Education

• Degrees
  • DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts), University of North Texas
  • M.M., University of North Texas
  • B.A., University of Arkansas Monticello

Biography

Dr. Tyrone J. Block, born in Dumas, Arkansas, has been playing trombone since he was a young child. During his career he has won numerous competitions including the Northeast Arkansas Young Artist Concerto Competition, Walt Disney All-American Marching and Duke Ellington Jazz Band, and voted Brass Player of the Year at University of Arkansas-Monticello for two years. Dr. Block’s formal training began at Dumas High School where he was named to the All-State Band for three years and also the prestigious Governor’s School. He attended the University of Arkansas-Monticello where he received his B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in music performance. In addition, he attended the Armed Forces School of Music where he graduated first in his class. During this time, he traveled with the United States Navy Show Band, and toured three continents, many countries, and the United States.

Block received his M.M. (Masters of Music) in performance form the University of North Texas with a related field in ethnomusicology. It was during this time, that he recorded several series with the G.I.A. project teaching Music Through Performance in Band under direction of Eugene Corporon.

He also completed his D.M.A. (Doctorate of Musical Arts) at the University of North Texas. It was during this time, he attended the Army School of Music and was selected as the Honor Graduate receiving the Distinguished Leadership Award.

He is on summer staff at the University of Arkansas at Monticello teaching and performing at their jazz camp. He has been on staff in Fort Worth ISD, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Dr. Block received the Distinguished Teacher Award for Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD and the Distinguished Faculty Award for Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Dr. Block has performed in the following groups: Duke Ellington Orchestra, Southeast Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Brazos Chamber Orchestra, Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Mesquite Jazz Repertoire Ensemble, Metra Praise Jazz Orchestra, Joshua Experience Big Band, South Arkansas Brass Ensemble, Joint Armed Forces Wind Symphony, and North Texas Wind Symphony. Block has been a featured soloist with the University of North Texas Wind Ensemble, the 106^th Arkansas National Guard Jazz Band and the Navy Atlantic Fleet Show Band.

Dr. Block is a member of TMEA, TJEA, ITA, MENC, and has been named to Pi Kappa Lambda, Alpha Sigma Lambda, SALUTE, and Golden Key Honor Society.

• Degrees
  • D.M.A., West Virginia University
  • M.M., West Virginia University
  • B.M., West Virginia University
  • Dip. Music, UCSI University, Malaysia
  • Licentiate & Associate of Trinity College of Music, London

Biography

Dr. Amanda Lee Hing is an accomplished pianist who performs actively as a soloist and collaborator and frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator at festivals and competitions. She joined the Â鶹´«Ã½ (formerly SAGU) faculty in 2006 and currently serves as Professor of Piano and Director of Piano Studies. She is the faculty adviser for the Â鶹´«Ã½ Collegiate Chapter of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), recipient of the 2013 MTNA Benjamin Whitten Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award. In recognition of her excellence in teaching and service, she received the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2025. She also serves as President of Pi Kappa Lambda (Kappa Xi Chapter) and President-Elect of the Frisco Music Teachers Association.

Appointed Music Director of the Waxahachie Symphony Association in 2016, Dr. Lee Hing remains active in professional leadership, including service as TMTA (Texas Music Teachers Association) Conference Student Activities Coordinator and TMTA Collegiate Chapters Chair. She has presented at MTNA National Conferences and TMTA State Conventions and has conducted masterclasses and pedagogy workshops throughout the United States and Asia.

Her honors include the PianoTexas International Academy and Festival Teachers Concerto Competition, WVU Outstanding Senior Award, WVU Young Artist Concerto Competition Award, MTNA Student Achievement Recognition Award, the International Peace Scholarship from the Philanthropical Educational Organization Foundation, and recognition as a SREB (Southern Regional Education Board) Scholar. She has appeared as soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, WVU Symphony Orchestra, WVU Wind Ensemble, SAGU Concert Band, and Waxahachie Area Band.

Dr. Lee Hing holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from West Virginia University, along with performance diplomas (LTCL & ATCL) from Trinity College London and The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London. Her students have earned top awards in competitions and have presented research at state and national conferences.

