Music: Worship Arts

Paul Thorlakson, DMA

Professor, Director of Piano Studies, Director of LBC Orchestra, Chair of Music, Worship & Performing Arts Department

“I think of faithful music making in much the same way as Eric Liddell felt about his athletic pursuits: ‘I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, When I run I feel God’s pleasure.’ When I perform music to the Glory of God, I sense in His pleasure in the pursuit of artistic excellence.” — Dr. Thorlakson

Paul Thorlakson, DMA

Professor, Director of Piano Studies, Director of LBC Orchestra, Chair of Music, Worship & Performing Arts Department

pthorlakson@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 5514

Dr. Thorlakson received his early music education and Associate Degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He proceeded to graduate with a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto, a Master of Church Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY (where he received several distinctions including the Certificate in Performance and a Pedagogy award), and post-graduate studies at both Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Thorlakson has enjoyed a varied piano performance career as a recitalist, orchestra soloist, chamber musician and accompanist through North America in venues from conference centers to concert halls. He has continually served a number of churches in full and part time music ministry positions. Dr. Thorlakson is also a Senior Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and an actively sought adjudicator for festivals and competitions across the country. His academic career has taken him from Simpson University in Redding, CA, to Redeemer University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and finally to Lancaster Bible College. At each academic institution, in addition to his teaching load as a piano, theory and music ministry professor, he has served as the department chair and conductor of the college symphony orchestra.

Education

DMA in Piano, Theory and Conducting – The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
MCM – The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, KY
BMus in Piano Performance – The University of Toronto, Canada

Verse

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16

Robert Bigley, DMA

Professor, Director of Choral Studies and Chorale & Chamber Singers, Director of Arts and Culture Series

“God has entrusted each of us with talents (Mt. 25:14–30). Your job is to invest those talents in such a way that they develop into skill, which God will ultimately use for His glory (Ps. 33:3). My job as a professor is to help you do that (1 Chr. 15:22).” — Dr. Bigley

Robert Bigley, DMA

Professor, Director of Choral Studies and Chorale & Chamber Singers, Director of Arts and Culture Series

rbigley@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 5346

Dr. Robert Bigley has been on the faculty of Lancaster Bible College since 2007 and currently serves as the Director of Choral Studies and Director of the Arts and Culture series for both the Lancaster campus as well as at The Trust Performing Arts Center in downtown Lancaster. He has acted on screen and on stage in productions across the country. Dr. Bigley's most recent appearances were with the historic Fulton Theatre, Prima Theatre and Servant Stage Company in Lancaster, PA. Dr. Bigley's ensembles frequently collaborate with nationally acclaimed musical groups. A short list includes the modern Irish hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty, Dove Award-winning artist Michael Card, Grammy Award winners Ranky Tanky, international recording artist Declain O'Rourke, the Grammy-nominated ensemble New York Polyphony, and even an appearance on the Christmas album of the Grammy-nominated metalcore band August Burns Red. Local collaborators include both Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and Opera Lancaster. Dr. Bigley has taught middle school, high school, community college and four-year college in both private and public institutions and was twice listed in “Who's Who Among America's Teachers.” Dr. Bigley has conducted a variety of ensembles throughout the years, including the Greater Miami Youth Symphony (FL), Opera Lancaster (PA) and the Cascade Symphony (WA) and has led LBC Chorale concert tours around the world in countries including Ireland, China and Spain. Dr. Bigley holds degrees from the University of Washington, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Miami. He lives in Lancaster City with his wife, Kendra, who is a professional pianist and music director. They have three amazing children and two awesome children-in-law.

Education

DMA in Choral Conducting – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
MMus in Conducting-Choral and Orchestral – The Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
BMus in Music Media and Industry – The University of Miami, Miami, FL

Verse

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” – Psalm 37:3

Timothy Sidebothom, PhD

Professor, Director of Music: Elective Studies

“While Desmond Tutu is credited with saying: ‘If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.’ God’s Word clearly taught us first that our role as Christ-followers and musicians is not neutral in the present, the past or the future, but we first need to know where we’ve been (through studying history) so we best know where we’re going!” – Dr. Sidebothom

Timothy Sidebothom, PhD

Professor, Director of Music: Elective Studies

tsidebothom@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 5333

Dr. Sidebothom originally hails from the Philadelphia area. “Doc” has taught at LBC since 1991 and particularly relishes teaching the Music History sequence because there is always something new to learn. From 1983-2008, he was delighted to serve several churches as organist, choir director and worship leader in New York and Pennsylvania, concluding his tenure at the First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Houghton College, his Master of Music degree in Church Music is from Westminster Choir College and a Doctor of Philosophy in Liturgical Studies from Drew University. Tim and his wife, Rachel, reside just off campus where they have a great time entertaining colleagues and students.

