CMC’s Board of Directors
The Concordia Music Conservatory vision is to be the regional center of music education and appreciation for the benefit of congregations, communities, and the world. Meet our Board of Directors who helps us achieve the vision.
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Chair
John Rodewald is the current Chair of the CMC board. John’s hometown is Concordia, Missouri, although he now lives in Iowa where he owns and manages several businesses. When not working, he enjoys traveling to see his two grown children, one in Melbourne Australia and one in Denver Colorado, as well as golfing, playing pickleball and riding motorcycles. John is married to Julie, and they live in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
John has served on various church, non-profit and for-profit boards, and currently serves on the board of Mission of Christ Network along with CMC. Someday he will learn to slow down but until that time … he loves to stay active.
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Treasurer
Jeff Bingham is the Treasurer of the Concordia Music Conservatory and has served in this role since July 2023. Originally from Greenville, IL, Jeff moved to Concordia, MO in 2014 after marrying his wife, Hannah. Together, they have 2 children. Jeff received his Bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2011 after majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He received his Juris Doctor from UMKC in May 2014, and was admitted to the Missouri Bar in October 2014. Currently, Jeff is employed by the USDA's Risk Management Agency, working with private insurance companies to administer the federal crop insurance program. In addition to serving on the board of the Concordia Music Conservatory, Jeff serves on the board of the Concordia Lions Club and is the current president of the PTL organization at his childrens' school.
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Pastoral Advisor
The Rev. Bruce Hartung, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus, Practical Theology, Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis. He is the author of two books published by Concordia Publishing House, Holding Up the Prophet’s Hand: Supporting Church Workers and Building Up the Body of Christ; Supporting Community Life in the Church. Prior to being on the Concordia Seminary Faculty, he was Executive Director of the LCMS Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support and the Director of Ministerial Health/Health and Healing Ministries. Prior to his Synodical work he was the Executive Director of pastoral counseling centers in the Chicago area and in Syracuse, New York and in active clinical practice there. In his retirement he currently serves as the President of the Maryland Continuing Care Residents Association (MaCCRA) and a member of the Wellspring Center for Leadership and Wellness Leadership Team. He is married with two sons and five grandchildren.
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Vice-Chair
Kent Kunkel serves as a Development Officer for Lutheran Bible Translators. His background is in real estate, banking, and nonprofit leadership to his role. Prior to joining LBT, Kent served as Development Director at Saint Paul Lutheran High School and currently contributes to district-level ministry efforts as a member of the Council for Mission and Ministry and is a District Disaster Response Coordinator with the LCMS Missouri District.
Outside of his professional life, Kent enjoys vacationing in the Rockies, bow hunting, and making memories with his wife Jennifer and their 4 children—Josiah, Ryan, and two "adopted" daughters from Ethiopia, Amen and Dena.
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Secretary
I grew up on a farm outside of Emma, Mo and have lived in the Concordia area for most of my life. I attended Holy Cross Lutheran School in Emma and Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia and then earned my degree in Agriculture & Horticulture from UCM (CMSU at that time) in Warrensburg, MO. I live with my husband, Ryan and 2 children, Walker and Esther (who attend Saint Paul Lutheran High School) on a farm in rural Lafayette County. I currently work part-time for Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Hemme Brothers Creamery so I can accommodate 2 high school sports and music schedules. My daughter has taken lessons through the Concordia Music Conservatory and sang in the Kinderchor from its first semester. I joined the CMC board as secretary in 2023 and have enjoyed working to grow CMC and help fulfill its vision and mission.
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Board Member
Mr. Alan Miller - (Masters - Human Resources) Retired USAF Officer served 24 years traveling throughout the World on assignments. Then worked the next 15+ years with Northrop Grumman as a B-2 Aircrew Instructor teaching aircraft systems to new pilots at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. I've also served on the Elders Board, as Council President, Men's Club President, Choir and Stewardship Board at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Warrensburg. I 'm active in the American Legion Post 131 in Warrensburg and lead the Honor Guard Team for Veteran Funeral ceremonies and events. My wife, Lorraine and I became interested in the CMC by attending various concerts at local churches and through conversations with Dr Jerrode Marsh. We've become supporters of the CMC and I'm looking forward to serving on the Board.
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Executive Director
Dr. Jerrode Marsh is the Executive Director of CMC, the Director of Music at Saint Paul Lutheran High School, and the Conductor of the Sedalia Symphony Orchestra. She moved to Concordia in the fall of 2015 from Frankfurt, Germany, where she had lived and worked the prior two decades as a professional musician, performing extensively as a piano soloist, collaborative artist, and conductor throughout Europe, and had also served as a Parish Music Director. She holds degrees in Piano Performance from Portland State University and the University of Texas at Austin. She enjoys reading, cooking, writing, sewing and traveling, as well as visiting with friends and meeting new people. She has two grown children and two grandchildren and remains an active as a pianist and choral clinician.
Within a short time of living in Concordia, she became aware of the lack of music lessons available to families in the rural region where she had been called to serve. She also noticed there was a large deficit of musicians able to play for church services within the region. After five years of much thought and discussion, with the support of Saint Paul Lutheran High School Board of Trustees, and with the seed money of a generous donor in the community, she began the process of founding CMC in the fall of 2021 with the specific intent to provide quality music lessons and musical ensembles for students and families throughout the mid-Missouri region.
CMC’s Strategic Planning Committee