Education

• Degrees
  • D.M.A. in Music Composition, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • M.M. in Music Theory, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • M.M. in Music Composition, Seoul National University
  • B.A. in Music Composition, Seoul National University

Biography

Born in South Korea, Hyojin Woo began studying piano at the age of five and received an early education of music theory and composition at the renowned Sunhwa Art High School in Seoul.

Hyojin received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in music composition from Seoul National University summa cum laude. She also earned her second Master of Music degree in music theory and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, TX.)

Dr. Woo joined the SAGU as an Adjunct Professor of Music in Spring 2012. Her recent musical interests focus on the multicultural music and Suzuki teaching method for her future vision in the mission field. She resides in Mansfield, TX, with her husband Kwangsun and two children, Joanne and Jaden, and serves at New Song Church in Carrollton, TX as an arranger, pianist, and choir director.

Education

• Degrees
  • M.M., Texas A&M University
  • B.A., Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Biography

Meredith Jones received her undergraduate degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Vocal Performance. She received a Master of Music from Texas A&M University at Commerce with a specialization in Music Education. While attending, she was the Graduate Assistant for the choral program and directed the Feast of Carols for the Chamber Singers. Meredith has an All-Level Texas Certification and taught at Education Center International Academy, a public charter school in Garland, for two years. She also served as the Assistant Principal of the school for one year and led and arranged the vocals for the school’s music group, Lifted. For the past nine years, Meredith has been a worship leader at churches, including Praise Temple Assembly of God in Garland, Texas, and Casa View Assembly of God in Dallas, Texas. She is currently involved in the worship department at The Oaks Fellowship in Red Oak, Texas. Meredith has been a part of many recording projects, two of which include songs written by her and her husband, Nathan. She has recorded in several languages and in a variety of musical styles. She has a love for music of other cultures has experience singing in Tamil, Malayalam, Romanian, Indonesian, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, German, Latin, French, and Italian. Meredith lives in Red Oak, Texas with her husband, Nathan, and her two her sons, Elijah and Josiah.

Degrees:

• M.M., University of North Texas (Jazz Composition)
• B.A., University of North Texas (Jazz Performance, guitar)

Biography

Nathan S. Choi is a multi-talented musician/educator. His ability is not limited to playing his primary instrument: guitar (jazz, rock, and classical). He is also skilled in playing electric bass, music education, composing/arranging various styles of music, and singing – each reflecting his broad passion for music. After successfully earning bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies (concentrated in jazz guitar performance) from the University of North Texas, Nathan completed his master’s degree in jazz arranging/composition at the same institution, where he studied with renowned masters of the area like Richard DeRosa.

Nathan was born in Seoul, South Korea. As a child, he demonstrated strong musical talent, particularly through singing in churches and schools. He achieved successes in several singing competitions, including the 1996 Vineyard National Singing Competition in Seoul. At the age of fourteen, he first picked up an acoustic guitar at church and began developing a special relationship with the instrument.

After graduating from high school, Nathan performed as an independent guitarist at churches and festivals throughout Seoul. In 2000, he moved to the U.S. and settled in Philadelphia with his family. After helping his family adjust to their new life for few years, he relocated to Dallas to pursue his musical career more seriously. There, he studied jazz with esteemed educators such as Fred Hamilton and Noel Johnston at the UNT.

Since graduating, Nathan has been active in various local music scenes, performing on guitar and bass for musical theater productions, jazz combos and big bands, and churches like Gateway, as well as in concerts of South Korean artists such as Duk-kyu Ha and Brian Kim. In addition to performing guitars, he has been involved in directing and conducting orchestras for Nelson Theater Department, while also writing and arranging music for high school and college-level jazz ensembles and various church events.

Education has been another central aspect of Nathan’s life. Several of his formal students have gone on to become professional musicians. He strongly believes in power of music to positively impact people’s lives and recognizes the importance of educating students at all levels, not just the music majors. His work experience at organizations such as Â鶹´«Ã½ (formerly SAGU) and Dallas College, in addition to private teaching, has further enriched his teaching style and pedagogical approach.