Adjunct Faculty

Dave Altemeier teaches electronic bass as an adjunct faculty member at Graceland.

Sarah Beland is an adjunct faculty member at Graceland University where she teaches flute lessons to music majors and non-majors. She holds the Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA and the Master of Arts degree in flute performance from the University of Iowa, where she studied with Gro Sandvik and Nicole Esposito. She has also performed in the master classes of William Bennett, Amy Porter, Ian Clarke, and Eva Amsler. Mrs. Beland is also on the faculty of Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO as adjunct instructor of flute and maintains a large private studio in the Iowa City area where she resides.

Brooke Gould teaches oboe, clarinet, and saxophone as an adjunct faculty member at Graceland University. She earned a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance from Iowa State University and a Master of Arts in oboe performance from the University of Iowa. She plays the saxophone with the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, and has performed on the oboe with the Central Iowa Symphony, the Ottumwa Symphony, and the Ames Municipal Band. She is a member of the International Double Reed Society, the North American Saxophone Alliance, and the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Brooke is also an adjunct instructor at Des Moines Area Community College and maintains a private studio in Ankeny where she resides.

Christine Johnson is an adjunct faculty member teaching violin at Graceland University. A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she studied violin through two curriculums-- the Suzuki Method and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She received her bachelor's degree from Graceland University, where she double majored in violin and piano performance; and went on to earn her master's degree in violin performance from Illinois State University. Christine currently resides in Urbandale, IA with her husband Kory, and is a member of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra.

Mike Peters is the Director of Bands at Creston High School in Creston, IA, where he has been teaching music classes, applied lessons and directing several bands since 1995. Beginning in the fall of 2008, Mr. Peters became the applied High Brass Instructor at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, teaching trumpet and horn lessons as an adjunct faculty member. Mr. Peters received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE and he is currently working on his Masters from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He's a former member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps out of Rockford, Illinois, and he was selected to the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" in 1995, 1999-2001, 2005 and 2006. In his free time, Mr. Peters enjoys reading, tae kwon do, golfing and, most of all, spending time with his wife Lisa and their three children: Ashley 16, Ryan 13 and Tyler 11.

Melinda Pickering is an adjunct faculty member in the Music Department at Graceland University, where she teaches Class Piano and the Piano Class for Proficiency course for music majors. She received the Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University as a student of Mona Smith. Mrs. Pickering also studied piano with Carole Ross at the University of Kansas. Mrs. Pickering is a member of the Iowa Music Teachers Association and teaches piano from her studio in Lamoni. She currently serves as the Organist and Choir Director at the Osceola congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her husband David are the parents of five children.

Amy Stout-Jeffers, Adjunct Professor of Voice, is now in her 6th year on faculty with the music department. She is a 1997 graduate of Graceland University, where she received a BA in Music and Music Education. She also has an MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Kansas. Before joining the faculty at Graceland University, Amy was an Elementary Music Specialist for 5 years in Grain Valley and Raytown, MO. Amy commutes to Graceland two days a week from Independence, MO where she is an active performer, church musician, and co-pastor of the Oak Hill Community of Christ congregation. Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and their two boys and voraciously reading.