School of Worship Arts

Layla Ash

Piano

Hey, I’m Layla! I am currently studying music and composition at Berklee College of Music, and will teach not only contemporary techniques and basic or advanced theory, but practical skills for the piano as well, starting with the basics and growing from there! In my interactive lessons I focus on technique, quality, and creativity. For more advanced learners I focus on challenge, style, and artistry, and of course creativity is encouraged here too! I have been teaching since 2016 and have loved it so far, especially when I get to see the inner musician come out in my students! To me, creativity is one of the greatest gifts God has given us! He didn’t have to, but He did! So using this gift in a way that is honoring Him is just awesome!

Christina Branz

Voice

Christina Branz holds a Bachelor of Music with a focus in Musical Theatre from Oklahoma City University. She has been coaching since 1998 using proper vocal technique to train vocalists in classical music, contemporary music, and musical theatre with attention to creating style, artistry, improvisation, developing vocal range, memorable performance skills and dynamic presentation technique. Early in her career she performed with the Oklahoma City Opera and Musical Theatre company as well as the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in various operas and musicals. Locally, she performed as Pitti Sing in the San Antonio Symphony’s YPCS presentation of The Micado, was nominated for an ATAC Globe Award for her role as Anita in West Side Story ,and won an ATAC Globe Award for Best Supporting actress in a musical for her role as Maggie in 42nd Street. She has professional experience as a worship leader, lead vocalist, and worship team vocal coach for Cornerstone Church, Harvest FCC and Friendship Church here in San Antonio. In addition to her live performance work, she has also enjoyed recording 3 albums as an independent recording artist. In the dance world, she was classically trained in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical dancing, competed through high school, taught and took professional level classes as a young adult, danced in several musical theatre shows, and lead a dance ministry for 5 years at Harvest Fellowship Community Church. She has a passion for training others to use their gifts to glorify God with excellence and worshiping with creative expression while fully recognizing apart from Him we can do no good thing.

Ken (Mr. C) CarnathaN

French Horn/Trumpet – beginner to advance
Piano – beginner to intermediate
Worship Keyboard – beginner to advanced

Ken loves Christ with all his mind, heart, and soul, and wants to share in the joys of music with anyone willing and wanting to bless Jesus from the song in their hearts. Starting piano at age 6, Ken – also known in this area as “Mr. C” – has been an active musician for over 50 years. Mr. C is a 1994 graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Education with concentrations in French horn performance, education, and church administration. He has been in ministry since 1986, is licensed and ordained, and has worked with many churches and worship leaders throughout several states and Canada. He helped plant and co-pastor a new church in the area specifically oriented towards the unchurched biker community, and also had a wonderful 18+ year career as a choral teacher at Wilder Intermediate School in Schertz. During that time, he also worked with junior and senior high students as an assistant band director, and had a private studio with 40 students being tutored weekly in brass, vocal coaching, and piano. Ken also was an all-state musician in Maryland and Mississippi, is a writer/arranger, and he has played in many musical venues throughout his career, loving classic rock, Americana, country and – most of all – contemporary Christian music. Mr. C is actively involved in the biker community in South Central Texas serving Christ and helping others meet and receive Christ – showing that regardless of what has happened in life – through Our Friend – unconditionally – we are treasured. As we share and live out our testimony through our lives, and as we lift our hands and hearts in worship and honor and praise our loving God, the message that we need to share through word and song is a message of love – God’s saving love through Jesus – and that from Abba’s heart — love comes down!

Nadine Chadwell

Violin/Viola/Cello/Bass

Nadine Chadwell is a professional musician, teacher, and missionary. She has performed with three symphonies in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. She teaches violin, viola, cello, and bass in private lessons. Her tutoring style for all ages incorporates various genres such as classical, contemporary, and worship. Many opportunities have opened up for her to honor the Lord with her passion for music and ministry. She currently instructs strings for the Homeschool Orchestras of South Texas and for the Cornerstone Music Conservatory Academy. For ten years, she played violin in the Community Bible Church orchestra and held string classes every semester for the CBC Fine Arts School. She founded Vitas Strings in partnering with Vitas Healthcare Volunteer Department, where she enables string students to use their gifts for nursing home patients and hospice care clients. Nadine travels the world as a missionary musician with Global Missions Project, participating in the Celebration Orchestra, led by Camp Kirkland. The orchestra shares the gospel of Jesus Christ through their music and testimonies, while encouraging missionaries, pastors, and their congregations. Her driving purpose flows in teaching others how to serve God with excellence in musical skills and compassion.

Shon Comparin

Guitar, Bass Guitar, Beginning Drums, Artist Development, Audio Production

Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, Shon describes himself as first and foremost, a Christ follower, then husband, father and pastor. Both he and his wife are ordained ministers and are founders of Deep Calls, a traveling worship ministry, emphasizing prayer and revival. Their son Jedidiah serves with them on vocals and drums. Shon also enjoys producing and recording for various artists and church leaders throughout the United States. An accomplished musician, Shon plays the guitar and drums. He enjoys teaching both guitar and drums as well as raising up budding musicians to serve in live worship and praise.

Teresa Comparin

Piano

Singer, songwriter, recording artist, worship leader, and ordained minister, Teresa Comparin has worked in the worship and music field for over 20 years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2020. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Tau Sigma Honor Society. Teresa is co-founder of Meek Music Productions, and Deep Calls School of Worship. She has experience as an elementary music teacher, middle school choir director, and a piano instructor. She has a passion to raise up generations of worshipers for Jesus. Teresa currently lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband Shon of 20 years. They have two children, Jedidiah and Makayla.

