Midlands Home School Band

Founder and Former Director of Bands

 Jennifer Paige Newkirk

Jennifer has been passionate about music since childhood. During college, she performed on trombone, euphonium and steel drums. She went on to hold student & staff Drum Major (field conductor) positions for the University of South Carolina, the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and Marching Auxiliaries of America. From 1999-2005, she spent each fall season adjudicating marching band competitions throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Jennifer and Christopher Newkirk founded the Midlands Home School Band in Fall 2000. Jennifer completed her B.A. in Music & B.M. in Music Education at the University of South Carolina, and her M.Ed. in Educational Administration at Columbia International University. She is employed in ministry with North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, CA.

Former Director of Bands

Michael Moore

Mr. Moore received his education at Bob Jones University and the University of South Carolina, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education, a master’s degree in instrumental conducting and a PhD in music education at USC. Mr. Moore taught band and orchestra in Anderson County schools before moving to Columbia and has served as a church choir director for eight years. This is his second year with MHSB. He and his wife, Deanna, both desire to glorify the Lord through the ministry of music education. Colossians 1:28,29 "...that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

Dr. Moore is now teaching at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC.  We thank him for all his efforts in furthering the work of the band and will be praying for both he and his family.

Former Director of Bands

Lee Myers

Mr. Myers has been involved with music since he was very young and has been leading instrumental music and ensembles for over 6 years. He graduated from Ben Lippen High School where he was very active and a leader in the band program. He has studied piano, trumpet, and music composition under many accomplished professional musicians. He is currently finishing up his undergrad degree at Columbia International University with a double major in Bible and in Music. As the minister of music at Cedar Creek Baptist in Blythewood, SC, Mr. Myers directs all the music and worship through music at the church. In addition, he has co-directed the adult handbell choir at Shandon Baptist for several years and has been teaching theory and autoharp at Shandon's Music camp for the last 5 summers. Mr. Myers has written and arranged numerous works for band, orchestra, and choir. He looks forward to continuing his education in the next few years in Seminary and wherever the Lord leads him.

Former Percussion Instructor

 Matt Whitcomb

Matthew Whitcomb completed a Master's degree in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina in 2006. As a percussionist, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Bob Jones University. Matt has over thirteen years of band experience. Over the past few years, he has studied as a band director, choir director, opera conductor and orchestral conductor. In 2005, he was a guest conductor for the University of South Carolina Concert Choir. Matt and his wife, Rachelle, work on the music staff of the WILDS Christian Camp.

Former Woodwind Instructor

Kristin Slaughenhoupt

Mrs. Slaughenhoupt graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1988 with two degrees: a B.A. in Music Performance and a B.S. in Finance. She has been teaching privately and performing professionally for 19 years. While in Nevada, she was president of Sierra Flute Society and served as principal flute in the Sierra Master Works Chamber Orchestra and the Ruby Mountain Symphony, as a free lance soloist through out northeastern Nevada, and as a member of various other chamber orchestras. She also was the music director for Ruby Mountain Christian School where she taught all the choirs K-12. She currently serves as the head of Zefiro Trio (a professional flute trio) and principal piccolo of the Florence Symphony, and occasionally performs with the SC Philharmonic on piccolo and the Masterworks Chamber Orchestra in Florence on flute. She also continues to direct choirs in Florence where she serves as the Youth Choirs Director for Church at Sandhurst and is an active member of the King Avenue Choral Ensemble. She desires to give all the glory to God for blessing her with this ability and the love to reach others with the Gospel through music. Colossians 1:18 "And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."