Landon Rogan started taking piano lessons when he was seven years old. In the 7th grade, he started playing percussion in the middle school band. In high school, he was part of the drumline, concert band, and jazz band; he also started taking percussion lessons from Russ Maddox. His junior year he was Assistant Drumline Leader; and Drumline Captain his senior year. He was awarded a music scholarship to Birmingham-Southern College. There he studied music theory and percussion performance.

It was during this time that his love for all music fully blossomed and he pursued mastery of all different styles and instruments, including guitar, bass, and voice. He also started playing gigs professionally with jazz combos, rock bands, and church services. After receiving his degree, he began pursuing his career as an aspiring professional musician. Landon was hired as a part-time instructor when the Birmingham School of Music opened and at the beginning of 2009, began working and teaching full-time.

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David Verin

David began his musical studies at Howard University in Washington where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree. He then returned back to Alabama, where he began taking lessons with Dr. Gene Fambrough and soon afterward began his work towards a Masters Degree. In May of 2009 he completed his schooling and he currently holds the position of Band Director and General Music Teacher at Davis Middle School. David’s greatest percussive influences include ?uestLove from The Roots, Todd Sucherman from Styx, and legendary session drummer Steve Smith.

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Jonathan Harris

Jonathan is currently a senior at UAB where he is studying music. His studies are concentrated in Classical Guitar. He also leads two modern worship bands (one which plays weekly in downtown Birmingham and one which plays weekly at his local church). He plays lead and rhythm guitar for both bands. He has also traveled to put on events for youth and college-aged audiences. He has played guitar with the UAB Jazz Combo and the UAB Classical Guitar Ensemble. Jonathan loves to share with others his gift of playing and teaching guitar.

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Zak Sullivan

Zak has been playing guitar for about 11 years now, initially under the tutelage of Dennis Brock. He was mainly inspired to learn due to the songs “Hey Jude,” and “Let It Be.” In college he played in a two-man songwriting band called The Seekers, and he also took courses in Classical Guitar, which helped him read music faster and become familiar with classical techniques. Later he would meet Ryan Beams, and collaborate with him in songwriting.

Zak is also a linguist, and while he recognizes the math in music, he also likes to think of learning musical phrases as akin to learn a foreign language, since he also has years of experience in teaching basic to intermediate German (previously at UA and UAB). He also does German-English translation work.

Zak is interest in playing with other guitar players who have a similar interest in music. Interests include: Irish, folk, blues, reggae, The Beatles, Sufjan Stevens, etc.

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Richard Hsiung

Richard began studying violin privately at the age of 5. He has served as concertmaster for numerous ensembles including the Alabama Youth Symphony, Alabama All-State Festival Orchestra, and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the National Festival Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall and the Interlochen World Youth Symphony. His violin teachers include Ai-Yi Bao (Alabama Symphony Orchestra), Jeffrey Flaniken (Samford University) and Patrick Rafferty (University of Alabama Tuscaloosa). He attended Northwestern University majoring in violin performance and minoring in music technology while studying with Blair Milton (Chicago Symphony).

Richard's piano studies began at the age of 6 under the instruction of Delores Hodgens and Samuel Howard (Julliard School and University of Alabama Birmingham). He has been selected as a winner of numerous solo competitions including the Elbert Lingo Keyboard Artist, Alabama Music Teachers Association State Competition, and the AFMC Festival. He has also served as the primary accompanist for the Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School choirs.

Richard began studying guitar while attending Northwestern University, honing his skills leading the Intervarsity worship team. After graduating from Northwestern, he joined an 80's rock cover band in Birmingham and continues to perform around the city with the band.

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Brian McConnell

Music has always been a big part of Brian’s life. At an early age he decided that music was his passion and to make it his life and career. Brian holds a Bachelor's in Piano Performance and has also done some graduate work in composition. He is currently very active in the local music world, performing in gigging bands and at Valleydale Church, accompanying local musicals, and teaching piano lessons for adults and children. Music education is very important to Brian. He is constantly seeking to improve his own musical skills in all areas and strives to instill in his students the same musical fervor that he has enjoyed throughout his life.

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Jackie Roche

Jackie Roche graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Music. There, she studied under Rachel Mathes. Jackie has been a part of UAB's Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and UAB Opera. She has participated in National and International choral competitions. While at UAB Jackie served as a Music Intern at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. There she taught music classes and led worship services. Jackie has been singing all her life and can’t wait to share what she knows.

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