Brass, Woodwinds, and Percussion

Steve Davis, a Memphis native, has been ministering in instrumental music for over 30 years starting with the Bellevue Sanctuary Orchestra in 1984. His main instrument of expertise is the trombone. He received both his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Memphis in 1990 and 1996 respectively. Steve started teaching private lessons in brass and piano through Bellevue’s Performing Arts Center in 1986.

He has served at Leawood Baptist Church, Metro Baptist Church (just outside Nashville), Germantown Baptist Church, Bellevue Baptist Church, and Collierville First Baptist Church over the years in their music ministries. Also, he has played with the River City Community Band, the Germantown Symphony Orchestra and Central Church Orchestra. Both he, his wife Audrey, daughter Gloria, and son Philip are members of the Bellevue Orchestra.

Julian Henderson is a native Memphian who has been playing drums since he was three years old. He grew up in our School of Performing Arts and has participated and led our Trash Can Ensemble in performances around the city. He was homeschooled and then earned a degree in music education in 2014 from Wheaton College, located in the suburbs of Chicago. While at Wheaton, Julian gained experience playing various musical styles in many venues around Chicago and the surrounding area as well as the use of a wide variety of percussions instruments. His primary instruments are drum set and mallets. Since graduating, Julian has returned to Memphis share the knowledge and experience he gained and even more importantly his passion for the percussive arts with students and fellow musicians. He has taught in schools, worked with the Memphis Music Initiative, and currently plays at Bellevue Baptist Church and various gigs around the city. Julian’s educational philosophy is to train not just the hands and feet, but to engage the brain, heart, soul, and mind as well.

Leigh Neria was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to Memphis upon completion of a B.S. Education in Instrumental Music from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She studied clarinet under Dr. Scott Bridges, performed in the Alabama Wind Ensemble under the direction of the late Dr. Gerald Welker and Kenneth Ozzello, and was a member of the Million Dollar Band. Mr. Holcomb recruited her to Memphis, and she began teaching music/band in Memphis City Schools in August of 2000.

She received her Master’s in Administration and Supervision from Grand Canyon University in the spring of 2010 and has served in administration in Memphis/Shelby County Schools, a middle school band director, and is currently an Orff Music Specialist at Shady Grove Elementary School. Leigh has served as a private woodwind teacher in the Memphis area for over nineteen years, as well as an educator in the Memphis/Shelby County School District. Leigh is a member of Bellevue Baptist Church, and is also a member of the Bellevue Orchestra.

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Mollie Tatum holds her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance, as well as her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (emphasis in both flute and voice) from the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music (2010, 2008). She holds her Tennessee State Teaching License in K-12 Music Education, (both Choral and Instrumental Emphasis). Mollie studied voice with Dr. Pamela Gaston, (University of Memphis; 2004-2010), voice and piano with Mrs. Rose Mary Anderson, flute with Mr. Bruce Erskine (University of Memphis; 2004-2008) and Mrs. Valerie Bachelor, and choral conducting with Dr. Lawrence Edwards (University of Memphis; 2007-2010). Mollie has taught private voice and flute at the Bellevue School of Performing Arts for over 14 years, and has served as choral and flute ensemble director for various choirs and ensembles in the area.

Mollie performs regularly as a soloist for various choirs and ensembles in the Memphis area. She especially enjoyed her role as Maria in the Harrell Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music, for which she received an Ostrander Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Through recitals, competitions and ministry venues, Mollie aims for her students to grow in their love of music and the Lord, to find their “core sound”, to sharpen their individual skills to the very best of their ability, and to become comfortable in using their gift to bless others and glorify the Lord! Mollie enjoys spending time with her husband Ben, two precious boys Daniel and Samuel, and her adorable little girl Emily.

