CMA Staff

His compositions have been commissioned and performed by professional ensembles, universities, and high schools throughout the United States. As a performer he has been seen on stage with a diverse array of artists, including: Al Jarreau, Eric Reed, Ravi Coltrane, Roberta Flack, Melissa Manchester, Jermaine Jackson, Bobby Shew, Marvin Stamm, Gary Foster, the O’Jays, Pia Zadora, Jeffrey Osborne, Susan Anton, Mac Davis, Lorrie Morgan, the Ladd McIntosh Big Band, the George Stone Big Band, and the John Cooper Jazz Orchestra to name a few. He has also performed with the National Touring Companies of; Dream Girls, How to Succeed in Business, The Will Rodgers Follies, Guys and Dolls, Teddy and Alice, and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
He is the author of numerous music reviews, articles, and book chapters. He was a long-time adjudicator for the GRAMMY Foundation and curated a regular column in the Jazz Education Journal. Listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America, he is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the N.I.S.O.D. Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Hope College Janet L. Andersen Award for Excellence in Teaching. He received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of South Florida, a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting from California State University at Northridge, and a Doctorate in Instrumental Conducting from Michigan State University. He lives in Des Moines, IA with his wife Debbie and has two grown children, Molly and MacKenzie.

In addition to her work with CMA, Calla loves teaching music lessons and mentoring young teachers through Sounding Sharp Studio, which she founded in 2009. She believes in the value and joy of music and wants to help people experience the wonders it offers in as many ways as possible.
In addition to music, Calla loves to travel and explore the underwater world via SCUBA diving. When she isn't traveling or working, you can find her spending time with family and friends, walking her dogs, riding bikes or playing tennis, among other things.

In addition to music, Ajia loves to hike, trying new artistic endeavors and seek adventure with her family. When she isn't working, you may find her spending time with family and friends, painting, hiking with her five dogs, riding her horse, watching a movie with her two cats and two cockatiels, or doing some home renovations.
CMA Board of Directors



A versatile conductor, Linda led choral and vocal jazz ensembles in memorable performances at such sites as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho in Moscow, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Linda holds a Master of Music Education with choral emphasis from Drake University and a Bachelor of Music Education Cum Laude from Simpson College where she studied voice and piano. She began her musical studies by playing the guitar and listening to Louis Armstrong records her father collected.
Happily retired, Linda loves to travel, enjoy great food and conversation, and will continue to foster growth of music at CMA.

She holds an MBA from Northwest Missouri State University and is currently a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).
In her free time, Jodi is active in her church, serves on the Adel City Council, and as a volunteer conservator for the State of Iowa. She resides Adel with her husband, Scott, together they have two adult daughters, Tasia and Rori along with a twelve-year-old son, Luke.



In his free time, Matt enjoys running (he has completed multiple full and half marathons), begrudgingly attending yoga classes with his fiancée, watching people much more talented than him perform musicals and music, and sharing notes on craft beer.He met his fiancée while working in Cedar Rapids a few years ago, and she is now an administrative fellow at the Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines.Together, they have a wonderful, but obnoxious, nine-month old wiener-dog mix named Walter.


Sara also has a small private flute studio, is in her second term as the Xi B Province Officer for Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, and holds the piccolo positions with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band and Central Iowa Wind Ensemble. She resides in Ankeny with her husband, Jason, and their three sons, Carter, Maxwell, and Isaac.


He is the author of 4 books on cycling and owns Cyclesport Coaching, a cycling coaching business.David is married to Angie Ertl, a Physical Therapist and owner of her own business in Des Moines (Third Power PT). They have two twin sons–Alex majoring in trombone performance at DePaul, andChristian majoring in Jazz Studies at Temple. His volunteer work has almost entirely been with the cycling community.

