Music

Students who are a part of Simpson University's music department are prepared for careers in music ministry, music education, and music performance. The music department also serves the greater community through performance opportunities and cultural enrichment.

The Music Department is characterized by highly skilled and caring educators, who are passionate about music and about our students’ holistic development.

To apply for a music scholarship, through audition with the Music Department, please complete the Entrance Scholarship Application. During the application process, each applicant should work closely with an admission counselor to apply, prepare for the audition, and set up a time to visit campus.

Music Department Mission

To develop musicians through comprehensive study of the musical enterprise and to prepare students for professions or graduate studies in music ministry, music education, composition or performance.

Simpson University's Music major is designed to provide professional preparation for a number of musically related professions: composition, performance (voice, piano, or another instrument), and worship ministry. You can also receive a Music Liberal Arts Emphasis degree. This major is designed for students who would like to pursue a music degree but are not seeking preparation for the music professions of performance or church music.

Composition

A professional degree designed for students with strong theoretical and compositional skills who wish to become professional composers or theorists and continue their education at the graduate level.

Performance

A professional degree designed for students with strong performance skills who wish to become professional musicians, college and university teachers, or private studio teachers.

Worship Ministries

A professional degree designed for students who wish to assume positions of leadership as musicians in the Church and to continue their ministry preparation at the graduate level.

Music Liberal Arts

A professional degree designed for students who would like to pursue a music degree with a broader liberal arts emphasis and more elective options.

Music Minor

Perfect for someone who loves music and wants to use it in their future, but does not want to focus on it as their major, Simpson offers a comprehensive and versatile Music minor. The minor is one of the largest minors at Simpson, with a total of 31 required credits.  Along with the basic music foundation received in the required courses, you have the option of choosing from a variety of electives and musical focuses.

Here are some of the courses available as part of the Music minor:

  • Jazz Improvisation
  • Computer Music Technology
  • Conducting
  • Congregational Song
  • Philosophy of Music in the Church

Hoffmann U. Pereira, D.M.A.

Director of Choral Activities
Music Department Chair

hpereira@simpsonu.edu
530-226-4952

Profile:

As director of choral activities, Dr. Hoffmann Urquiza Pereira conducts the Simpson Chorale and the Trinity Repertory Singers, in addition to teaching classes.

In recent years, he has participated in professional music workshops at Illinois State University, The Juilliard School, University of Florida, and with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the College Music Society.

Educational Background:

  • D.M.A., Louisiana State University
  • M.M., Louisiana State University
  • Licenciature en Musica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
  • Bacharelado em Musica Sacra, Seminario Teologico Batista do Norte do Brasil, Brazil

Courses Taught:

  • Music Theory
  • Music Theory Lab
  • Music in History and Context
  • Choral Pedagogy and Methods

Links:

Dwayne Corbin, D.M.A.

Associate Professor of Music

dcorbin@simpsonu.edu
530-226-4175

Profile:

Conducting, university teaching, percussion performance, and scholarly projects give Dr. Dwayne Corbin diverse ways to engage the field of music. At Simpson University, Dr. Corbin is the assistant professor of instrumental music, responsible for the Sinfonia Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, in addition to teaching classes.

His composition “Cage for One” won first place in the 2009 Percussive Arts Society composition contest and was published by C.F. Peters Company. Dr. Corbin has conducted wind ensembles and chamber music groups at the University of Cincinnati and led the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. He also directed the Wind Ensemble and taught courses at Wheaton College, and has taught public school band and general music. He directs the choir at Redding First Church of the Nazarene.

Dr. Corbin is also a percussionist and drummer, equally comfortable in classical music and popular styles such as jazz and rock. He is principal percussionist with the North State Symphony and plays jazz drums in various Redding groups.

Originally from Seattle, Dr. Corbin, his wife, Caryn, and their son Andrew came to Simpson in the fall of 2006. Peter joined their family in 2007.

Educational Background:

  • D.M.A., University of Cincinnati
  • M.M., Central Washington University
  • B.M.E., Wheaton College

Courses Taught:

  • Conducting
  • Applied Percussion
  • World Music

Links:

Daniel Pinkston, D.M.A.

Associate Professor of Theory and Composition

dpinkston@simpsonu.edu
530-226-4721

Profile:

Prior to coming to Simpson in 2001, Dr. Dan Pinkston taught music at Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Born to missionary parents, he grew up in the Ivory Coast, returning to the U.S. to attend college and graduate school.

Dan has published many original works and won numerous composition awards, including annual ASCAPPlus awards for composition from 2000-2007. In 2010, his first commissioned symphony ("Symphony No. 1") was performed by the North State Symphony in Chico and Redding, Calif. A longtime fan of the band U2, Dan presented a paper exploring parallels between U2 and 20th century composer Igor Stravinsky at an international U2 conference in 2009. 2012 saw the premier of Pinkston's "Symphony No. 2," a commission by the Shasta Symphony Orchestra.

