Staff

Jason Largent
Jason Largent is the Director of Music and Organist at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. He also conducts the adult choir and the bell choir. Additionally, he teaches general music at Ranson Elementary School in Charles Town, West Virginia. Mr. Largent holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music and a Master's Degree in Music Education from Shenandoah University and completed all levels of Kodaly pedagogy training at James Madison University. He has studied organ with Dr. Steven Cooksey, Dr. Richard McPherson, and Larry Allen; piano with Dr. Sue Marston Boyd and Eugenia Evans; and conducting with Nancy Brown, Steven Cooksey, and Georgia Newlin.

Elaine Ely
Elaine Ely majored in music at California State University and received her Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. Elaine has continued her musical education and is currently studying advanced piano theory and technique at the Arlington campus of the Levine Music School of Washington DC. She is an accomplished pianist and has accompanied various choral groups including the outreach City Singers of the Washington City Choir. Elaine is a member of the Music Teacher’s National Association, the Virginia Music Teachers Association and the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association. She specializes in teaching young students employing a teaching methodology that is individually child-centered with a emphasis on technique, theory, performance and fun!

EJ Ramos
Erik J. Ramos (EJ) is a current trumpeter/bugler of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own." He earned a BA from Valparaiso University and a MM from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. EJ is currently working on his DMA at The Catholic University of America. He has studied under Charles Steck, Edmund Cord, Steven Burns, Rafael Glaser, Vincent DiMartino, Anthony Plog, Charlie Daval, and Steven Hendrickson. As a part of his job with The US Army Band EJ plays at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, and other venues throughout the Washington, D.C. area. Originally from Saint John, Indiana, EJ has been living in Northern Virginia for the past two years with his wife, Amanda.

Gray Snead
Gray Snead has been teaching and performing Guitar in the Washington D.C. area for over ten years. Currently teaching in Loudoun County Public Schools, Mr. Snead was previously an instructor of guitar and string bass at the University of Mary Washington. He also teaches guitar and strings privately in the Northern Virginia area. Mr. Snead has a Bachelor of Music degree in Education and Performance from George Mason University, and a Master of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently working on a Doctorate degree at George Mason University.

Ena Puljic

Ena Puljic graduated from McLean High School in 2003, and received a psychology degree from Christopher Newport University in 2008. She has worked with children in an after-school program in Poqouson, Virginia and was a pre-school teacher in Hampton, Virginia. Ena spends her mornings working as a teacher at a private Kindergarten in Vienna, Virginia. She loves children and brings incredible energy to the program.

Judith Spokes Cho
Judith Spokes is a versatile musician who has studied several instruments. She pursued Doctoral studies in Violin Performance at the Graduate School and University Center of the City in New York where she studied with Itzhak Perlman. She has performed in France, Germany,

China,

Israel, Jordan and Bermuda. Ms. Spokes has won many prizes and awards. In 2002 she received a Fellowship to the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. As part of winning a number of concerto competitions, she has performed as soloist with the Manhattanville Symphony, the Manchester Chamber Players and the Killington Festival Orchestra. Ms. Spokes is a member of the Army Strings.

Roberta Pittman
Director
A veteran educator, Roberta Pittman comes to Redeemer Renaissance with 32 years of experience in public education. She has been both a teacher and a technology specialist. Additionally, she worked for two years as a training consultant for Blackboard Inc. Roberta holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Heidelberg College in Ohio and a Master's Degree in Music History form the American University in Washington, DC.

Jesse Hughart
Jesse Hughart is an artist and a musician. In his home state of West Virginia, he has worked with children in various settings including The Asset-Building Life Enrichment Program, Riverpark Hospital's Barboursville School, The Time-Out Youth Shelter, and the Boy's and Girl's Clubs of America. He holds an Associate's Degree in Commercial Art from the Nicholas County Career and Technical Center in Craigsville, West Virginia, and has done additional study in Graphic Design at Marshall University.