Faculty and Staff
Professional Development
Monty Kelso
Monty Kelso was last the Director of Creative Communication and Worship Leader for Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo, California. He served many years as primary clinician and worship leader for Maranatha! Music's Worship Leader Workshop teams and regularly participated in various conferences throughout the U.S. as a worship leader and conference speaker. He was the founding director of the Southern California Worship Institute (SCWI), from November 2001 until June 2004. He now lives in Phoenix, AZ.
Stan is a worship consultant, arranger, producer, and current worship pastor at Mariners Church in Irvine, CA. Before moving to Mariners, he served as worship leader at Knott Avenue Christian Church for over 20 years. Stan is the Director of Worship Development for Southern California Evangelical Association as well as being a consulting director for several gospel choirs, including Promise Keepers and Saddleback Community Church.
Steven Goomas holds the degrees of an M.A. in Composition, a B.A. in Piano and Theory, a California State Teaching Credential and an A.A. in Fine Arts. He is an accomplished B.M.I. composer and publisher. He produces and arranges music that is used for films, commercials and popular television shows such as "Friends" and "Melrose." Steve has recorded thirty-four CDs to date with Sonoton and Abaco/Pro Music in a variety of styles including Pop, R&B, Rock, Metal, Country, Jazz, Classical, Funk, Rap, Latin, and different ethnic genera. As a keyboardist, he has had the pleasure to work, record or tour with several artists such as Donna Summer, Deniece Williams, Donald O'Connor, Carol Lawrence, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Mary Wells, Crystal Lewis, Rose Stone and Steve Taylor. Steve has also taught music in the California educational systems at primary, secondary and college levels. His book "Keyboard Wisdom" is being published by Mel Bay and A Goom Tune.
David studied Music at Cal State University Fullerton. He was a staff drummer at Knott's Berry Farm for 10 years before leaving to perform and record with Thomas Dolby (Aliens Ate My Buick, Astronauts & Heretics). In recent years, he has been freelancing by recording for movies (Land Before Time, Speed 2, The Gate to the Mind's Eye) and jingles
(Toyota, McDonalds, Nike, Coke) and by playing kit for live performances such as Disney’s Lion King. Dave has worked with the Maranatha Worship Leader Workshops, Billy and Franklin Graham Crusades, Billy Batstone, Cheri Keaggy and smooth jazz artists Peter White and Scott Wilkie.
Norm diverse recording and performance credits include jazz guitarist Steve Laury (solo artist, Fattburger), keyboardist Rob Mullins (solo artist, The Crusaders), bassist Dominique Di Piazza (John McLaughlin Trio, Front Page), keyboardist Scott Wilkie (Narada Jazz recording artist), bluesman Darrell Mansfield, heavy rock group Luna Halo (Sparrow recording artists), and singer/songwriter Bill Batstone (Harvest Crusades, Franklin Graham Crusades). He is an internationally respected music educator in the bass community through his instructional video series, Grooving for Heaven. Check out his regular column in Bass Player Magazine.
Brian is a professional guitarist working exclusively within the worship community. His performance credits include work with recording artists Avalon, Basix, Cherri Keaggy, and Jana Alayra, as well as extensive service in churches throughout Southern California. Brian has been a clinician with Concordia University, the Willow Creek Arts Conference, and the Maranatha! Worship Leader Workshops. He is internationally known for his mastery of tone and sound design with clients such as Line 6, Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha. Brian was part of the design team for the POD as well as a radical new Taylor guitar soon to be released.
Chariya BisonetteChariya started in music at five years old when she sang on a Bob Hope Christmas show. Since then she has studied voice with world-renowned vocal teacher Seth Riggs and acted in television commercials with accounts such as Burger King and Kodak. She has worked for the Disney Corporation for 15 + years as a singer and performer opening for such artists as Gloria Estefan and Bobby Brown. She last toured to London to sing “Colors of the Wind” as Pocahontas for the British Kids Choice Awards. Currently a worship leader for Calvary Chapel, Chariya now devotes her time to worship ministry, evangelism, and training church worship teams.
Maxi AndersonMaxi graduated from Slippery Rock University, PA with a Bachelor’s in Education: emphasis on Music and Theater. She is a well known studio artist and can be heard on soundtracks such as John Q, The Preacher’s Wife, and The Lion King, and on TV shows inclusive of Any Day Now and The Wayne Brady Show; on commercials for Coca-Cola, Frigidaire, and Atlantic Bell; and on recordings or tours of many artists including Don Henley, Andrae Crouch, Lee Ann Womack, and BeBe & CeCe Winans. She has done vocal arrangements for various artists including Christina Aguilera and Rita Springer and served as a producer/songwriter for the multi-racial youth gospel group, All God’s Children. Maxi is a member of the Praise & Worship Team at her home church, Shepherd of the Hills, in Porter Ranch, California.
Byron Burns
Byron Burns possesses a diverse musical background as a vocalist, worship leader, and session singer. He received his BA Degree in Music Ministry from Hope International University in Fullerton, California. For nearly a decade he has performed for countless audiences including four concert tours with various vocal groups, ensembles, and choirs. During this time he has performed with Sandi Patti, Larnelle Harris, Maranatha! Music, and Promise Keepers. In addition, he has recorded over six album projects including his own project titled “Reflections”. He has served as the Gospel Choir Coordinator for Promise Keepers 2000 Conference in Los Angeles, California and serves as a vocal clinician for Maranatha Music Worship Leader Workshops. He is currently serving as the Worship Arts Pastor at First Baptist Church of Lakewood in Long Beach, California.
