Ann Ahrens earned a Master of Arts in Music from Webster University in 2001, and a PhD in Christian Worship from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. Ann has taught music and worship arts at Urshan College in Wentzville, MO for 25 years where she currently serves as Professor of Music and Worship Studies. In addition to her service at the college level, Ann has taught private and group piano at The Community Music School of Webster University (2002-2006) and Missouri Baptist University (2006-2008). Ann has studied piano with Daniel Schene, Cathy Benton, and Ruth Price. In addition to teaching piano, theory, and history, Ann’s areas of interest include the function of music in the corporate church worship service.

​Lydia grew up as a Missionary Kid in Papua New Guinea. She began playing piano at the age of 8 and clarinet when she was 10 as part of a band program at a mission based international school. She continued playing and singing in an active music program there until she finished high school and taught piano her last two years of high school before moving back to the United States to attend college. She graduated from Taylor University in Indiana with a B.M. in Music Performance in Clarinet, studying under Dr. Christopher Bade, and a piano minor under the direction of Kathy Grile. In 2008 she was awarded the Presser Scholarship in recognition of music and academic excellence. Lydia has been teaching piano and clarinet privately in the St. Louis area for over 10 years. She enjoys playing with community bands and ensembles in church and around St. Louis. She has a great love and interest in music from around the world and enjoys incorporating that diversity wherever possible.

Nancy (Schaaf) Bortosky received her formal education from Webster University, with a BM Ed. in Music Education and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. She has studied with Gail Delente of Washington D.C. and Jules Gentil from the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris; and has taken workshops with accompanists Nancy Revzen and John Wustman from U. of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She has worked as a freelance accompanist for 25 years in the St. Louis and Chicago metropolitan areas for many fine soloists, having also professionally worked with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Chamber Chorus, Windfire- flute and percussion with John and Paula Kasica, and the St. Louis Conservatory and Webster University as staff accompanist. Ms. Schaaf’s work with children has included choir direction and music teaching at a school for gifted children in Chicago and she has taught piano privately for 20 years, developing students to college level. As part of her function as Music Director of New Covenant Church, she led choirs and orchestras, writing and arranging music for various settings, including several musicals. Since 1992 she has worked as Director of DaySpring School of the Arts, having been a founder of the school. She continues to perform and teach piano & musical theater, having been on the piano faculty of the Masterworks Festival of the Performing Arts in Houghton, NY in 2000. In her involvement in the piano teaching community she has been Vice president of programming for SLAMTA for 4 years and is state treasurer of MMTA. She has been a founding member of the Maryland Hgts. Arts Commission, and has served as chairperson for 2 years. She is currently retired from DaySpring but may come back one day again to provide music lessons!

​Doris Lam was born in Hong Kong and began playing the piano at age of 6. She has recevied her BA (Hons) in music with emphasis in music theory and analysis in 1999, from the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). She has earned certifications of Grade 8 Piano and Music theory from Royal School of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity Guildhall (ATCL). After she graduated, she kept her piano study with Mr. Khong Wing-Yin. Her passion of music motivated her to get involved in different music activities. While she was still in Hong Kong, she earned first runner-up in high school music competition. She has been a piano accompanist in churches for their choir’s. She was a choir member of HKBU, and earned awards from international choir competitions in Europe. She conducted a children’s choir and church choir for a couple years after she graduated.

Journee Carter received her Masters of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory and her Bachelors of Music from Webster University both specializing in vocal performance, specifically opera. Since completing her Master’s program she has been actively participating in St. Louis based productions both on and off stage.