Jim Holcomb spent 24 years in the classroom as an instrumental and vocal music teacher. In the early 90s, Jim was asked to serve as the supervisor of music programs for Memphis City Schools, and served in this role for 21 years.  Following his time in public school music education, Jim served as the administrator of the Bellevue School of Performing Arts for approximately 5 years where he continues to serve as a brass teacher; marking almost 52 years in service to music/arts education in Tennessee and Mississippi. Additionally, Mr. Holcomb teaches french horn at Christian Brothers High School.

During his tenure as a classroom music teacher, Jim’s performing ensembles were well known for the comprehensive nature of a music program, experiencing consistent success at local, regional, and national festivals.  In service to the Tennessee Music Education Association and affiliated regional associations, Jim received an “Outstanding Administrator” Award in 2006, Jim has also served on grant panels for the Tennessee Arts Commission and Memphis City Center Commission, has served on the Board of the Governor’s School of the Arts (1992-1996), and is currently serving on the Board of the Tennessee Arts Academy Foundation and the Cultural Connections by Design Technologies National Board of Directors. He is a recipient of the Tennessee Arts Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Amro Music Educator’s Walk of Fame Award, the TMEA Music Educator’s Hall of Fame, the American Legion Americanism Award and countless others.

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Audrey started taking piano lessons at age six and went on to learn trumpet (playing through college in marching band, concert band, and orchestra), violin, and french horn. She has been playing in the Bellevue Orchestra along with her husband since 1986. Before coming to Bellevue, she enjoyed playing in the orchestra in various other churches where her husband served on staff. She also loves singing and enjoys participating in the Bellevue Women’s Worship team. She has been married to Steve for over 25 years, and they have two children, Gloria and Philip who are also in the Bellevue Orchestra. Audrey earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. She home educated her two children for 12 years and has taught piano, trumpet, and violin over the years. Her desire is to teach students to become more skilled on their instruments, and to use their abilities to bring glory to God. “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. “Psalm 33:3

Dan Davis is a Memphis native and a product of the Bellevue Music program. He participated in Graded Choirs, Handbell Ensembles, and the Adult Choir and Orchestra. He started Piano at the age of 6, and went on to participate in High School Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Jazz Band on both Piano and Drum Set, making All-State in Band, Jazz Band (on Piano), and Voice. For over 30 years he has been teaching private lessons in Percussion, Piano, and Voice for the Bellevue SPA, the Germantown Conservatory of Music, and privately.

After some time in college, Dan joined the United States Marine Corps to participate in their Field Band program. He served for eight years, and was stationed for four years in New Orleans, Louisiana with the Third Marine Airwing Band, now known as the Marine Forces Reserve Band. Dan went on to complete a Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Memphis after leaving the military.

Since then, Dan has performed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, as well as in various musical theatre productions and private engagements across the Mid-South. He taught Elementary Music for 7 years with the former Memphis City Schools, specializing in Orff-Schulwerk. He also completed a Master's in Education from Union University during this time.

Dan has been a lifelong Bellevue member, and is humbled and honored to continue to serve in the School of Performing Arts, as well as in the Bellevue Orchestra and as a Life Group teacher.

Daryl, a native Californian, grew up in a musical family, his father a pastor/worship leader and his mother the church pianist.

He has been performing professionally for 39 years, teaching private lessons, running band clinics and sectionals for school bands for over 30 years, along with performing and repairing/buying/selling band instruments.

Daryl studied Music Education and Music performance at Riverside City College, performance and leadership at The United States Armed Forces School Of Music, as well as many years of on the job training with USMC, USAF, Air National Guard and USN Musical organizations over his 27 year career as a Military Musician.

For four years Daryl performed aboard Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean cruise lines as a member of the main production show orchestras, based out of California, Florida, Puerto Rico and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Daryl has a wide variety of musical experience performing both professionally and volunteering with community bands and serving in the music ministry in several churches while transferring around the country with military bands, with wind ensembles, jazz combos, big bands, musical theatre pit orchestras, r&b/Soul groups, a Southern Gospel ensemble and even some country bands, singing backup vocals as well as playing woodwind instruments.

Daryl is a member of the Bellevue Orchestra and an active independent performing artist around Memphis and the Mid-South region.