A native of NE Ohio, Michael Waltenberger serves as Minister of Music/Organist at First Baptist Church (ABC/USA) in Decatur, Il where he directs the choral and handbell choir programs. A graduate of Eastern Nazarene College and Kent State University, Mike taught public school music in Massachusetts and Ohio for several years prior to becoming Minister of Music and School Administrator at First Baptist Church in Alliance, Ohio where he served from 1980 through 1988. At Decatur, Mike founded MUSICAMP, a music and related arts summer program for elementary school children, which recently celebrated their 25th year. He coordinates the church’s two concert series, Music for a Season of JOY and Music for Meditation during Advent and Lent. He has been active in various musical organizations and events in the Decatur community as well as in the Great Rivers Region (ABC/GRR). Currently, he serves as pianist and music librarian for Heart & Soul, a community choir for special need adults. Mike and his wife, PJ enjoy their free time together, tending flowers, attending concerts, going to the movies and hosting dinners with friends.

Dr. John W. Campbell, President-Elect/Treasurer, is Minister of Music at Fifth Avenue Baptist in Huntington, WV. John sang his first solo in church at age 4 (they asked for a volunteer and his hand went up) and began piano lessons the next year. He went on to earn music degrees from Samford University, the University of Illinois, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. For 25 years he directed choirs and taught in colleges and universities in VA, SC, TN, NC, and KY. He served numerous churches along the way as part-time Minister of Music before going full-time in 2013. John is also a published composer and arranger.

Carla is the pianist and substitute organist at First Baptist Church in Columbus, Indiana. She also plays handbells in a touring bell choir as well as in an off the table handbell quartet.

As FABM Webmaster, Carla keeps the website up to date with new information.

Carla has been attending the conference since 2007.

Joyce Crowder is Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Columbus, Indiana and began attending the Conference for church Musicians in 1988. As the director of an Adult Choir, Youth Music, Children’s Musicals and several Handbell Choirs, she finds the conference a necessity to prepare for the many opportunities for music ministry at the church, in the community and beyond. Joyce’s husband, Scott, as well as their 3 grown children have attended the conference and continue to come back to Green Lake as often as possible. Now with several grandchildren of her own and many children and youth in the congregation, most years she has someone sharing in each of the different areas of the conference. This is truly a family conference with music opportunities for everyone.

A collaborative pianist in the Greater Cincinnati region, Jan is Principal Accompanist for the Cincinnati Children’s Choir, in residence at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music where she accompanies the Bel Canto, Con Brio and Cincinnati Girl Choir and conducts CCC’s south satellite choir, located in Northern Kentucky. Jan also serves on staff at Xavier University as Accompanist for the Concert Choir and for student recitals. In demand as a freelance accompanist, Jan performs regularly for many choral festivals, workshops and reading sessions throughout the US. In 2008, Jan was the recipient of the Alderson-Broaddus College Outstanding Young Alumni Award for excellence achieved in the field of music within ten years of graduation. Previously, Jan held positions as Staff Accompanist and Adjunct Lecturer of Music at Northern Kentucky University, Alderson-Broaddus College and Marietta College. She also served as Director of Music and Organist at the First Baptist Church of Parkersburg, WV where she founded and directed the Mid-Ohio Valley Children’s Choir, Chancel choir, handbell choir and worship team and maintained a private studio, teaching voice, piano and organ. Jan received the MM degree in Organ Performance from the Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music and a BA degree in Applied Music (organ performance) and Church Music from Alderson-Broaddus College.

Vanessa lives in Columbus, Indiana and is the Education Director and Production Manager for the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. She teaches private and group strings classes as well as directs the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In addition to being a violinist, she plays handbells in a touring bell choir and in a handbell quartet.

Vanessa has been attending the Conference for Church Musicians since 2005. She looks forward to this conference every year.

As Membership Secretary, Vanessa keeps track of registrations for the conference. She’ll be at the registration table when you check in at this summer’s conference. She’s looking forward to seeing you there!