July 15, 2019 (Jackson, Miss.) - Belhaven University has named Dr. Doran Bugg the new chair of Belhaven University's Music Department. He comes to the University with a strong background in worship leadership and many years of experience in music.
“Dr. Doran Bugg brings a proven track record of visionary, inspirational leadership combined with the highest level of musicianship while remaining a warm, humble,encouraging mentor,” said Belhaven Provost Dr. Bradford M. Smith. “He has a heart for students and a desire to help them discover and develop their God-given musical gifts.”
His journey of serving through musicbeganin rural Mississippi and has led him all the way to directing performances at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Bugg spent the previous 10 years as minister of worship and music at the 13,000 memberFirst Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Smith adds, “Dr. Bugg brings to Belhaven a visionforthe music program that will prepare students to serve Christ by engaging their musical gifts and calling in every area of Church ministry and society where music touches people's lives."
Dr. Bugg holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Music from Baylor University, and a Doctor of Musical Art from Louisiana State University. His background is in classical music and he specializes in percussion. Over the years, he has served in multiple ministry capacities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. He also served as a professor of percussion and bands on the collegiate level before full-time ministry.
In 2008, Dr. Bugg began working at First Baptist Dallas under the leadership of Dr. Robert Jeffress to serve as the minister of music and worship. During his tenure, weekly worship attendance almost doubled.
The impact of the First Baptist Worship Ministry has a local, national, and international reach. In June 2015, the First Baptist Dallas Adult Choir & Orchestra performed in concert with musical guest, Sandy Patti, in New York City, historically marking the first time a church music ministry had been invited to perform a solo concert in world famous Carnegie Hall. Dr. Bugg led the choir in a patriotic ministry tour in Washington DC for July 2017, where hundreds of participating musicians and church members partnered with veterans for a series of concerts celebrating America. Previous music and ministry tours also included a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead crusades throughout Argentina in 2011.
The adult choir and orchestra have recorded multiple CDs, the newest of which is a custom worship collection created for First Baptist Dallas by resident arranger, Bradley Knight. Previous recording projects include a 2015 release titled Transformation by Brentwood-Benson Christian Publishers. A native of Corinth, Mississippi, Doran and his wife, Kristie, have two children, Ben and Libby.