Our Team.
Meet our great team of Staff, Engineers, Producers, Arrangers, Musicians, and Songwriters.
Matthew Temple
Matthew is the Director of Hope Music Ministry Services and The Grove Recording Studio. He has an undergraduate degree in Bible and English, and a Master's Degree in Business, but those closest to him know that the most interesting part of his background is that he was a member of an '80's hair metal band. Before coming to Hope, Matthew was the head of the Music Business Ministry program at Visible Music College. Click here to see Matthew talk about the music ministry.
Johanna Cosby
Johanna is the Assistant Director of Hope Music Ministry Services and Studio Manager for The Grove Recording Studio. Johanna is the "keeper of the studio calendar." But most importantly, she is the one who makes you feel at home when you come to The Grove. She has a degree in recording, spent time at MTV, and is a true New Yorker.
Kerry Kernan
Kerry Kernan is a producer/engineer, producing and/or engineering a variety of projects for artists including Ginny Owens, Jeremy Horn, Eliot Fitzgerald, The Worship Network (Hymns of Hope), Jill Dyson, Jon Reddick & Epiphany, JT Page, Bruce Carroll, Pat Register, Hope Church, and many more.
Kerry has a broad and diverse background in helping artists and bands—from serving as the head of the audio department at Visible School Music & Worship Arts College, to being the owner of Sounds Eternal (Kerry’s creative music production company), to serving on several local worship teams.
When asked about his thoughts on producing and working with bands and artists, Kerry says, “I guess the simple answer is that I look for that special uniqueness in each artist and then we build around that musically and production wise. The goal is to promote their genuine expression, yet work to make it as accessible and as musically pleasing to as broad a range of fans as possible, while preserving their artistic integrity.”
Whether it’s working with Grammy and Dove-Award winning artists or local up-and-coming bands, to pure ministry projects, one thing is always for sure—Kerry brings a genuine passion and gifting for bringing out the best in you and will help to elevate your music beyond even your own expectations.
Clients Kerry has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Skillet, Ginny Owens, Jeremy Horn, Eliot Fitzgerald, Autumn Fox, The American Radio, Bruce Carroll, JT Page, The Beep, John Conklin, Rick Recht, Dave Hollister, Joyce Cobb, Pat Register, Jon Reddick & Epiphany, Austin Carroll, Jill Dyson, Visible Music College, Hymns of Hope, Karen Brown, Visible Media Group, Analog Vox, Eclipse, John Johnson, Grace Unspoken, The Kathryn Stallings band, Auratrona, Rushing, Early Maxwell, Days Past, Neal Bowen, Lord chain, NuJynisis, Sam Shupe, Doug McMinn, Lloyd Rainey, Ephie Johnson, Mark Lewis, Ronell Ragbir, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, WUMR, (U of M, “The Jazz Lover”) Christ the Rock Metro Church, Hope Presbyterian Church, The University of Memphis, and many more.
John New Dollahite
Graduating from the University of Memphis with a degree in recording technology, John has been crafting his skills in and out of the studio. Operating a home studio for over 5 years, he has done numerous demos and EP’s, working with a variety of different genres including folk, singer/songwriters, reggae, country, world music and bluegrass. John captures as authentic recordings as possible.
“Developing a relationship with the artist is so very important. You need to know who it is you are working with so you can better accommodate and fulfill who and what it is you are capturing. Music is an experience! Music affects you emotionally, alters your perceptions and mood through sound.”
