Interview With An Arts Director

Sean:What’s your name?
Derick: Derick Thompson

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?
Derick: Yellow Box

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?
Derick: Cello

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?
Derick: Bruce Hornsby

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?
Derick: Web-Development

Sean: Who are your influences?
Derick: U2, Coldplay, Mathias Grunewald

Sean: Married?
Derick: Married
Sean: Kids?
Derick: None
Sean: Pets?
Derick: dog
Sean: Or just gear?
Derick: lots

Sean: What’s your favorite caffeinated beverage?
Derick: Diet Everything

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?
Derick: Car

Sean: Mac or PC?
Derick: Mac

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?
Derick: Arts Director

Sean: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?
Derick: The great group of people I get to work with on a weekly basis.

Sean: What’s your name?
Pat: Pat Ferguson

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?
Pat: Carillon

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?
Pat: Guitar, violin, flute

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?
Pat: Right now, Chris Tomlin and Josh Groban

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?
Pat: Fishing, golf, going to antique stores, reading, travel

Sean: Who are your influences?
Pat: Earl, my three children all influence me.

Sean: What’s your artistic background?  Why are you qualified?
Pat: Piano lessons for 8 years, sang on stage since I was a child, started accompanying choirs in 8th grade, and  sang/played in college ensembles, directed children and adult choirs, worship director at Deer Creek Christian Church for 25 years, arts director at CCC for 5 years.
I think I am qualified by “comparison” here at Carillon at this particular time.

Sean: Married?  Single?  Kids?  Pets?  Or just gear?
Pat: Married to Earl for almost 48 years (forever?), three children, no pets

Sean: What’s your favorite caffeinated beverage?
Pat: Mocha Frappachino from Starbucks with whipped cream

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?
Pat: New car….Mercedes convertible

Sean: Mac or PC?
Pat: PC

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?
Pat: I want to be a band director……specialty, the violin or maybe a professional dancer.

Sean: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?
Pat: Seeing my grandkids!
The second best is having the “helps” with the worship planning.

Sean: Thanks Pat.

Sean: What’s your name?
ERIC: Eric Bramlett

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?
ERIC: All of them, and None of them. Beyond being Uncle Eric to the misfits, I also oversee the catalyst content (big idea, video and teaching) for adults, students and kids.

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?
ERIC: Piano effectively beyond plunking out chords

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?
ERIC: Prince

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?
ERIC: Watching most sports, playing basketball

Sean: Who are your influences?
ERIC: Styx, Journey, Kansas, Prince, Weird Al Yankovic, The Bobs, The Beautiful South, sketch comedy, my parents, anyone who ever let me make them laugh.

Sean: What’s your artistic background?  Why are you qualified?
ERIC: I have a BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Arizona and an MFA in Directing for the Theatre at Illinois State University. I love to tell stories, and go tmy start doing so in the theatre. CCC was my first “church gig.”

Sean: Married?  Single?  Kids?  Pets?  Or just gear?
ERIC: Married to Kristi since June 5, 1993. Our daughter Sadie is almost 11, son Dillon is 8, and Anna is almost 5.

Sean: What‚s your favorite caffeinated beverage?
ERIC: Tie between latte in the morning and generic “energy drink” impulse-buy at the gas station

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?
ERIC: What is this gear you speak of?

Sean: Mac or PC?
ERIC: Mac. Used to have an old IIvx back in the day. Switched to PC for a while, but have come back home.

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?
ERIC: I want to be the best version of Uncle Eric that I can be.

Sean: In your opinion, what‚s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?
ERIC: There is always an opportunity to serve as an artist at Community. We are not afraid to take risks. We thrive on risk taking, and it shows up in the product we create for all campuses, and it shows up in the individual expressions of each campus‚ personality. The arts are constantly changing, and Community has never (so far) been afraid to move somewhere else if it will culturally help more people find their way back to God. I’m also humbled and amazed and how many brilliant arts directors we have serving at our campuses. I watch all-staff meetings with these crazy monkeys leading worship and I think “all-staff?” more like “all-star.” Awesome. And I got the word monkey in there.

Sean: What’s your name?

Tony: Tony Germann

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?

Tony: Romeoville

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?

Tony: Ukelele (seriously); drums (almost as serious); Ableton like Ekblad (not serious)

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?

Tony: Rush

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?

Tony: Cycling

Sean: Who are your influences?

Tony: The Monkees (seriously), Joe Satriani, Alex Lifeson, Tom Morello, Neil Schon, Pete Yorn

Sean: What’s your artistic background?

Tony: Uh, music

Sean: Why are you qualified?

Tony: As a musician? If that is the direction of the question then it is 30 years of playing guitar; touring, club circuits, recording, radio appearances, etc. Lead and organized many of the gigs and events.

Sean: Married?  Single?  Kids?  Pets?  Or just gear?

Tony: Married with 2 children and pets (we have a zoo: dog, cats, gecko, and a hedgehog). Lotsa gear.

Sean: What’s your favorite caffeinated beverage?

Tony: A tie between Guyaki tea and Soy Mocha.

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?

Tony: Gear because I can get an old car

Sean: Mac or PC?

Tony: Both. Seriously. I don’t get the bad blood between the two. Both are good. Currently own a pc but looking for a mac too.

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?

Tony: Sponge Bob

Sean: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?