CARL has performed a wide variety of music in a wide array of venues, including Seattle Opera, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, and the Gospel Music Workshop of America. He was a featured soloist in the widely acclaimed Washington State Mass Choir and at the first Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Festival. Carl has also performed in the national touring production of the Broadway hit jazz musical “5 Guys Named Moe”, and has traveled extensively as a lead vocalist for the multiple award-winning a cappella quintet M-Pact. At present, Carl sings nationally with the Promise Keepers’ worship band and serves as worship pastor at Destiny Church, Fremont, CA.
Cora Alley
Cora Alley has been a church dramatist for 30 years, published over 25 books of dramatic scripts for children and adults, and has presented workshops across the nation on the many uses of drama as a tool to communicate the Gospel. Her particular gift is dramatic writing, and she is known for her challenging workshop, "23 Ways to Illustrate the Gospel Message." Cora has a Master's Degree in Education, a Master's Degree in Theater, and is a graduate of the Hollywood Script-writing Institute. She serves as chairperson of the Theater and English Departments at Hope International University and as Director of Dramatic Arts at Crossroads Christian Church. Cora's dramatic literature can be accessed on the Web at Leonard Sweet's www.PreachingPlus.com.
Bub is the Director of the Media and Drama Ministries at Coast Hills Community Church. He received his B.F.A. degree in Theatre/Communications from the University of Memphis where he received the Memphis Magazine Award for Best Actor and the Memphis State Theatre Award for Best Director. Bub has conducted drama workshops at the annual Coast Hills Community Church Worship and Arts Conferences, the Southern California Evangelistic Association’s annual Worship Conferences, and Biola University and directed dramas for Willow Creek Leadership Summit, Willow Creek Arts Conference, Chosen Women Conferences, national Pastoral Conferences, The Jesus Film Project, Music California and many others. Check out www.theveracityproject.com for his latest venture.
Bob Matossian has been the Production Director at Coast Hills Community Church since September of 1993. Leaving the entertainment industry in 1991, Bob recommitted his life to Christ and discovered that God had gifted and prepared him to serve in the local church. With a wide base of experience from theater, television, theme parks, and concert halls, his understanding of presentational communication has made him a valuable member of the creative team at Coast Hills.
Chris Taylor has done live mixing at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, Edison Field, Jack Murphy Stadium, Irvine Meadows, LA Coliseum, RCA Dome in Indiana, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Compact Stadium in Houston Texas, Compact Arena in San Jose, Irvine Meadows and the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa; recorded for various labels, including Epic, EMI, Maranatha! Music, Sparrow and Word Records; and been the chief recording and remix engineer for five gold videos, one gold record and two Grammy nominated albums. He built his own studio in 1988 and subsequently moved into a larger facility, Crossroads Studios in Santa Ana, CA, in 1993. He has been a part of the Faculty of USC since 1997, teaching recording and mixing classes for analog and digital productions.
Maryann Bayless started her career as a professional ballerina with Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Opera Ballet in Seattle, Washington. She was fortunate to study under and dance for Robert Joffrey, Richard Englund of the Royal Ballet, Lew Christenson of the San Francisco Ballet, and Janet Reed and Kay Mazzo of the New York City Ballet. Maryann attended the University of Washington where she majored in dance. Maryann believes that dance can be a significant element in contemporary Christian church services and has taught at . She recently conducted her seminar at the Willow Creek Arts Conference at Coast Hills Community Church.
Christene Sloan
Christene directs the Visual Arts Ministry at Coast Hills Community Church. Through her organizational skills and creative background, the ministry has grown in size and expanded in its vision and mission.
Her art background includes drawing and painting since childhood and attending Chinouard's Art Institute. Professionally, Christene worked for several display builders including Cushing & Nevell in Washington D.C. where she headed up the production art department. One of the main projects she worked on was a large convention display for NASA and the Saturn 5 project. With an unusual combination of gifts in administration and creativity, she has found a home serving the church and fellow artists through the Visual Arts Ministry.
Cort studied Business and Music at Hope College in Holland Michigan. After college he worked in music, writing several musicals including Phantasm and producing many other recordings such as The Choice. He also taught music privately. Cort is currently the Executive Producer for Compass Arts and also teaches in the Compass Academy.
Dave Anderson
Dave Anderson has been described as a pioneer in the production, marketing and distribution of film and video with values themes into both the religious and general marketplace. Beginning with consulting work for Pyramid Films, and the Oxford Film division of Paramount Pictures in the late 1970’s, Dave created and incorporated many techniques for film marketing during the development days for video. While serving as vice president at Gospel Films, and as president of Anderson & Associates, he implemented specialty film titles from the inspirational genre into all venues inside the video and licensing marketplace worldwide. His filmography includes more than 380 titles. Dave is also the author of Visualize – a filmmaking course published by Pflaum Press.
Curt has been committed to "helping others worship" a worship leader and songwriter for over fifteen years. His songs have been recorded by Integrity! Music and Maranatha! Music. He is currently worship pastor at Shoreline Community Church in Monterey, CA. Past experience includes serving as worship director at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois; as Pastor of Music Ministries at Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, Michigan, where he led worship on three live recordings; as worship leader for the Maranatha Praise Band; and as clinician for Worship Leader Workshops. His last project, "Let the World See" was released by Maranatha! Music on the Worship Underground Label.
He has led worship teams on evangelistic outreaches to fourteen nations on four continents. Curt is currently one of two worship leaders for Promise Keepers in partnership with Integrity Music.
Tommy is a gifted worship leader who has led worship throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Traveling with Promise Keepers, Harvest Crusades, C.A. Worship Band and Youth With A Mission. He graduated in 1982 from Christ For The Nations Bible Institute with a degree in practical theology. In 1987, he graduated from the famed Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California with a diploma in jazz and fusion.