Meet the NMD Team

Tom Matrone
National Director

Tom Matrone has been a minister of music for the past 28 years with the Assemblies of God Fellowship.  A graduate of Zion Bible Institute, Northwest University (B.A. Biblical Studies) and Drake University (Master of Music, Choral Conducting), Tom has envisioned bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary worship formats in church music.

Tom has been a guest conductor and seminar speaker at the local level as well as national and international platforms in the United States, Canada, South Africa and Asia.  With an emphasis on character formation of the worship leader, Tom desires to assist others in bringing balance and stability to their public and private lives.

In addition, his commitment to the American Choral Directors Association is evident in his unique ability to utilize the choral venue within congregational worship.

Tom has been the music director at Central Assembly in Springfield Missouri for the past 10 years as well as adjunct professor at Central Bible College and Evangel University.  His teaching load consists of Choral Conducting, Worship Leadership, Hymnology, and Church Music History and Practices.  He is the conductor for the CBC Chamber Choir which carries in its repertoire a distinct blend of varied styles of musical periods.

He resides in Springfield with his wife Darlene and their 3 children.

Contact Tom if you have questions or comments concerning music ministry.

Jason Salazar
Assistant Music Director

Jason Salazar has been on the NMD team for over six years. Over his career, he has served the local church in various roles including conductor, worship leader and music pastor.

During his time in the national office, one of Jason’s passions has been to help the church embrace music technology. His other responsibilities include producing new materials and resources to aid the local church’s music program, management of the music department’s budget, editing FORTE! magazine and supervision of the departmental web site.

Jason is a published author, arranger and composer and has written for several national magazines. He has written a book entitled Discovering Music, which teaches the basics of how to read music. He has arranged and orchestrated music for the bi-annual General Council of the Assemblies of God national meetings as well as music for various departmental projects, including a collection of orchestral arrangements (The Sanctuary Sessions). Other recent projects include The Hymn Project and Discovering the Sound System.

Jason is on the adjunct faculty at Evangel University and Missouri State University, where he teaches courses in music technology, recording and music business. On a freelance basis, Jason also arranges and orchestrates music for a variety of clients. 

Jason is also the Orchestra Director at James River Assembly in Ozark, Missouri. He is responsible for all facets of the church orchestra. He recruits, rehearses and contracts musicians for Sunday services, special concerts and productions. Jason also writes rhythm, orchestral and choral charts, transcribes instrumental and ensemble arrangements and arranges music for concerts and other events.

Jason is a graduate of Evangel University (B.A., Music) and Missouri State University (M.M., Composition). He resides in Springfield, Missouri with his wife, Jennie, and his two boys, Jackson and Cameron.

Debby Duncan
Office/Resource Coordinator

Debby Duncan, who joined the National Music Department in early 2006, has recently stepped into the role of Office/Resource Coordinator. Within the department, she assists with the production and editing of FORTE! Magazine and also manages the online referral service hosted by the NMD. Debby graduated from Evangel University in 1998 with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education. She has worked as a piano accompanist for several large musical productions where she grew up in the Detroit area, and has worked in music education in the school setting as well as in the church. She has taught private music lessons in piano and voice for over ten years and continues to teach students in the Springfield area. She currently directs a children’s choir at Central Assembly in Springfield, MO.