Clients John has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Aaron Shust, Jeremy Horn, Matthew West, Sara Groves, Bruce Carroll, Shannon McNally, Issac Hayes Tribute, Kim Hill, Rick Recht, Nicole C. Mullens, Mark Schultz, LeCrae, Bebo Norman, Ginny Owens, Free Sol, David Crowder Band, Family Force 5, Brenton Brown, Al Perkins, George Cocchini, Kirk Whalum, Rock the Vote 08”, Hymns Project (Hymns of Hope), Matt Tudor, Micheala Schmit, Milton Carroll, Jon Reddick, Dennis Swanburg, Superchic[k], Bob Bennett, Billy Sprague, Al Kopone, Cayerio, Donald Miller, Valarie June, Folk Alliance Showcase 2006, Star & Micey, Hal Hawkins, Erin Fudge, Kate Black, Johnathon Chu, David Troy Francis, Fran Mooney, Dylan Sneed, Candace Ashir, Karma Electra, While I Breathe I Hope, Seriphum, Conspiritor
Wes Leyshon
Wes Leyshon is a 2006 graduate of Visible Music College. Since earning his Bachelors of Modern Media Ministry with a concentration in Audio Production, Wes has been mixing and recording bands from all over, in several different studios under the name Avowal Music Production. Wes’s desire is to do what his business’ name means: to affirm the truth. With a passion for music and a heart for ministry, Wes desires to encourage local musicians as well as capture music from all over the world, that may not otherwise be recorded. In 2006, Wes made his first trip to record the worship of the poor churches in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The goal of this project and future projects is not only to encourage the musicians whose sounds are recorded, but also to give the missionaries serving in the country a tool to raise money and awareness for their work.
Wes has mixed numerous demos for songwriters in LA and Nashville. He has worked on projects for American Idol's David Cook and Katherine McPhee. Recently, his mix of 16 Frame's song, "Daylight", was released on their cd "Where it Ends" and another of Wes's 16 Frames mixes aired on MTV's season 5 finale of "The Hills."
Clients Wes has worked with live and/or in the studio:
David Cook, 16 Frames, Katharine McPhee, Ashlyne Huff, Meghan Kabir, Busbee, Josh Threlkeld, Steve Sulikowski, Erica Chambers, A Study in Scarlet, Dirt Brothers, Era Borough, Donte Everhart and the End Time Youth Movement, The Tim Terry Experience, Lecrae, Drasco, Nicholas Dane Williard, Joe Matheus, The American Radio, Voice of Glass, Jonathan Schaade, Jonah the Furious, Dan Lund, Aleisha Threlkeld, Hey Heidi Rae, Tichaona Meredza, and Electric Touch
Carlton Triplett
Carlton is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a Music degree in Recording Technology. With nearly 8 years of engineering and production experience, Carlton has efficiently and successfully worked on projects from studio engineering and production to sound reinforcement. As an assistant engineer for New Direction Church, Carlton edited live radio broadcast on 95.7 WHAL-FM, and successfully engineered and launched Power Zone Internet Radio. Through these projects, and more, Carlton has proven the ability to manage both small and large scale projects, consistently delivering great results.
Carlton not only has a passion for audio production but also for ministry through helping others achieve their purpose in Christ. As a FOH engineer, Carlton has worked with national recording artists such as Dave Hollister, Everett McBee, Lalah Hathaway, and Phil Hughley. He's also recorded Dutch artist, Annika Ijdo. Carlton has also been a pianist/keyboardist for over 14 years and has played with artists such as Donnie McClurklin and many more.
Clients Carlton has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Everett McBee, Nicole C. Mullens, Dave Hollister, Michelle Prather, 2Gether, Phil Hughley, Carla Barnes, Markevius Faulkner, Cayerio, Donnie McClurklin, University of Memphis Jazz Band, Nia Lennay, Annika Ijdo, Destiny Jennings, Stefanie Bolton, Xmen, Demetria Barnes, Sharon Jackson, Stacey L. Spencer, Zephaniah Dixon III, Jonathan-Blake White, Kenneth Whalum III, Will Graves and Soul, and Bishop Yvette Flunder
Justin Jaggers
Justin is currently finishing his degree at the University of Memphis, double majoring in Recording Technology and Music Business. In 2009 he graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Associate’s Degree in Music from Southwest Tennessee Community College. As a musician, he has been playing bass for several bands around the Memphis area, including Driving Into Eternity, Life By Inches, and currently Moe Joe. He is also a piano student and has earned scholarships from Amro Music.
