Grace Baptist Music Academy
Brent Odom
Minister of Music
Jenny Dobberstein
Music Academy Director / Piano Instructor
jennydobberstein@gbce.net
A native of Augusta, Georgia, Jenny graduated from Augusta State University (now Augusta University) with a Bachelor of Music Performance with a concentration in Piano Performance. During her time at ASU, she was the recipient of many scholarships and awards, including the Mauldin Music Scholarship, the Mulherin Music Scholarship, and the Augusta Music Teacher's Association Scholarship. She studied piano with Dr. Martin David Jones.
Jenny moved to Athens to further study piano, and completed her Master of Music Performance with a Piano Pedagogy Concentration. While attending UGA, she was the recipient of the Athon-Hughes-Cook Piano Pedagogy Award. She studied piano with Dr. Martha Thomas and piano pedagogy with Dr. Peter Jutras.
Jenny has twenty years of teaching experience and has held several accompanying, teaching, and directing positions. She has also been a presenter for the Georgia Music Teacher's Association Conference. Jenny enjoys using her musical training to help lead others in worship. From directing choirs of all ages to playing with modern bands, Jenny has experience in a wide range of styles. She loves to help students develop their musical talents and enjoy God's gift of music!
Jon Dobberstein
Drum / Guitar / Bass Instructor
Jon began playing drums around the age of ten and started touring full-time in his early twenties. He studied drums, percussion, and media at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas and holds a Certificate of Church Music from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Both Jon and his wife Jenny travel and record with Christian artist Matt Papa and also play for area churches, weddings, and other special events. Jon's desire is to challenge students to be diligent in their musical studies and good stewards of their instruments.
Davis Branch
Bass / Guitar / Songwriting Instructor
Davis is an incredibly talented musician with lots of experience playing, producing, recording, and writing music.
Mark Haddon
Guitar Instructor
Mark is a long-time resident of the Augusta area, making his home in Martinez. He is an accomplished musician on guitar, bass, 5-string banjo, mandolin, and voice. Mark enjoys all types of music and has played professionally with many different bands and ensembles for over thirty years. Mark is in his fifteenth year as a worship leader for contemporary services at his church in Evans.
Kristen Kasarjian
Voice Instructor
kristenkasarjian@gbce.net
Kristen received her Bachelor's of Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she majored in classical vocal performance. She enjoyed a varied career performing in operas, concerts, and recitals in New York City, where she lived for twelve years, as well as in Italy, Austria, and Hungary. Kristen and her husband, George, were founding members of Opera Collective in NYC, a group with a mission to make opera accessible through free public performance and outreach programs, as well as being a support network for up and coming opera singers in the city. Opera Collective became the subject of two documentaries and has been featured in the NY Times and on CNN.
Anthony McCullough
Violin Instructor
Anthony's love of music began at a very early age with learning the violin. He grew up playing with the Suzuki Strings of Augusta. In middle school, he began learning to play and became proficient on many percussion instruments. During his time at Evans High School, he continued playing percussion in the marching band and was a member of the District Honor Band and District Honor Jazz Band.
Anthony recently graduated from Augusta University. Throughout his time as a student at AU, he participated in the Augusta University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Pep Band. He was the associate concertmaster for the orchestra. He has also served as the violin instructor for Heritage Academy in downtown Augusta. Anthony is an orchestra teacher for the Richmond County Board of Education. He also teaches private violin lessons here at Grace Baptist Music Academy.
As a music teacher, Anthony's mission is to help teach young people that music can be more than just a hobby - it can become part of who you and become a way of life.
Krista McKinnon
Piano Instructor
Krista is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Taylor University in Indiana in 2002. Krista performed in multiple ensembles at Taylor, including the Symphonic Band, Chamber Orchestra, Chorale, and Flute Choir. She also performed with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Faculty Band, the Indiana Music Educators Association Honor Band, and the Kokomo Park Band.
Krista received the STAR Music Teacher Award while studying piano with Mrs. Kathy Grile at Taylor. She also studied flute with Mrs. Trudy Whitford.
Krista taught K-8 Instrumental and General Music in Indiana and Missouri. She currently teaches piano lessons at several studios in Augusta. She is involved in kids worship and coordinates the K-6th classes at her local church. Krista also has an interest in missions and discipleship and received her Master of Arts from Columbia International University Seminary in 2012.