Matthew Broome

Matthew Broome was born in Sumter, South Carolina, and, being the son of Salvation Army Officers, moved around in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Matt graduated from the University of Georgia in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, and began working with The Salvation Army as an Assistant Divisional Music Director for the Georgia Division. In 2008 Matt married Gabriela Elias and they relocated to Dallas, where Matt took the position of Deputy Divisional Music Director for the Texas Division. He took leadership of the department in July of 2015. In 2016, Matt completed his Mater of Music Education Degree from Boston University.  Matt has been the bass trombonist with the USA Southern Staff Band since 2005, and also excels in contemporary worship, playing guitar, bass, and drums. Matt, Gabriela, and their two daughters, Madelyn and Nora, attend the Lewisville Corps, where he leads the songsters and praise team.

Sara K. Elliott

Sara Elliott was raised in Bartlesville, OK. She joined The Salvation Army through the Sunbeam Character Building program at the age of seven years old.  Attending the other local corps programs, she began learning music as well and as a result became heavily involved in the music ministry of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. Through this experience, Sara found a love for music and a joy for participating in the music ministries of The Salvation Army. Sara has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master's Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Illinois. Residing in Arlington, Texas, with her husband Tyler, Sara now serves as the Deputy Divisional Music and Arts Director for the Texas Division. Each day, it is her hope to serve God through His gift of music.

Alex Griswold

Alex Griswold was born in Dallas, Texas, but spent most of her time growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alex is a third generation Salvationist and was immersed in the music and arts programs very early on. She began her role as a leader at the age of sixteen and has been teaching ever since. Participating at divisional and territorial levels, creative arts has been a large part of Alex’s worship and ministry. Alex graduated from High Point University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance in 2022 and began her role in the Texas Division later that year. She leads three Creative Arts groups in the division and is a member of TAM (Territorial Arts Ministry team). Alex is passionate about creative worship and helping others find that passion within themselves.

Nohemi Elias

Nohemi Elias was born in Marietta, Georgia. Being the daughter of officers, she moved to Texas at a young age with most of her family where she has lived ever since. Nohemi had the opportunity to grow up in many Salvation Army programs and camps as a camper and staff. Nohemi started to lead band and choir programs in her Corps at a young age and has continued to support her corps music programs wherever she goes. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in music education - Go Mean Green! Later that year, Nohemi gained a position with a public middle school where she was the Beginning Band Director for 3 years. With molding the young minds of the community, Nohemi has found much joy in sharing her love of music to others. In March of 2023, Nohemi happily joined the Music Department as the Assistant Divisional Music Director in the Texas Division! Now she gets to continue her passion of teaching music while spreading the love of God.

Assistant Divisional Music & Arts Director
Ghodard.Diavangama@uss.salvationarmy.org

Ghodard Diavangama

Ghodard Diavangama was born in the town of Boma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Central Africa). He is the fifth of eight children who were all raised in The Salvation Army. Ghodard's parents were Salvation Army Officers who made sure that all of their children were involved in every program that the Army had to offer. Ghodard discovered his musical abilities at a very early age. As a young teenager, he began leading adult choirs and other musical groups. At the age of 17, he became the youngest member of a very popular Salvation Army male chorus called Crazy4Jesus. In 2000, the group moved to the United States. Ghodard met his wife, Gloria, in Raleigh, North Carolina and they were married in 2005. He served as the Raleigh Corps Songster leader and Junior Bandmaster for over 10 years and also began a recording business, serving as producer to several groups. In November 2017, Ghodard joined the Texas Divisional Music Department and currently serves as Music Specialist. Ghodard, Gloria, and their three children now live in Fort Worth, Texas. Ghodard has a passion for serving the Lord through music, and for finding new talents and helping them shine.