School of Music welcomes four new faculty members

School of Music welcomes four new faculty members

Robin Ghosh | 08/31/2026

The Lipscomb University School of Music welcomed four new full-time faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year, bringing extensive experience in instrumental and choral performance and education, film and media composition, contemporary music production and music technology.

Joining the faculty are Rick DeJonge, assistant professor of film and media composition; Samuel Litt, assistant professor and director of athletic bands and instrumental studies; Christopher Nakielski, visiting professor and director of choral activities; and Alexander Webb, assistant professor and director of commercial music: production. Together, these four appointments bring diverse experience across the concert stage, recording studio, film and television, music industry, and collegiate and secondary education, further expanding opportunities for Lipscomb students to learn from accomplished educators and music professionals.

For School of Music Director Wendy Matthews, the new faculty members bring both exceptional expertise and a commitment to the School's mission.

"Each of these outstanding educators brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for nurturing both musical artistry and student success," said Matthews. Their presence will undoubtedly strengthen our pursuit of excellence in creative, faith-based music learning and performance. We warmly welcome them to our faculty."

Rick DeJonge

Conductor, composer, educator and arranger Rick DeJonge is a graduate of the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at the University of Southern California. His career spans higher education, film and television and the professional concert stage. In 2026 alone, DeJonge served as arranger and orchestrator for the Amazon Prime series Seeking Persephone, composed and conducted the score for the Lifetime Movie Network film Secrets of the Matriarch, and premiered two new concert works. He has also served as music arranger and conductor for Disney's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Concert productions since 2013 and as musical director and arranger for Broadway and Hallmark actress Ginna Claire Mason.

DeJonge looks forward to drawing on that wide-ranging experience to prepare the next generation of composers in his new role at Lipscomb.

"With more than two decades of experience in film scoring, I look forward to mentoring the next generation of composers by helping students develop the artistic, technical, and collaborative skills necessary to succeed in this highly specialized field," said DeJonge. "I am excited to share the knowledge and professional experiences I have gained throughout my career as they prepare for opportunities within the film and media industry."

Samuel Litt

Samuel Litt comes to Lipscomb from Valparaiso University, where he served as pep band director. He previously served as director of bands at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where his ensembles received top awards at state and national concert band festivals.

Litt holds a Bachelor of Arts in music technology and a Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While there, he worked with the Marching Illini and Illini basketball bands and served as interim director of the university's volleyball band. His teaching experience spans beginning through collegiate-level instrumental music.

For Lipscomb's athletic bands, Litt envisions developing a comprehensive program comparable to those at peer NCAA Division I institutions.

"To accomplish this goal, I plan to hold our ensemble to the highest performance standards, perform relevant repertoire that engages the Bison community and create a foundation of spirit to best support our athletic program," he said.

As director of instrumental studies, Litt also hopes to prepare students for the range of opportunities available to today's musicians.
"I aim to guide our instrumental music students through all the different aspects of what it means to be an instrumentalist in today's musical society," he said. "Providing students with as many opportunities as possible across pop, orchestral and jazz music is incredibly important to a cohesive music education."

Christopher Nakielski

Christopher Nakielski is an accomplished conductor, educator and tenor soloist whose career bridges classical and contemporary commercial music.
He previously served as associate professor of music and department co-chair at Cornell College, where he grew ensemble participation and developed Iowa's first contemporary commercial music Bachelor of Arts program. His experience also includes faculty service at Washington State University and six years as director of choral activities at Loyola Academy.

Nakielski says he was drawn to the energy he experienced within the School of Music. "When I stepped inside the music building and started meeting the students, I experienced a vibrancy that I hadn't felt in some time," he said. "There seemed to be a genuine excitement for learning and music making among them. I attribute this to the faith-based mission of Lipscomb; these students have a purpose to lead through their faith."

Alexander Webb

Alexander Webb brings deep experience as a performer, producer, recording and mixing engineer, studio owner and music technology educator to the Lipscomb School of Music.

Webb earned a Master of Music in music production from Berklee College of Music and most recently served as coordinator of music technology at Florida Gulf Coast University. As a singer-songwriter, he has shared the stage with artists including Andy Grammer, MercyMe and Yael Naim, while his work as a producer has been featured on major television networks.

At Lipscomb, Webb sees his role as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by cultivating creative excellence and faith in his students.

"Music performed and produced well glorifies God. It celebrates the divine order woven into creation and has a remarkable ability to reach us emotionally and spiritually, often before conscious thought even has a chance to form," said Webb. Helping Lipscomb students become capable, passionate creators and sending them into the music industry is a powerful opportunity to positively impact culture, deepen community, enrich lives, and revel in God's creative and redemptive work in the world."

With experience spanning ensemble performance and conducting to scoring, recording and production, the new faculty reflect the wide scope of music education at Lipscomb and the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts' commitment to an interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial and faith-animated creative education.

Learn more about Lipscomb's School of Music.