MEET THE MUSIC TEAM
These musicians, songwriters, worship leaders, are dedicated to connecting with each participant to provide expanding insights, enhanced technical instruction and refined wisdom to deepen vision for worship through music. Specifically we hope each guest will leave uniquely equipped to convey the hope, love, truth, and passion of Christ through musical gifts to the church and to their world!
Ascend 2025 focuses on The Art of Practicing and Leading Authentic Worship - With Manuel Luz, Jeremy Oliveria and a passionate team of highly skilled multi-generational musicians and worship leaders…including Matt Combe, Kevin Balootje, Jenni Abdo, Iryna Kudielina and more. Passionately deep dive into the principles and practices that can create fresh, dynamic, transcendent worship of God. Whether you’re an individual wanting to explore more depth of personal worship with music, or as a pastor or worship leader or team member wanting to inspire and advance your entire worship team together.
Manuel Luz has a BS in Aeronautical Engineering and an MBA in Management, which makes him perfectly qualified to be a Creative Arts Pastor. Truth be told, he became a rocket engineer to finance his self-described “rock star dream,” one which was interrupted when God got a hold of him. He eventually became a pastor leading a worship community and a community of artists, and has been in full-time ministry for the past 32 years. “It’s not rocket science,” he admits readily.
Manuel has served at Oak Hills Church in Folsom, California for over 30 years. He is passionate about worship, coffee, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the intersections of faith and the arts. As a songwriter, keyboardist, author, teacher and speaker, he has ministered in the United States and Canada, as well as to Germany, Italy, Ecuador, Hungary, Croatia, Peru, the Bahamas, and the Philippines.
Manuel’s book, Imagine That: Discovering Your Unique Role as a Christian Artist (Moody Publishers) is a practical and personal theology of the arts. His current book, Honest Worship: From False Self to True Praise, (InterVarsity Press), addresses the importance of spiritual formation with worship. Check out his thought-provoking blog, “Adventures in Faith and Art” (www.manuelluz.com), or his five solo albums (iTunes, Spotify, etc).
JEREMY OLIVERIA/
MUSICIAN/VOCALIST/WORSHIP LEADER/PRODUCER @ STEREO CREATURE
Jeremy currently serves as worship[ director at Table Rock Fellowship in Medford, Oregon. He is a man of many talents as a multi-instrumentalist producer, recording artist, and vocalist. From touring, to recording and producing countless records for various artists, to leading worship for the last 10 years, to mentoring others in music production, Jeremy is passionate about authenticity and helping artists to find their calling. He currently produces and mixes records for musicians at his Recording Studio, Stereo Creature in Medford, Oregon. Indie Rock Cafe says "Oliveria’s style definitely engages with the critical writing style that shows a keen eye for assessing the world. The easy going guitar and percussion work lull the listener into hearing from the sage lyrical message delivered by the lead vocal." He has a heart for the experiences and soul of the young in current culture who are often without hope and his music often finds a home with them outside the walls of the church.
MATT COMBE
What a privilege Matt Combe is joining us again in the Ascend 2025 Music Track! Matt is a seasoned and deeply authentic worship leader from his heart and deep love and devotion to Jesus. His rich voice and acoustic guitar alone can fill a room with power and focus to the Creator. He has written and recorded dozens of deeply reflective worship songs as a recording artist. He has recently return to the Southern Oregon from Tennessee and is the Redwood Campus Associate Pastor with River Valley Fellowship in Grants Pass Oregon,
JENNI ABDO
VOCAL COACH (SAT.) AND HARMONIZING IN WORSHIP
Hop into Ascend's vocal breakout sessions with one of our FAVORITE EFFERVESCENT partnering professionals, Jen Davis Abdo!! Jennifer is just an epic inspiration in life and voice. She worships at Table Rock Fellowship in Medford, Oregon alongside her husband, media technician Ian Abdo and father-ion-law, Jim Abdo, who has the Brokenworks Productions recording studio in Ashland, was preciously a band member with Maranatha Music band Aslan.. Jennifer regularly graces the local region with her unforgettable vocals and vocal performances at events and wineries with her energetic girl group The Rogue Suspects or Band of Brothers. She will help to raise your technical awareness and abilities to advance your vocal gifts to the next level and have you laughing and consumed with the joys of singing..
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KEVIN BALOOTJE
​Singer, songwriter, Associate & Worship Pastor at River Valley Church - Oregon. Founder of Balootje Ministries
Kevin has a contagious worldwide perspective of ministry. Growing up in the Willemstad-Netherlands-Antilles in a missionary family and he has been involved in church worship since he was a young boy. He received a Bachelor in Arts of Christian Studies at Seminario Teológico Bautista Dominicano. In 2021 Kevin became an intern at River Valley Church in Grants Pass and he attended an Ascend Conference. He said it literally changed his life and ministry. He has a passion for reaching especially the Latino population for Christ across the Americas and has a ministry, Balootje Worship Ministries dedicated to this calling.
He has a deep rich voice with which he not only leads other into worship, but ministers simultaneously with the Scriptures to usher people into the presence of holy God. He written dozens of songs in his native Spanish and is recording these deep richly worshipful songs and videos throughout his ministry. Listen.
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IRYNA KUDIELINA
PIANIST / TEACHING WORSHIP PIANO
Iryna Kudielina was born in Ukraine and started playing piano when she was six years old. Her parents were worship leaders so she was playing the piano also in church by age 10. She specialized in music at a prestigious boarding school in Kharkiv, where she graduated, with honors and a silver medal.
Iryna went on to attend the Kotlyarevsky Kharkiv National University of Arts where she graduated, with honors, with a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance. In September 2019 she won the Erasmus+ Project Competition and then moved to Portugal, to study piano at the Superior Conservatory where she received a masters degree in piano performance. and studied with other professors from Vienna, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, and Ukraine. Iryna has performed a series of solo recitals at Teatro Nacional São João in Porto, Portugal. In June of 2022, Iryna was awarded the First Prize at the 16th Concurso Internacional de Piano do Alto Minho and the First Prize at the Premio Elisa de Sousa Pedroso in Vila Real, Portugal.
Not wanting to return home to her war torn region, she came to Southern Oregon University to receive her masters degree with in Piano Performance studying under Dr. Alexander Tutunov.
She currently teaches piano and plays in Southern Oregon for many special events including on Sundays during worship at Ashland Christian Fellowship.
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INSTRUMENTAL INSPIRATION
INSTRUMENTATION IN WORSHIP VARIED INSTRUCTORS (SAT)
Take a glimpse at occasionally blending MUCH more instrumentation into worship with a chamber orchestra, saxophone, cellos and more! Particular focus on opportunity for participation in worship settings . How does your instrument fit in a worship setting? How do worship leaders expand their inclusion of more instruments on the team. Several visiting musicians will inspire you and fill the air waves with glorious melodies.
AND Andrew Kostrna
Guitarist
Band Member