Luciano Compian

Drums/Percussion

Hi!  My name is Luciano Compian and I have been playing drums since I was 4 years old. I’ve played in church growing up and now I am part pf the worship band for the contemporary service at First Baptist Church, Universal City. I’ve been in Jazz Band, Marching Band, Honors Wind Ensemble and Solo & ensemble band at Veterans Memorial High School.

I believe that everyone has God given gifts and talents. They are imparted to us by God so that we can honor him. I want to bring joy to children of all ages by spreading the love of music through drums. I’m so stoked to teach you this wonderful instrument.

Patty Hamner

Piano

Hello! My name is Patty Hamner. Piano has been my passion and love for over 40+ years. I am classically-trained and therefore stress the importance of learning music theory in all of my lessons. I have been a church pianist for 30+ years, and am currently the pianist for First Baptist Church Universal City for the past 12 years. I believe it is important to teach each student how they can use their musical gift to worship God. It is my goal for each student to enter their lesson with great confidence and leave with excitement about the challenge for the upcoming week. 

Eric Haugen

Bass Guitar: Beginner to Advanced
Acoustic Guitar: Beginner to Intermediate

Hello, My name is Eric Haugen and I have started my musical journey at the age of 10 starting with drums and percussion and later moving on to the bass guitar at the age of 14.  I have played in numerous bands over the years but the most fulfilling gig I get to play is for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

My philosophy is that learning music is a lifetime lesson and we never stop being students.  My main instrument is the bass guitar.  An instrument that is fairly easy to pick up but takes a lot of time and study to be proficient at.  In my bass lessons I try to maintain a balance between fun and hard work. There is a lot to learn, but there’s no reason it can’t be fun too.  

Monica Kiss

Voice / Piano

Monica Kiss is a native of Memphis, Tennessee raised in a conservative, Christian home and educated in a private Christian school. She has studied private voice since age sixteen and performed music for over thirty years. Her performance resume includes organizations such as Opera Memphis and Memphis Vocal Arts Ensemble. She also served as assistant to the choir director and interim choir conductor at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Kiss has taught private voice and piano since the earning of her music degree in 2008. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with a concentration in voice from Texas State University and an all-level teaching certification in the state of Texas. She is active in music ministry at her church playing piano and singing on the worship team weekly. Currently, she maintains a private home studio and teaches general music to kinder through second grade at First Baptist Academy Universal CIty. In addition, she now teaches private piano for beginners and voice with First Baptist School of Worship Arts. 

Aissa Martha Maese

Woodwinds

Aissa Martha Maese is a Texas-based musician-clarinetist, violinist, and music educator- who performs in solo and collaborative projects while maintaining a private studio in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Aissa received a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance, under the instruction of Eli Eban and Howard Klug, from the Indiana University-Jacobs School of Music, where she held a graduate assistantship in administration. She received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Texas Lutheran University-School of Music, under the instruction of Dr. Sarunas Jankauskas and Paula Corley. A current and evolving passion, Aissa has studied classical clarinet with Eric Hoeprich and was a member of the Indiana University Classical Orchestra, most recently featured on a recording of the Joseph Haydn Symphony No.26 and the Franz Beck Symphony No.1. In this current season, you can find Aissa performing with the Texas-based ensembles Cinematic Symphony and the South Texas Symphonic Orchestra. Aissa loves mystery novels, the color blue, queso, sandy beaches, and Texas sunsets.

Amber Petrosky

American Sign Language

Hi! I’m Amber Petrosky; I am a born and raised San Antonian! I attended Judson High School, where I first took and fell in love with American Sign Language (ASL). After graduating I attended San Antonio College for the Interpreter Training program & the Deaf Support Specialist Program. I then worked for NEISD for 4 years as a Deaf Support Specialist where I worked hands on with the students in classes and extra curricular activities. God then opened the amazing opportunity for me to be a stay at home foster momma. In 2017 we fostered to adopt our oldest 2 kids; in 2020 we said yes to adoption again and adopted our twins. . My family attends Camelot Christian Center, where my husband and I met and serve in several areas. I believe using ASL to worship allows those of us who are musically challenged to express ourselves in a beautiful way to our Savior. I’m so excited to teach this beautiful language to y’all!  

Carolyn Webb

Piano

Originally from Tennessee, Carolyn began playing the piano as a child and started singing and playing in church as a teenager. She gave her heart to Jesus at age 13 and began to grow and develop a love for God’s Word and a desire to serve Him. At age 16, she surrendered her life to full time Christian ministry. 

She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Howard Payne University with a major in voice, where she was pianist/arranger for singing groups and choirs. Carolyn and her husband, Pat, began their life together 46 years ago, and have continued ministering through innovative music, worship, choral and contemporary church ministry, and are church planters. Carolyn has a heart for prayer and helping others grow in Christ.

After being a choral pianist in public school for 17 years in Dallas, they relocated to San Antonio in 2018, and she began teaching at the Christian Music Conservatory at Castle Hills.

Carolyn has more than 30 years of experience teaching piano, music, and accompanying music groups on piano and keyboard. Her teaching includes classical music, worship songs, pop music, piano improvisation, and music theory. She has a passion to train worship pianists and artists to maximize their musical gifts through serving God.

As a couple, they have a desire to encourage pastors and their spouses, and for God to use their story of reconciliation to benefit ministers struggling in marital relationships.

Her Tennessee upbringing instilled in her a love for camping and all things outdoor.  Hobbies are treasure hunting for vintage items, back-road traveling with family and friends, and climbing trees with their 5 grandchildren.