA in organ performance, UN-L
Organist/Director of Music, Zion Lutheran
Mr. Josh Peterson, Administrator
MM Vocal Performance, UN-L
Choir director, Zion Lutheran
Mrs. Cary Robinson, Registrar
BME Vocal Music Ed., SE MO State
