complete intro section - Central States Synod

Special Guests & PresentersKaw Prairie Praise Band - Casual on the outside, serious on the insideLike the fertile, wind-swept land we live on, Kaw Prairie is an inspiration-filled, passionate,hands-on community of Jesus-followers. You'll find powerful contemporary worship music,sometimes with really ancient echoes, with life-impacting, Bible-built messages, great children'sand youth ministries, and small groups — many of which have folks a lot like you!We're a Christ-first community church grounded in biblical Christian theology in the mainlineProtestant tradition, enlivened by evangelical passion and Kingdom-heartedness, andblessed by an apostolic Christian spirit of generosity and grace. More simply though, we'rejust regular folks who are casual on the outside, serious on the inside — and changing lives with Jesus' love.German Portillo has been the worship director at Kaw Prairie since August of 2008. During his time there the music team hasgrown and expanded to include many more musicians and to put to use the new worship space Kaw Prairie moved into in theSpring of 2009. German is an ordained pastor of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, and has been serving in vocationalministry for 13 years as a youth pastor and now a worship director. He received a BA in Church Ministries and theologicalstudies from Warner University in 2000. He lives with his wife Summer, and two daughters, Reese and Lucy, in Shawnee,enjoying all the fun activities of a young family.Kansas City BrassworksPhilip Clark is currently the Associate Principal Trumpet of the Kansas CitySymphony. Mr. Clark has performed with the, Atlanta Symphony, Galliard BrassEnsemble, Utah Festival Opera, and the Crested Butte Music Festival Orchestra.He also appears with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra where he hasbeen featured as a soloist. Mr. Clark’s teachers include Albert Ligotti of the NewYork Philharmonic and Armando Ghitalla of the Boston Symphony.Trumpeter Stan Smith is a founding member of Kansas City BrassWorks. He iscurrently the principal cornet of the award winning band “Fountain City” and hasappeared as a soloist with the band through out the country and Great Britain. The former principal trumpet of the Kansas CityLyric Opera Orchestra is a two time winner of the North American British Brass Bands Associations cornet solo competition.Other credits include the World Festival Orchestra, the Yellowstone Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, and the CrestedButte Music Festival Orchestra. Stan has also performed on stage with a wide variety of artists, including The Moody Blues, TheTemptations, Sarah Vaughn, and Barry Manilow. Twice recognized as a “Who’s Who” in music education, Mr. Smith gives workshopsin chamber music and brass performance.David Sullivan was appointed Associate/Assistant Principal Horn of the Kansas City Symphony in June of 2009. A native ofKentucky. Prior to joining the Kansas City Symphony, Sullivan was an active sub on the hit Broadway musical Wicked, and wasa founding member of the Mimesis Ensemble, a New York based contemporary group whose mission is to perform the works ofliving composers. He has performed with the Seattle and Huntsville Symphonies, and has been a participant of the Aspen, Attergau,and Verbier Summer Festivals. Sullivan’s major teachers include Erik Ralske and David G. Ellott.Stephanie Bryan is one of Kansas City’s busiest freelance musicians and she is Instructor of Low Brass at William Jewell Collegein Liberty, Mo. In addition to Kansas City Brassworks, she plays regularly with ensembles as diverse as Blue Riddim reggaeband, Kansas City’s Starlight Theater Orchestra, New Ear contemporary chamber ensemble and The Kansas City JazzOrchestra. Bryan advanced studies included work with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony,and the American Brass Quintet.Scott Watson is now in his 33rd year at the University of Kansas. At the university, Scott is Director of the Division of Brass &Percussion as well as conductor of the KU Tuba-Euphonium Consort. His solo efforts can be heard on the just released“Thoughts of a Cow” as well as the educational recording “Stepping Sones, Volume I” both on Potenza Records. Scott is a memberof the acclaimed Fountain City Brass Band, the current four time North American, US Open, and Scottish Open championswhere he is solo Eb tuba. He has been tubist in his career with such ensembles as the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, BrevardMusic Center Orchestra, and the Crested Butte Music Festival Orchestra. Scott Watson is an artist/clinician for Besson Tubasthrough Buffet Crampon, USA.Central States Synod, ELCA Assembly 2013, Introduction Section