Education

PhD in Liturgical Studies – Drew University, Madison, NJ
MM in Church Music/Organ – Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
BM in Church Music/Organ – Houghton College, Houghton, NY

Verse

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away: behold, the new is come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Rachel Sidebothom, MEd

Assistant Professor, Director of Music Education Studies, Oboe Instructor, Director of Chamber Ensembles, Associate Chair of MWPA

“I believe music is an eternal gift given to us by God to glorify Him and encourage and edify one another.  What greater profession can one have than training students of all ages to know, understand, develop, and use this gift!” — Mrs. Sidebothom

Rachel Sidebothom, MEd

Assistant Professor, Director of Music Education Studies, Oboe Instructor, Director of Chamber Ensembles, Associate Chair of MWPA

rsidebothom@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 5334

Professor Rachel Sidebothom is associate chair of the Music, Worship & Performing Arts department and Assistant Professor of Music Education. In addition to teaching music education courses, she also teaches music theory and coursework for the Education Department. As a professional oboist, Professor Sidebothom performs in the Central PA area as a soloist and with chamber ensembles and orchestras. Prior to teaching at LBC, she served as the instrumental music director and Fine Arts Department Chair at Lancaster Christian School and Lancaster County Christian School from 2002-11 and director of handbell choirs at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA, from 2010-14. Professor Sidebothom also maintains a private teaching studio. She completed her master’s degree in music education from Penn State University in 2012 and graduated from Lancaster Bible College in 2002 with a degree in Bible and certification in Music Education. She holds PA Level II certification in Music Education.

Education

MME – Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
BS in Bible – Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA

Verse

“Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 115:1

Bruce Gerlach, DMA

Part-time Faculty

“In my joy, I’ve joined the dance of Union with the Three in One” – from the hymn “Union With the Three in One”– Dr. Gerlach

Bruce Gerlach, DMA

Part-time Faculty

BGerlach@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 5586

Dr. Bruce Gerlach was born and raised in Lancaster County. His musical performance career began in high school when he was chosen for county, district and regional honors choirs every year, as well as All-State Choir his senior year. He graduated from a small Christian liberal arts college, The King’s College, in 1978, was married the same year and began his career as a church musician, organist and choirmaster. He served as Director of Music Ministries at Manor Church (Lancaster) from 1981-1988. During that time, he earned his MM in Music Composition from West Chester University. After completing his DMA at Southern Seminary, (Louisville, KY, 1992) in conducting, organ and theory, he began his teaching career at College of the Ozarks near Branson, MO. He taught there from 1992-2016, when he took an early retirement and moved back home to PA. In 2017, he started teaching at LBC as an adjunct before becoming a part-time faculty member. Dr. Gerlach and his wife have two grown children and two grandchildren. They live in a stately old stone farmhouse near his relatives.

Education

DMA in Conducting, Theory and Organ – The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
MMus in Composition – West Chester University, West Chester, PA
BS in Music Education – The Kings College, New York City, NY

Verse

Colossians 3:16-17

Jeffrey Martin, MM

Assistant Professor, Director of Vocal Studies, Director of Chapel Guild

“God made each of us uniquely. Training our voices is equally unique.” – Dr. Martin

Jeffrey Martin, MM

Assistant Professor, Director of Vocal Studies, Director of Chapel Guild

JAMartin@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 5431

Baritone Jeffrey Martin, a native of Maryland, is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Minnesota. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory, Professor Martin’s Peabody career took flight as The Man with the Cornet Case/Puppet-master from Argento’s Postcard from Morocco, of which The Baltimore Sun said: “Jeffrey Martin brings solid tone and exemplary diction…” During his tenure in Baltimore, Professor Martin performed Leporello (Don Giovanni) in Peabody’s collaboration with Lyric Opera Baltimore on the Lyric Opera stage. Recent concert performances include Mozart’s “Great” Mass in C Minor, Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin and other guest soloist engagements with groups around the country. Internationally, Jeffrey was found performing the role of Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor) with La Musica Lirica Festival in Novafeltria, Italy. Performances with the University of Minnesota include Escamillo in the Peter Brooks adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen, the title role in Le nozze di Figaro and the role of Rev. Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. Most recently, he sang the role of Jesus in a staged version of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the University of Minnesota in Collaboration with the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Detmold, Germany.

Education

DMA candidate in Vocal Performance degree program – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
MM in Vocal Performance – The Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, MD
BMus in Voice Education – Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV

Verse

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

Kendra Bigley, BMus

Adjunct Faculty

“One is not a pianist because they play the piano; rather, one plays the piano because they are a pianist.”

Kendra Bigley, BMus

Adjunct Faculty

kbigley@lbc.edu

717.569.7071 ext: 8218

Kendra Bigley is a versatile collaborative artist and respected pedagogue. She earned the Bachelor of Music (cum laude) in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Barry Snyder, winner of three prizes in the 1966 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; Fernando Laires, co-founder of the American Liszt Society; and Dr. Jean Barr, the first keyboard artist in the United States to be awarded a doctoral degree in accompanying. Mrs. Bigley has built a career as a chamber musician and accompanist at the Trust Performing Arts Center, collaborating with such artists as Amy Owens, Doris Hall-Gulati, Christopher Dylan Herbert, Samantha Hankey, Jennifer Aylmer, Thomas Meglioranza and Christopher Shih. She has also enjoyed working as a music director, conductor, vocal coach and accompanist at theater companies and academic institutions including The Fulton Theater, Sight & Sound Theatres, Servant Stage Company, Prima Theatre, Opera Lancaster, Penn Square Music Festival, J.P. McCaskey High School, Florida International University and Lancaster Bible College. In 2018, she won the Regional Broadway Music Award for Best Music Director for “Titanic: The Musical,” a co-production with Servant Stage Company and Lancaster Bible College. Mrs. Bigley maintains an active private studio and is a member of MTNA, PMTA and LMTA, for which she serves as Immediate Past President.

Education

BMus – Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY

Verse

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” – Colossians 3:23