Leadership Academy of the Arts

Overview

The Leadership Academy of the Arts (LAA) exists to foster an environment that equips singers, musicians, dancers, and artists in the spiritual and practical application of their service to the Church and their community through worship and artistic development.

Mission: We aim to create artistic resources that are rich in theology, expression, and mission to educate and challenge believers to a life more fully devoted to Jesus.

Vision: The WBC LAA will equip singers, musicians, dancers, and artists with practical knowledge and understanding of their instrument and role as part of worship leadership in their church. Classes will include, but will not be limited to, the study of worship theology, music theory, and practical application of various techniques.

“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

1 Peter 4:10

Contact Us

LeadArts@WoodburnBaptist.org | (270) 529-5221

Lessons

In addition to our instrument classes, we offer one-on-one and small group or private instruction for musicians of all ages and skill levels. Lessons are aimed at further developing each individual student’s musicianship, technique, and passion for their art. In the private lesson setting, students will have the opportunity to work with a professional musician at their own pace to equip them for their musical endeavors.

Registration: $40.00 per year

30 minutes: $20.00 per lesson

60 minutes: $35.00 per lesson

Current lesson offerings:

Composition/Songwriting
Flute
Guitar: Acoustic, Bass, Electric
Music Theory
Percussion: Drums
Piano
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Voice

Future Curriculum:

Dance: Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop
Media Arts
Visual Arts

Faculty & Staff

Casey Allmon-Powell: Strings, woodwinds, guitar, flute

Casey Powell is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelors degree in Music Education K-12 and a Masters degree in School Counseling. She attended WKU for her undergrad on a full music scholarship partly due to her participation in Governors School for the Arts on flute. She has taught General Music and guitar at Barren County Middle School for 10 years and also during that time started the Strings program for the Barren County schools. The strings program has grown from 12 middle school students to over 200 students grades 5-12. She is currently serving the KMEA as Third District Orchestra Chair and is Vice President with the Glasgow Musicale. Outside of serving the music community, she is a wife and mother of two beautiful children, Jayden and Madisyn. She is super excited to be the Artistic Director for our Academy.

Liz Ward: Double bass, piano, guitar

Liz is a recent graduate from Western Kentucky University where she received a BA in music. While at WKU she studied her primary instrument, double bass. Liz also studied classical/bass guitar as a secondary instrument her last two years of undergrad in an effort to excel as a bassist. Liz’s first instrument was piano which she studied privately for 11 years prior to 2006. Liz has been playing double bass since 2003 and guitar since 2013. She’s excited to help others discover the joy of playing!

David Tuck: Guitar

David Tuck has been playing guitar for more than 40 years and is excited to be a part of the faculty at the Leadership Academy for the Arts at Woodburn Baptist Church. A graduate of Murray State University where he was a member of the MSU Jazz Band and numerous campus music productions, David brings experience in many styles of music on both acoustic and electric guitars, including rock, country and blues as well as bluegrass and jazz. He has played professionally for more than 30 years in venues ranging from small-town festivals to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. David is currently a member of the praise band at Broadway United Methodist Church in Bowling Green.

Douglas Hurt: Drums, percussion, voice

Douglas Hurt is originally from Glasgow, KY, and currently lives in bowling green. He is currently a drummer for the Woodburn Baptist Church worship team and teaches percussion at Hopkins County Central High School in Madisonville, KY. Doug has also taught voice to various country and rock artists from KY, TN, OK, and TX. Doug has sang for various bands based in Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati. Doug currently sings for the Alt-Country act The Woodburn Brothers. Doug is also no stranger to the road, spending the majority of his life touring with bands all over the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, South America, and parts of Asia. Doug brings a diverse teaching style to the group that is in depth and fun. Doug currently studies Organizational Communication at Murray State University and Sports Management.

Morgan Thomas: Violin, viola, cello, piano

Morgan Thomas is student at Western Kentucky University and began playing the piano at the age of 5, as well as cello about 5 years ago. He began studying privately with Sarah Berry of WKU in the fall of 2011. As of fall of 2012, he is a full-time member of the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra, giving professional performances to the surrounding patrons of the South Central Kentucky Area. He has been a member of the Western Kentucky University Cello Choir, a 3-year attendee of the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference (All-State) playing Principal Cello in the Symphony Orchestra, attended Stephen Foster Collins Music Camp for 2 years, attendee of the Cincinnati Young Artists Chamber Workshop at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and is an alumni of the Brevard Music Center. He is also an active member of the American String Teachers Association, Suzuki Association, and an Alumni of the Kentucky Governors School for the Arts. Additionally, he traveled to China in May of 2013 with the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra to give several performances as part of the Orchestra’s first International Tour.

Administrative Staff

Casey Allmon-Powell: Head of School

Catherine Ellis: Administrator

Catherine is a 2016 graduate of the University of Kentucky where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned her BA in Psychology and Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures (emphasis in French and Francophone Studies). She was involved in the UK Women’s Choir for a period in her undergraduate career as well as high school choir and music theory. She is also involved at Woodburn Baptist Church in the worship, student, and children’s ministries–leading worship in sanctuary and student services as well as leading VBS music. The Lord has gifted her in administrative-natured thinking, and she is expectant and excited to see what He will do with LAA.

Rod Ellis: Woodburn Baptist Church Worship Pastor

Few things bring me greater joy than being able to see the people of God connect with their Savior and one another in worship. And I’ve never seen a place do that like we do at WBC. I dream of a time when we are training up Spirit-led, filled, empowered worship leaders by the droves. I can’t imagine a better place to do that than here. On a more personal note, I’ve been married to one of my heroes, Jackie, since 1987. We have two stunning daughters, Catherine (Go C-A-T-S!) and Emily (Go Spartans!) and a dog–Cooper, the son I’ll never have.