St. Paul Music DEPARTMENT

The St. Paul Music Department Staff is dedicated to fostering a love and appreciation for music. We utilize a variety of methodologies and performance opportunities to encourage active participation in the understanding and creation of music. Meet our staff:

John Bryan (K-3 General Music & Youth Choir)

Hello, my name is John Bryan. I began teaching in 1985 and came to St. Paul in 1996. I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition and Theory. I earned my Master's Degree in Music Education at Capital University. I have taken additional coursework through Silver Lake College in Wisconsin, The Ohio State University, The American Eurhythmics Society, and The International Kodaly Institute in Kecskemet, Hungary. As Music Director for St. Paul Parish, I conduct the Youth, Teen, and Adult Choirs and serve as Principal Organist.  jbryan@stpaulk-8.org 

Click here for Youth Choir information.

Jamie Kolp (4-8 General Music)

Hi, my name is Jamie Kolp. I began my teaching career in 1985 and started teaching at St. Paul in 1997. I attended The Ohio State University and earned a degree in Music Education and a minor in Theater from Kent State University. In addition, I taught as a Graduate Assistant at Kent State University, where I earned a Masters' degree in Music Education. My principal instruments are piano and voice. I have experience teaching at all elementary and middle school grade levels. I take pride in offering all students performance opportunities, as well as focusing on our Catholic faith in my classes. I am the youth choir accompanist under the direction of Mr. John Bryan. I enjoy being a cantor on a regular basis at school Masses. jkolp@stpaulk-8.org

Melissa Stevens (5-8 Band & Orchestra)

My goal as a music teacher is to foster every students' enjoyment of creating music, while developing musicianship and life skills. I began teaching in the Diocese of Columbus in 2018, but I have been involved in teaching and performing professionally since 1998. I hold a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree and Master's Degree from The Ohio State University. I earned a Bachelor's Degree from the New World School of the Arts (Miami, FL). My previous teaching experiences include positions as a University Professor at Capital and Otterbein Universities, as well a middle school and elementary teacher for band and general music. I actively perform on my main instrument, the oboe, and was a member of the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra from 1994-2018, as well as the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, of which I am still a member. In 2022 I performed in the pit orchestra for the Broadway show, Wicked, as well as in the orchestra for Johnny Mathis. I enjoy working with and offering performance outlets for grades 5-8 Band , 5-8 Strings and Pep Band at St. Paul School.

mstevens@stpaulk-8.org