Tony: Being able to use my God given gifts to glorify Him and helping others to get there too.

Sean: What’s your name?
BT: BT Norman

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?
BT: Shorewood

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?
BT: Keys

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?
BT: John Mayer (live not studio)

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?
BT: Any Sport or competition that I can win.

Sean: Who are your influences?
BT: Michael W Smith influenced the vocals big time growing up (not a fan anymore but MWS was hot in the 90s). My life influence is my high school small group leader who taught me to stop complaining about the way things are and work to change them.

Sean: What’s your artistic background?  Why are you qualified?
BT: I have led worship bands since I was 16. I started working in crafting full services through college and helped start a youth celebration service at Springbrook Community Church in Naperville. Got a BA in Biblical Studies from Moody. Then did a 6 month residency with CCC in 2008.

Sean: Married?  Single?  Kids?  Pets?  Or just gear?
BT: Married to a beautiful woman Jeanette Norman on June 21 2008.

Sean: What’s your favorite caffeinated beverage?
BT: Dr. Pepper

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?
BT: New car. I’m not a gear person too much.

Sean: Mac or PC?
BT: Mac. I would like a new laptop but not over a car.

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?
BT: I would like to plant a church. Not sure where yet but I know that’s in the future.

Sean: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?
BT: Personally I think we benefit from years of experience by so many different people. I also think that CCC is a place that has brought out the best in me by giving me opportunities to lead, serve, dream and try new things.  As an artist I would be pumped to be a part of the arts team at every location we have.

Sean: What’s your name?

Carson: Carson Cheatham

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?

Carson: Naperville Downtown

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?

Carson: Banjo

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?

Carson: This list could get long. Currently, I’ve been enjoying Phil Wickham. He brings a fresh sound to the world of worship. Outside of the worship realm I enjoy an eclectic list of artists ranging from Sufjan Stevens to The Foo Fighters and everything in between…

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?

Carson: Running half marathons/marathons

Sean: Who are your influences?

Carson: Jesus (gotta put the Sunday school answer), my wife, and my mother.

Sean: What’s your artistic background?  Why are you qualified?

Carson: I’ve always loved music. In middle school I joined the marching band and took up the trombone. In 8th grade I got my first electric guitar. I taught myself drums my freshman year of high school and then started a band with my friends. After high school I decided to go to college and major in Music Ministry, which landed me an internship at CCC in 2006. After that I spent two years in New Hampshire as a Students Arts Director. Earlier this year I was hired back on at CCC as the Arts Director for Naperville Downtown. I hope that qualifies me.

Sean: Married?  Single?  Kids?  Pets?  Or just gear?

Carson: My wife and I are coming up on our one year anniversary!

Sean: What’s your favorite caffeinated beverage?

Carson: Black coffee

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?

Carson: New Gear!

Sean: Mac or PC?

Carson: Mac

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?

Carson: I guess I’m already doing it.

Sean: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?

Carson: There are so many outlets and other talented musicians to surround your self with. It’s fun!

Here at Community we have 10 Arts Directors at 9 campuses and 1 all knowing yoda like church wide Arts Director.  I thought it might be cool for you all to get to know them a little better.  So for our first interview with an Arts Director, meet Jeff Ekblad.

Sean: What’s your name?
Jeff: Jeff Ekblad

Sean: At which campus are you directing arts?
Jeff: Yorkville

Sean: What instrument do you wish you could play that you can’t currently?
Jeff: I wish my piano chops were better.

Sean: Who’s your favorite musical artist?
Jeff: I don’t think I have a favorite, I try to learn from all types of music.  I’d say right now I’m into Prince/James Brown/Stevie Wonder type stuff, but on the guitar rock side of things the Silversun Pickups.

Sean: What’s your favorite hobby other than music/art?
Jeff: Killing zombies in COD5

Sean: Who are your influences?
Jeff: I learned guitar from Hendrix I suppose, but necessity is my true influence.  I ask, “What do I need to get done right now?” and I make it happen.  Whatever comes out comes out.

Sean: What’s your artistic background?  Why are you qualified?
Jeff: I played in band in school, bands out of school.  Spent a lot of time as a band leader for a Youth Band while I was in high school, took music theory in college.  Those two experiences taught me the importance of part-writing and “instrumentalization” in general.  I’m a self taught self starter.  People skills are probably more important in my role than artistry.  Don’t tell anyone.

Sean: Married?  Single?  Kids?  Pets?  Or just gear?
Jeff: Married to Elisa, daughter Liana is 2 and Lila is due in September!

Sean: What’s your favorite caffeinated beverage?
Jeff: Coffee.  If it’s really late rum n coke.  But only if it’s really late, like past noon or so.  (just kidding)

Sean: If you had to choose between a new car or a new piece of gear, what would you choose?
Jeff: We choose to have one car because of the lack of money we make.  So if we’re talking an ADDITIONAL car, then I’d consider it.  Probably not though.  Mac pro.

Sean: Mac or PC?
Jeff: Mac

Sean: Who do you want to be when you grow up?
Jeff: A musician.  More specifically in charge of Sean Bublitz.

Sean: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about being an artist at Community Christian?
Jeff: Although music is rewarding in a lot of ways, the relationships with my artists is probably more rewarding.  Being a part of life change on a global scale by helping people find their way back to God makes the insanity worth it.