Dan is also the composer of Simpson's official university hymn, “Lead Us, O Lord.”

Dan and his wife, Lori, have two daughters. Dan is also an avid runner who regularly competes in triathlons.

Educational Background:

  • D.M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • M.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • B.A., Ouachita Baptist University

Courses Taught:

  • Music Theory
  • Composition
  • Technology
  • Worship Leading

Links:

Lois J. Nichols, M.M.

Part-time Instructor of Music

lnichols@simpsonu.edu
530-226-4159

Profile:

Lois Nichols has a passion for music literacy through education and performance. In addition to being a music instructor and giving piano lessons at Simpson University, she also has her own private studio of piano students and does extensive accompanying for solo and ensemble recitals (both instrumental and vocal).

Lois plays with the worship team at Neighborhood Church in Redding, serves as accompanist for the community choir Trinity Repertory Singers, and has played for rehearsals and performances of the Northstar Opera Repertory Theater in Redding. She and her husband, Tim, have three sons, who all graduated from Simpson.

Educational Background:

  • M.M., Kansas State University
  • B.M., Wichita State University

Courses Taught:

  • Piano
  • Children's Music
  • Introduction to Music
  • Handbell Choir

Links:

Cleveland Bonéy

 

Adjunct Professor of Music

cboney@simpsonu.edu

Profile:


Educational Background:


Courses Taught:

  • Jazz Ensemble

Links:

Kendra Weick, M.M

 

Adjunct Professor of Music

kweick@simpsonu.edu

Profile:

Kendra Wieck has a passion to see lives enriched and enhanced through music and music studies. In addition to teaching classes at Simpson, Ms Wieck has a private studio of over 25 Suzuki violin students. She is also a member of the North State Symphony. Before moving to Redding in 2010, Ms. Wieck was the Suzuki Program Coordinator for the Community School of the Arts in Storrs Connecticut and a member of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony. Kendra is also a member of the worship team at Bethel Church and enjoys playing chamber music.


Educational Background:

  • M.M., University of Hartford
  • B.M., University of Denver

Courses Taught:


Links:

  • Artistic synthesis
  • Performance skill

Ensembles

Instrumental Ensembles

The Shasta Symphony Orchestra

The Shasta Symphony Orchestra is a collaboration between Shasta College and Simpson University and is conducted by Dr. Dwayne Corbin, assistant professor of instrumental music at Simpson. It consists of students from both institutions, as well as musicians from within the community. The mission of the Shasta Symphony Orchestra is to help students reach their artistic and educational goals by providing them with a challenging and successful performance experience, and to contribute to the overall enrichment of the arts programs within the Redding community.

Jazz Ensemble

Directed by Cleveland Bonéy, is open to all Simpson students by audition. The Jazz Consort performs on a regular basis throughout the year, and tours across the West Coast.

Wind Ensemble

Directed by Dr. Dwayne Corbin is comprised of Simpson students of any major. The group performs a variety of quality repertoire, from traditional band music, to twenty-first century compositions, to the classic chamber wind music of Mozart and Beethoven.

Percussion Ensemble

Directed by Dr. Dwayne Corbin, is open to all students. PE performs classic percussion literature, world music, and mallet ensembles, as well as combines with other instrumentalists or vocalists to present percussion-oriented twentieth-century masterworks.

Handbell Choir

Directed by Lois Nichols, consists of up to 11 students ringing a three octave set of handbells. Open to Simpson students who have no prior handbell experience.  Performance opportunities include a small ensemble concert, chapel, and local church functions.

Vocal Ensembles

Chorale

Directed by Dr. Hoffmann Urquiza-Pereira, is an auditioned mixed ensemble specialized in advanced vocal and choral techniques and standard choral repertoire. Chorale is the touring vocal group of the university and travels in the U.S. and abroad. Past tours have visited England, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, and West Africa. 

Chorale Samples



Trinity Repertory Singers

Directed by Dr. Hoffmann Urquiza-Pereira, is a community chorus sponsored and hosted by Simpson University. It is open to all community and university members. Repertoire includes a variety of chorale literature, but focuses primarily on the performance of large scale choral works. Trinity will perform in conjunction with the Sinfonia Orchestra and Chorale, and other concerts.

Audition Requirements

Auditions are required for admission into all ensembles. Auditions are held during Orientation Weekend or prior to the beginning of the semester. An alternate day may be scheduled with the ensemble director. Contact the individual ensemble director for audition requirements.