Conservatory Staff

Calvin Ellis: Voice

Calvin Ellis is a Memphis native, raised in Millington, TN and a graduate of Millington Central High School. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with a degree in Music Education. Calvin began his career as a public school choral director in 2002 at Shadowlawn Middle School. After continuing his career at Tupelo High School and Opelika High School in Opelika, AL, Calvin and Jauna, along with their two children, Caleb and Carrington, moved back to Memphis. Calvin now serves as the Associate Director of Music at Second, where he conducts the Chancel Choir and Sunday Night Worship Team.

Dee Walker: Flute

Dee completed her BM and MM degrees in Flute Performance and Music Theory from Rice University in Houston, Texas where she taught and performed in the area until moving to Memphis in 1990. She continued a full-time career in music, teaching and playing in the Tri-state area until coming on staff at Second Presbyterian Church in September, 1998. Currently Dee assists the Pastoral Division and continues to play principle flute with the Germantown Symphony as well as chamber music with several local musicians. 

Beth Luscombe: Viola/Violin

Beth is a member of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. She is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music with a degree in viola performance. She is an active freelancer in the Mid-South, formed the Beth Luscombe Strings, and performs for many special music occasions. She has performed and recorded for many well recognized commercial artists. She also plays with the IRIS Orchestra, the Jackson Symphony (TN), the Eroica Orchestra, the Orpheum Theater Orchestra, and many area churches. Prior to coming to Memphis, Beth was a member of the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico (asst. princ.), the Ohio Chamber Orchestra (asst. princ.), the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and was active in the theater and studio world in Cleveland, Ohio. While in Cleveland, Beth had an active private teaching studio. She was a faculty member of the preparatory department at the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as on her own.  

Alisha Rufty: Cello

Alisha Rufty is a DMA cello candidate at the University of Memphis. Other degrees include a BME from Florida State University, MM from Memphis, and a Performance Certificate from Penn State. Ms. Rufty’s major teachers include: Lubomir Georgiev, Leo Altino, Kim Cook, Mihai Tetel, and Dr. Kimberly Patterson. Ms. Rufty is currently principal cellist for the Starkville Symphony Orchestra at Mississippi State, where she is also the lower strings instructor and co-director of the MSU Philharmonia.  An active freelance musician, Ms. Rufty performs in various groups in the tri-state area such as the Memphis Symphony, Northern Mississippi Orchestra, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra.

James Ryan: Violin

James Ryan received his Master’s Degree in violin performance from the University of Memphis and his Bachelor of Music, along with minors in Worship and Biblical Studies, from Cedarville University in Ohio.  James is passionate about the intersection of church music ministry, music education, youth discipleship, and city missions, and is honored to serve as the Director of Music Outreach and Director of the Second Conservatory of Music at Second Presbyterian Church.  In addition to his work at Second, he is an active musician in the community and Mid-South region, having played with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and Jackson Symphony Orchestra, as well as with numerous other groups and chamber ensembles.  As a music educator, James teaches a growing studio of violin students at the Second Conservatory and directs the string ensemble program at Westminster Academy in Memphis.

Andrew McNeill: drums/percussion

Andrew McNeill is a Memphis-born studio/touring drummer and percussionist. A graduate of both Horn Lake High School and the Stax Music Academy, McNeill went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he studied under teachers like Dave Weigert and Kenwood Dennard. He returned home in 2015, where his career has led him to perform/record with artists like Bruce Sudano, Capitol Sun Rays, Ghost Town Blues Band, Vanessa Collier, Buddy Guy, Duwayne Burnside, and many more. Andrew also worked for three years as an assistant engineer at Ardent Studios having worked with artists such as Wilco, Switchfoot, Yo Gotti, Young Dolph, and Todd Agnew.

Jessica robinson: Piano

Jessica Robinson grew up in a prominent Memphis musical family and began piano studies at age six. She has studied under teachers including Noel Gilbert (her uncle), Maude Walker, Robert Klingbiel, Isabelle Welch, and Cara Keeler. Jessica plays professionally and has volunteered for groups such as Creative Aging, Church Health, Les Passees, and the Junior League of Memphis. She loves to share her gift for and love of music by teaching beginners, primarily children. Her husband Jim and two sons Jay and Jesse all attended PDS. 

Emily Woelke: VOICE

Emily Woelke is a Junior, currently pursuing a Choral Music Education degree at the University of Memphis. She has accumulated over 9 years of vast choral experience, including distinguished participation in All-West, All-State, and All-National choirs. Her musical journey began with 7 years of immersive musical theatre and 9 years of private contemporary voice lessons. Now in college, she has had 3 years of classical voice training, and her experience spans both worship and contemporary bands. She has used her diverse musical perspective toward 2 years of private teaching thus far.

LEO DAVIS: Pipe Organ

Dr. Leo H. Davis, Jr. serves as the Organist at Second Presbyterian Church. His remarkable artistry earned him the prestigious Eddy Award from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in September 2023, a testament to his exceptional musical prowess. With over three decades of service as the Minister of Worship at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Dr. Davis has sculpted a legacy of spiritual enrichment and musical excellence. A luminary in the intersection of church and the arts, Dr. Davis has orchestrated a tapestry of unforgettable choral and artistic productions, collaborating with world-renowned artists and conducting performances that resonate with the soul. His impact reaches across academia, where he imparts his wisdom as an Adjunct Professor and workshop leader, enriching the musical landscape with his expertise. Dr. Davis’ illustrious educational journey culminates in a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Memphis, a Master of Music from the University of Massachusetts, and a distinguished background in music theory and organ performance.

To inquire about organ lessons at the Second Conservatory, please reach out directly to Conservatory Director James Ryan at james.ryan@2pc.org.

Jauna Ellis: singing with mrs. ellis