As an engineer, Justin has worked out of Studio A at the University of Memphis, the Grove, and his home studio. He has recorded everything from southern rock, modern Christian rock, opera, and jazz. Dr. Steve Katz, accomplished pianist, says, “Justin has recorded piano/vocal tracks of both classical and jazz songs for me, and they are superb. Justin offers a rare combination of deft engineering skills and strong musical knowledge. I am amazed by the way he handles the [editing] process with such ease, creating a seamless final product.” John Austin, bassist for Angel Down, has said, “Recording with Justin has been a great experience for us. He was very knowledge and went the extra mile to get the sound we were looking for.”
In addition to finishing his bachelor’s degree, Justin has founded the Mid-South Musicians for Le Bonheur group. The group releases a CD every year and hold concerts featuring area bands and musicians to benefit the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
Clients Justin has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Dr. Steve Katz, Tanisha Ward, Angel Down, Life By Inches, Cantor Aryeh Samberg, Driving Into Eternity, Janie Crick, Typewriter Ribbon, Xzalt, Goin’ Down Standin’ Up, Matthew Williams, Emma Webb, Wampa, Counterpoint
Willie Pevear
Willie is the current FOH Engineer at Hope Church. He spent years in Nashville, TN working at some of the top recording studios in the country with very successful artists and musicians. After leaving Nashville, he worked at Young Ave Sound in Memphis and has since moved on to Hope Church with the Live Sound department.
Clients Willie has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, George Strait, Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys, Loretta Lynn, The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, Michael Card, Carroll Roberson, Ronnie McDowell, Alving Youngblood Heart, Lee Roy Parnell, Dobie Gray
Keith Pounds
Keith graduated from the University of Memphis in 2004 with a degree in recording technology. Since then he interned at Young Avenue Sound and has worked numerous live sound gigs such as with Hope as a second engineer and FOH engineer as well as many contracted gigs and working from home with his project studio, Candela Sound. Recently, Keith has begun to focus on becoming a stronger musician as well as engineer and plays several instruments while focusing mainly on the bass guitar. He is currently active in playing music as well as working on many demos and EP’s from his project studio. Keith loves to be creative in the studio working with the mindset that an album is a work of art and should have the expectations of being a masterpiece.
Clients Keith has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Rainy Day Manual, Kate Black, Bruce Carroll, LeCrae, Superchic[k], Rock the Vote 08’(Oxford, MS), Bethany Nobles, Andrew Webster, Urban Connexx 06’ (Chicago), Jeremy Byrd, The Hymns Project (Hymns of Hope), Charlie Shaw, James Joseph, Jonathan Chu, Hal Hawkins, Erin Fudge, While I Breath I Hope, Cody Smith, Seraphim, Kim Trammel, First World, Mudcreek Bottom, Kirk Whalum, Premo D’Anger (Free Sol), Conspirator, and more.
Daniel Lynn
Daniel Lynn is the current assistant engineer at Music + Arts Studio within Archer Records. Born in Memphis, TN, he graduated from The University of Memphis with a degree in Recording Technology. He has honed his skills with both live and studio work while using many different audio formats such as 5.1 surround and stereo. Daniel always promotes a positive and laid-back atmosphere to ensure a productive session.
“I love the creative process, whether it be tracking or mixing. I enjoy working with musicians and bringing their vision to life.”
Clients Daniel has worked with live and/or in the studio:
Adagio, Amy LaVere, Autumn Fox, Brandon Ticer, Brian Vander Ark, Bruce Carroll, Dave Nicar, Erin Cressman, Executive Set, Hal Hawkins, Jonathan “Stump” Sterling, Kate Black, Kathryn Brawley, K’West, Michelle Bush, Phillips Craig and Dean, Roger Mexico, The New Davy Ray Trio, Wesley Morgan, Wolf River Singers