Dustin is a worship pastor, a husband to Allie and father to Owen, Avery, Katie, and Sutton. He’s also a Vocal Coach here at Apex Vocal Studio.

 

From the time that he was 4 or 5 years old, he’s been singing in the church. His parents were very involved in ministry, so much of his childhood centered around church services and activities. 

 

As a young vocalist, Dustin was a prolific contest winner, and a local standout. But as he grew, his singing started to hit a wall. His range wasn’t what he wanted it to be, and his pitch sometimes missed the mark. Though he was getting a little bit of training in the choirs he was in, the style of singing wasn’t really what he really wanted to sing, and the technique didn’t seem to really help him sing the more contemporary music that he truly enjoyed.

 

It was in college that he was first introduced to the idea of a “vocal coach”. Someone that could actually teach me contemporary vocal techniques and skills. He wound up finding a coach in Nashville TN, and made the 3 hour drive down there every two weeks, shelling out major money for lessons.  It was around this time that Dustin was a Hollywood contestant on seasons 11 and 14 of American Idol. Dustin was forced to confront the limitations of his vocal technique when the judges asked him for songs with more range and bigger notes. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the skills to deliver what the judges were asking for. Even more frustratingly, lessons with Dustin’s high priced coach in Music City weren’t really getting him anywhere. A year later, he switched coaches, but lessons with the new coach still didn’t produce lasting results. 

 

A few years later, Dustin heard about Worship Vocalist from a worship team member at the church where he was serving. He was pretty skeptical, but decided to check it out. He was BLOWN away when the techniques started to improve his voice RIGHT AWAY. He had always struggled with pushing up on his chest voice, going flat, having really limited high range. And all of a sudden, he was learning to MIX (and finally understood what that actually was), His pitch was improving. His range was growing. His voice was becoming more predictable. He had confidence in what was going to come out when he opened his mouth to sing AND he could sing without fatigue! He used to lose his voice after one Sunday Service. Now, he could lead passionately through 3 services without any strain on his voice.

 

There was new freedom, new power, new artistry. It was such an incredible experience, that he has become very passionate about helping other people take the same journey. He has  traveled the same road that many of you are on. That’s why he would love to be your guide to discover more for YOUR voice.

 

When he’s not working with worship musicians, Dustin loves riding and training his ex-racehorses and enjoying family time with the goofiest wife and kids you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet.