Studio Instructors

Phil Ling – Instructor of Acoustic and Electric Guitar; Art and Photography Instructor:  As an award winning artist, photographer, and gifted musician Phil Ling provides artistic leadership and strategic direction to The Studio Downtown.  He began his art studies locally under the instruction of Pam McDaniel and photography under the instruction of Jerry Schurman.  He attended Milligan College where he continued his studies in art and photography.   Phil is known for his photojournalistic style that captures real moments in a refreshing, natural and contemporary style.

Phil’s natural ability with guitar began at an early age. With the desire to learn the fundamental skills and theory he began taking guitar lessons at the age of eight and private vocal instruction in high school.  After traveling with a summer High School touring choir with KCU and receiving the Voice of the Year award and scholarship to Kentucky Christian College, he attended KCU to study under the direction of Dr. Mark Deakins.  While attending KCU he was a member of Destiny, the premier vocal recruiting group, and the Concert Choir which performed at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. Phil studied private voice under the renowned vocal coach, Vascile Venettozzi.

For the past year, Phil had independent guitar studies under recording artist, Kenny Florence, the lead guitarist of Annuals, a six-piece indie-pop outfit from Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Kenny Florence also personally heads up the band Sunfold and is lead guitarist, vocalist, writer and composer of the band.

Zac Combs – Instructor of Upright Bass, Electric Bass:  Zac began his band performance from 2000-2004 with the George Rogers Clark High School marching symphonic band and jazz band. He is a member and recording artist of the band, “Custom Made Bluegrass” playing the upright bass.  The band is a regionally known bluegrass band focusing on original work. They have opened for the Grascals, Lost and Found, and the Lonesome River Band.  From 2005-2010 Zac served as Worship Leader for the Mt. Carmel Christian Church in Winchester. He is a graduate of Kentucky Christian University.

Zac instructs both upright styles which include both arco and pizzicato.  He is proficient in reading bass and treble clef, knowledge of music theory, an experienced teacher, and also plays guitar and piano.  He has extensive experience in Bluegrass, Country, Jazz and Rock.

Ryan Cox – Instructor of Drums:  Ryan is a graduate of the Contemporary Music Center and  Kentucky Christian University with a degree in Music Business.  He has over 12 years of drumming experience with extensive experience in various genres including: Classic Rock. Alternative, Punk Rock, Modern Worship Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, R & B, and Hip Hop.  He has worked on tracks with Tom Willet (former manager for Al Green) and has presented several seminars on the basics and advanced techniques of drum tuning.

Mark Deakins, PhD – High School Chorale Conductor: As a choral conductor and Dean of the Kentucky Christian University, School of Music for 19 years, Dr. Mark Deakins has taken the University Concert Choir to a professional status with a national reputation. The choir performed in Carnegie Hall numerous times, took fourth place in the National Collegiate Choral Competition, secured an exclusive recording contract with Benson Music Group, and recorded for SilverSpring Music Group, Christian Network and Word Music in Christian Copyright Alliance, Nashville.

Under Mark's direction, the KCU choir has also made several appearances with other ensembles across the U.S., at major choral conventions and showcase, and at the International Choral Festival in Havana, Cuba.

Dr. Deakins also conducts the East Carter High School Concert Choir, an auditioned mixed chorus, under the direction of Mark Deakins, Dean of the School of Music at Kentucky Christian University. The choir received superior ratings at the National Choral Festival in 2006 and 2007 and a superior rating at the National Adjudicators Invitational (NAI) in 2008. Receiving the highest score of all choirs, bands, and orchestras at the NAI, the ECHS Concert Choir also received the Board of Directors award. The choir began with 13 members in 1998 and now is comprised of 74 members. This is the choir's first appearance in New York City and their first all-gospel concert.

Eric Guinn – Instructor of Voice: Eric attended  Alderson-Broaddus College from 2006-2008 as a vocal music major.  He was a scholarship member of the West Virginians touring musical ensemble, the Concert Choir Section Leader, and a Student Vocal Trainer.

He began as a part-time Worship Minister at Gateway Christian Church, St. Albans, WV in 2009, leading musical worship for all weekend services, including practices, scheduling, musical teaching, and discipleship of worship team members.  He also conducts voice lessons to youth and adults in the congregation.  On Sunday evenings, Eric is also the Contemporary Worship leader for a church in Teays, Valley, WV.

Eric enrolled at Kentucky Christian University in 2009 as a Music Worship Major. While attending KCU he had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with the Concert Choir.  After feeling a deeper calling into the ministry through his work at the Gateway Church, in the spring of 2010 he changed his major to Bible and Ministry emphasizing Christian Leadership with a minor in Music Worship.

Daniel Bell – Instructor of Voice: Daniel obtained his M.M. in Vocal Performance
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY,and a B.S. in Music Performance
Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, KY.
Most recently Daniel Bell performed in The Sound of Music with Paragon Music Theatre in Lexington, KY and as soloist in Pleasant Mountain Arts’ Mozart Gala in Harlan, KY. He debuted with Paragon in 2009 performing scenes from Les Misérables and Jersey Boys. In 2008 he played Frederic in Highlands Light Opera’s inaugural performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. While completing graduate study Mr. Bell performed the roles of the Prince in Richard Faith’s Sleeping Beauty, Brack Weaver in Kurt Weil’s Down in the Valley as well as Michele in scenes from Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Saint of Bleecker Street. He also was soloist for J.S. Bach’s Magnificat. Mr. Bell has participated in master classes and private lessons with Faith Esham, Shirlee Emmons, Cliff Jackson, Gail Robinson, Richard Boldrey, and Thomas Pasatieri; as well as studied contemporary singing styles with Lisa Popeil. Mr. Bell travels nationally as a recitalist, soloist and master-class/workshop presenter. He is currently enrolled with Chesapeake Bay Alexander Studies where he is pursuing certification in Alexander Technique. Mr. Bell is also a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and adjudicates in area music competitions.

Ben Geyer - Instructor of Piano: Ben Geyer is a pianist, composer, and educator.  At age eight, his parents found him playing at a friend’s piano and immediately enrolled him in lessons.  Ben’s extensive experience includes two years on the New York City jazz scene.  His debut album, The Narrative, was called “...Colorful, intriguing, and well worth hearing” by Scott Yanow of the Los Angeles Jazz Scene.  It was recorded by The Ben Geyer Sextet, a New York-based ensemble which has played throughout the city and across New England.

Ben’s original music often narrates the unfolding plot of a story.  For example, East of Eden Suite is based on John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name and tells the Biblical story of Cain and Abel.  The Slip is an original work for three modern dancers and jazz sextet showing the ice molecule at play and disarray.  Ben composed the incidental music for Finger Paint, an original play featured in the New York City International Fringe Festival.

As an educator, Ben holds adjunct positions at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and Nashua Community College (NH), and often appears at Rivier College in Nashua, NH as a vocal coach and guest lecturer.  He also teaches piano to kids at Music’s Cool Academy of Music in Londonderry, NH.  Ben has played with trumpeter Stjepko Gut and studied with jazz legends Hal Galper and Jon Faddis, as well as concert pianist Ivan Davis.  He holds a Bachelor of Music in Studio Music and Jazz, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Purchase College, SUNY.