The mission of the music ministry at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music and song. With a philosophy of “ministering to the congregation” rather than performing for the congregation, the musicians of the La Casa music program enrich our weekly worship services. The music ministry at La Casa focuses on providing opportunities for all musicians who desire to be a part of the music ministry regardless of experience, age, or talent without compromising the standard to offer excellent, high quality music in our worship services and for our congregation.

Please take a few moments and look through the information contained on the Music website. If you have any questions, would like additional information, or if you are interested in joining one of more of our groups, please contact the music department at 480-948-1234.  A world of great music, great friends, great worship, and great fun awaits you! We hope to have you with us soon.

Meet our Music & Media Staff

MUSIC MINISTRY
Jennaya Robison, Director of Music
Dr. Michael Mazzatenta, Organist/Handbell Director
Joe Millea, Director of Instrumental Music Ministry
Bill McKennon, Director of Contemporary Worship

MEDIA MINISTRY
Johnny Meier, Director of Media Ministries
Gary Spears, Sound Engineer

Jennaya Robison, Director of Music, conducts the Sanctuary Choir, Cancion de Cristo, Celebration Choir, Jubilation Choir, and String Ensemble. She also selects hymnody and helps coordinate worship services for every weekend. She is in demand as a conductor, clinician, and soprano throughout Arizona and the United States. She has held faculty and teaching positions at the University of Arizona, Luther College, and the University of New Mexico. She has conducted orchestras at the University of Arizona, Luther College, and as well as community orchestras in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. She has been the conductor for the Collegium Musicum of the University of Arizona as well as the University Singers, Kantorei, and Honor Choir of the University of New Mexico. She was honored to prepare and conduct the Arizona Choir, the premiere choral ensemble at the University of Arizona, in concert and rehearsal. In addition to her duties at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran, she is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Scottsdale Musical Arts including the Scottsdale Arts Orchestra, Scottsdale Choral Artists, and Scottsdale Children’s Choirs. As a soprano, she has been sung the Scottsdale Symphony, St. Andrews Bach Society, Tucson Masterworks Chorale, University of Arizona Choirs and Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Choral Arts, Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, Luther College Symphony Orchestra and has held leading roles in operas in Iowa and New Mexico. Most recently she performed the Joshua Rifkin edition of the Bach Mass in b minor. Her performance with Steven Moeckel, concertmaster for the Phoenix Symphony, was heralded as "brilliant coloratura" by the Tucson daily star. She has sung as a member of the Dale Warland Singers in Minneapolis, Minnesota under the direction of Dale Warland, Las Cantantes under the direction of Bradley Ellingboe, and in the Nordic Choir of Luther College under the direction of Weston Noble as well as performing with the Des Moines Symphony, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Her primary area of research is in the field of vocal health within the choral ensemble. Her dissertation topic includes the use of choral pivoting to alleviate tension due to high and low tessitura in the choral ensemble. The choral music of the Swiss composer, Frank Martin, is the focus of her research. Her teachers include Bruce Chamberlain, Elizabeth Schauer, Weston Noble, Bradley Ellingboe, Timothy Peter, Richard Nace, Kristin Dauphinais, and Mary Kay Schmidt. She a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance and Music Education Luther College, Master of Music in Conducting and Voice Performance from the University of New Mexico, and is ABD for the Doctor of Music Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and Chorus America. She resides in Phoenix with her husband, Brett (who is Director of Music and Arts at another church in the valley)and have three children, Elise, Grace, and Benjamin.
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Dr. Michael Mazzatenta, Organist/Handbell Director, Dr. Michael Mazzatenta received his Doctor of Music Arts degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University and performs as a concert organist, accompanist, handbell director, and jazz pianist. His Bachelors and Masters degrees were completed at the University of Michigan. Michael has won awards for both performance and composition, including his history making "double-win" awarded by Area II of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers for original handbell compositions in both the adult and youth categories. He is also the editor of the Complete Gospel Preludes for Organ by William Bolcom, recently published by E. B. Marks Music. Michael is also the Adjunct Instructor of Class Piano and Jazz Combo at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Extremely versatile in both classical and jazz music, you might see him freelancing in jazz clubs one night and accompanying a concert choir the next! He also performs as a duo with his twin brother, guitarist, Mark (Instructor at High Point University in High Point, NC) in varied programs of classical, jazz, and original compositions.
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Joe Millea, Director of Instrumental Music, North American percussionist, music educator, and composer/arranger, Joe Millea currently serves as the principal Percussionist and Timpanist with the Scottsdale Arts Orchestra in Scottsdale AZ and is a Percussion Instructor with the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band. In addition to his teaching, Joe is the front ensemble arranger of the Bands of America regional champion Rosemount High School Marching Band, of Rosemount, Minnesota. He is also a founding member of the ‘MoTU’ percussion quartet, based out of Tempe, Arizona. Joe received his Bachelor's degree in Music Performance and Music Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Master Degree in music performance from Arizona State University. He has performed in numerous ensembles and festivals throughout North America including The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, Minneapolis Percussion Trio, Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Scottsdale Arts Orchestra, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps of Rosemont, Illinois, and MBI Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Joe also participated in the first International Festival of Percussion Ensembles in San José, Costa Rica, and has done recordings for the Neil A. Kjos music publishing company. In addition to these ensembles, Joe has performed with many world-renowned artists, including Nebosja Jovan Zivkovic, Stuart Marrs, Bill Carruthers, Eugene Rousseau, Dave Karr, Ross Karre, Dave Graff, Bob Becker and Tom Ashworth. His primary teachers are Fernando Meza, J.B. Smith, Peter Kogan, Mark Sunkett, Simone Mancuso, Brian Duffy and Phil Hey. Joe is currently completing his Doctorate of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University.
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Johnny Meier, Director of Media Ministries, Johnny was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and is a graduate of Illinois State University. He is very close with his grandparents John and Pat and has two sisters named Andrea and Chrissy. He has an extensive background in media and film production and recently produced and co-directed a faith-based baseball movie titled One Hit From Home that will be released in the spring of 2012. Johnny also has produced and directed an array of promotional videos for non-profit organizations and churches.
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Bill McKennon, Contemporary Worship Leader
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Gary Spears, Sound Engineer
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