Arts in Mission

ELSEN PORTUGAL

B.M., M.M., Ph.D. 

Curriculum Vitae

(Condensed)

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EDUCATION

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B. H. Carroll Theological Institute, Irving, TX - 2020

PhD - Worship and Mission - Major in ethnodoxology

 

Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, Duncanville, TX - 2013

Post-graduate World Arts courses applied to Ph.D. program at BHCTI (see above)

 

University of Central Arkansas, Conway

M.M. Piano Performance - 2011

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Patriot Bible University – Colorado Springs

Master of Arts – Biblical Studies - 1994

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East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, TX 

B. M. Piano Pedagogy and Performance (double major in Piano) - 1988

 

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 1980 - 1981

Courses in Piano, Harmony, Ear Training, Violin, and Oboe – transferred to ETBU (see above)

 

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Combined Collaborative Pianist and Music Teaching

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1979 – present

1979 – 1981 in Brazil – choral and congregational collaborative work

1980 – 1981 in Brazil – private teaching: piano and recorder

1981 – 1985 at East Texas Baptist University – Collaborative (Scholarship)

1985 – 1987 in Longview, TX – Church organist and pianist

1988 – 1990 in Paterson, NJ – teaching

1997 – 2004 in Pressath and Grafenwöhr, Germany – teaching and collaborative

2006 – 2012 at Champion Baptist College – teaching and collaborative

2011 – 2013 at National Park Community College – teaching and collaborative

2009 – 2011 at University of Central Arkansas – collaborative (Assistantship and Scholarship)

2014 – 2017 in Brazil – teaching and vocal coaching

2017 – present:

• Village Bible Church, Hot Springs Village, AR

• Ouachita Baptist University

• Wedding and other events

• Opera, recitals, shows

 

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Research:

   Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics

• Linguistic differentiation among German dialects                                                  2013 – 2014

• Practices of Pow-Wow in the United States                                                          2013

 

   B. H. Carroll Theological Institute

• Development of Christian music among the Brazilian Xerente                           2015 – present

• Contemporary music practices in Brazilian churches                                            2014 – 2017

• Asian Arts in Christian worship – historical and present practices                      2016

• Arts in worship – biblical and historical functions                                                   2016 - 2018

• Application of Semiotics to the field of Christian worship                                    2017 – 2018

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Articles and Papers:

  Published in Peer-reviewed Journals

• “Musical Choices in Early Baptist Missions Among the Xerente,” Integrité, Vol. 17 No. 1, 2018.

• “Ist Deutsch EINE Sprache?”, GIALens, Vol. 8 No. 2, 2014.

• “Musical Worship: The New Sacrament? The Contemporary Meaning of the Musical Worship Moment Among Brazilian Baptist Churches,” Great Commission Research Journal, Vol. 11 No. 2, Fall 2020, 52-87. (Article also published in Portuguese in Revista Batista Pioneira, Vol. 7 No. 2, December 2018, 281-318).

 

  Unpublished or informally published

• “Fusion Music Genres in Indigenous Brazilian Churches: An Evaluation of Authenticity in Xerente Christian Contexts,” PhD Dissertation, 2020.

• “Artistic Works: Potential Roles in Christian Spirituality,” 2018.

• “Asian Worship Arts and Church Growth: Learning from the Past, Wisdom for the Future,” 2017.

• “Accreditation and On-Going Assessment: Development, Tensions, and Potential,” 2017.

• “Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition:” What Sets It Apart from the Western Music Tradition?” 2010.

• “Perspectives on a Prelude and Fugue,” 2009.

• Various Book Reviews, Digests, Short and Blog Articles, 1998 – 2018. (See “other productions” below)

Monographs:

• Rethinking the Issues: A Christian Search for Balance in Doctrine and Practice, 2012 – present. Under editing for publication.

• Etnodoxologia: Uma Introdução, 2019 - present, an introductory textbook for ethnodoxology in Portuguese.  In progress.

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Affiliations:

• Global Ethnodoxology Network – Board Member

• Wycliffe Global Alliance: Arts Specialist

• SIL Brazil: Arts Specialist

• Junta de Missões Nacionais (Brazilian Baptist National Mission Board): Ethnoarts Consultant and Instructor

 

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Competitions, Courses, and Scholarships:

 

Event                                                                                                                                                                               Date       Award

ABRARTE State Piano Competition – Petrópolis, Brazil                                                                                     1978       2nd place

Raymundo de Aragão National Competition - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil                                                                 1978       2nd place

Villa-Lobos National Competition/Ministry of Education and Culture -Rio de Janeiro, Brazil                     1978       2nd place

Pro-Arte Recorder Competition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil                                                                                       1977       Tour

Series New Talents – Competition Sala Cecilia Meireles, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil                                              1978       Performance

Sixth International Summer Course in Brasilia, Brazil                                                                                            1981       Participation

Various Music Scholarships                                                                                                                                        1981-88 (ETBU)

Graduate Assistantship                                                                                                                                                2009-11 (UCA)

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Solo Academic Performances:

Junior Recital – East Texas Baptist University                                                                                                        1985

Senior Recital – East Texas Baptist University (recorded)                                                                                   1987

Master Recital – University of Central Arkansas (recorded)                                                                               2011           

           

Other Productions and Publications:

CD – Hymn Arrangements – Demands My All                                                                                                   1991

CD – Impromptus                                                                                                                                                      2013

2 CDs -Vocal Ensembles – Gospel Light Baptist Church                                                                                 2006/07

CD – Kids Sing Psalms – instrumental transcriptions and arrangements                                                       2008

Multiple music transcriptions of new songs                                                                                                           2006 – present

Articles: Soundbytes (in Portuguese) publication of the MG Baptist Convention, Brazil                            2015 - present

Official Theme Songs - composition and performance – Minas Gerais Baptist Convention                      2015, 2016

Official Theme Song for the Centennial of the Minas Gerais Baptist Convention, Brazil                           2017-2018

CLAT – Arts in Missions Manual – Translation into Portuguese (collaborative work)                                  2014-2017

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