Dr. Cathy Benton, Associate Professor
Cathy Benton has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State Universit , a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Webster University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from UMKC. She is an Associate Professor at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, MO, where she has taught since 1986. Prior to that, Dr. Benton taught for five years at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO. Dr. Benton performs as a soloist and accompanist on the piano, organ and harpsichord and has been an adjudicator and clinician for numerous keyboard festivals and workshops. Dr. Benton is the director of the MBU Ringers, the performing handbell choir at Missouri Baptist University. Dr. Benton is a member of SLAMTA, MMTA, MTNA, National Guild of Piano Teachers, AGEHR, and the College Music Society. She was honored for her achievements in teaching by being included in the fifth, sixth, and eighth editions of Who’s Who Among America ’s Teachers. In 1998, she was included in the National Guild of Piano Teachers Hall of Fame. In 2001 she was awarded the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. In addition to her college teaching, Dr. Benton also maintains a private piano studio and is organist/pianist at the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church.
Phone: (314) 392-2104
E-mail: benton@mobap.edu
Kevin L. Cox, D.M.A., Director of Bands
A native of Harrisburg, Illinois, Dr. Cox is a seven-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Band program, serving first as a clarinetist/saxophonist in the Quantico Marine Band, then as an instructor of clarinet and saxophone at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. After leaving the Marine Corps in 1987, he spent two years as Assistant Director of Bands at Ambassador College in Pasadena, California.
Dr. Cox earned his bachelor's in music from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and his master's and doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, during which time he served as principal clarinetist for the University of Illinois Symphonic Band. Prior to coming to MBU, Dr. Cox spent five years as professor of clarinet at Texas A&M University-Commerce. While in Texas, he served for four years as principal clarinetist of the Northeast Texas Symphony Orchestra, and was a frequent "sub" in the Dallas Wind Symphony.
Phone: (314) 392-2103
E-mail: coxk@mobap.edu
Ladd Faszold, Professor of Music
Dr. Ladd Faszold is Professor of Music and Chair of the Fine Arts Division at MBU. He has degrees in choral music and composition from Southeast Missouri State University (BME), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (MCM), and University of Memphis (DMA). He teaches courses in advanced theory, music history, Church Music, and composition. He is a composer of choral, chamber, and orchestral works. Twice local orchestras have performed his symphony, London, 1940. Dr. Faszold performs with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Chorus. With this ensemble he has performed a large body of choral/orchestral works with world-class conductors, such as, Leonard Slatkin, Raymond Leopard and Robert Shaw. For 30 years Dr. Faszold has conducted various church and community choruses and currently serves as Interim Minister of Music at Third Baptist Church, St. Louis.
Pat Lacey, Assistant Professor of Music
Mrs. Lacey joined the MBU music faculty in 1995. She holds a Bachelor of Music in performance and teacher certification in vocal/choral music from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Masters in Music Education from the University of North Texas at Denton. She has other studies in voice and vocal pedagogy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and certification in Kodály from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Her experience includes teaching music in grades K-6 and teaching voice and teacher education at the university level.
She has performed in opera, musical theater, recital, and oratorio productions, as well as for churches. She was the founder and director of a community children’s choir and has served as clinician, adjudicator and guest director for both children’s choirs and youth and adult as well.
At MBU Mrs. Lacey teaches private voice and serves as the head of the vocal area, where she also teaches classes in vocal literature and diction. Mrs. Lacey serves as the director of the Opera Workshop and serves as Musical Director for the University musical productions. Her performance group, Allusion, is a vocal jazz group that performs on campus and around the community. And drawing from her fifteen years as an Elementary Music Specialist, she teaches elementary music methods in the music education program.
Phone: (314) 392-2101
E-mail: laceypat@mobap.edu
Dr. Larry Smith, Professor of Music
Choral Director/ Music Education Field Experience Supervisor
Dr. Larry Smith directs the Chorale, Chamber Singers, and Choral Society. He also teaches courses in conducting, secondary music education, music theory, musicianship, choral literature, and choral techniques. He is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a Master of Music in Conducting from Texas State University – San Marcos and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Music from Arizona State University. He has sung professionally with the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Chorus, and the Phoenix Bach Choir. He has served churches in Texas, Arizona, California, and Missouri and is currently the Minister of Music at Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. Dr. Smith also serves as the Multicultural and Ethnic Music Chair for the Missouri Choral Directors Association. Dr. Smith has directed choral clinics and honor choirs in California and Illinois and is often called upon to judge choral and solo/ensemble events.
Phone: (314) 392-2108
E-mail: smithl@mobap.edu
