Music
Are you passionate about music? Musical inspiration and talent is a gift to both the performer and the audience. The mission of the MVNU Music Department is to promote students’ creativity, encourage potential, and develop the skills, knowledge, and appreciation of the musical arts to be successful musicians, teachers, and entrepreneurs.
The Music program at MVNU provides students with training from seasoned professionals, offering experiences in classical and contemporary music in a variety of venues. Students have the opportunity to participate in numerous choral and instrumental music ensembles, events and special performances, study abroad trips, and more.
Scholarships are available to music majors and minors as well as non-majors. Guided by outstanding faculty with a commitment to faith-based liberal arts education, students are able to develop their God-given talents and abilities in music.
For more information about the Worship Arts degree, go here.
- NASM accreditation – The MVNU Music Department degree programs are fully accredited and meet the rigorous standards of the National Association of Schools of Music.
- Versatile Degrees – Pursue the B.A. in Music Education for a career in teaching or preparation for graduate school. Our B.A in Music offers flexible degree options and is suitable as a double degree in combination with business, communication, psychology, and others.
- Practical experience — You will have extensive opportunities to gain hands-on experience in your area of expertise, such as music and worship internships, student teaching, conducting department ensembles, various regional competitions, membership in multiple choral and instrumental ensembles, and more.
- Professional success — A degree in Music from MVNU provides you with an endless list of career options. Our graduates can be found in places such as Kenya, Hawaii, Indonesia, London and Australia. Many are employed as music educators, worship leaders, professors, choir directors, sound engineers, and more!
- Engaging Minors – Students in non-music degrees may complete a general music or worship music minor. Students of all majors have the opportunity to spend a semester in Nashville and complete a minor through the Contemporary Music Center. The program offers a music business track, technical production track, or performing artist track.
- Learning abroad — As an MVNU Music major, you may have the opportunity to study abroad in Hungary, Spain, Austria, Italy, England, Ireland, Israel, and Jordan.
- Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker, Professor of Music
- Dr. John Packard, Professor of Music and Department Chair
- Dr. Robert Tocheff, Professor of Music
The faculty of the Music Department are talented musicians and excellent instructors. All are respected in their discipline on campus and in other professional settings. They reflect a wide range of abilities as accomplished vocalists, pianists, instrumentalists, conductors, and clinicians.
Adjunct Faculty and Staff
- Rebecca Abbott – Organ, Music and Worship, Staff Accompanist
- Sabina Anderson – Treble Singers
- Dr. Susan Armstrong – Voice
- Dr. Cary Dachtyl – Percussion
- Charla Dryburgh – Staff Accompanist
- Larry Lain – Music in the Western World
- Dr. Adrienne Lape – Clarinet/Sax, Woodwind Methods
- Dr. Juan Carlos Ortega – Strings/String Ensemble
- Jenny Packard – Flute/Flute Choir, Woodwind Meth.
- Dr. Jim Puckett – Composition
- Jeremy Smith – Low Brass
- Stephanie Sikora – Voice
- Carrie Vail – Voice
- Dr. Isaac Winland – Jazz Band
The Music Department offers a variety of avenues to pursue a quality music education. The baccalaureate program allows students to choose from a B.A. Music Education or a B.A. Music with a choice of two tracks: Music Performance or General Music. Also offered are a two-year associate degree and several music minors including a semester-long program through the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville. Another option, in collaboration with the School of Christian Ministry, is a newly approved Worship Arts program.
For details of these programs, check out the catalog for a complete list of the requirements, courses, and objectives for the Music program!
Guidelines, information, applications, and recommendation forms for music scholarships can be found at www.mvnu.edu/musicscholarships.
If you have questions regarding the music program or music scholarships at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, please contact via email or phone Tressa Daley, Music Department Secretary, at (740) 392-6868 ext. 3000, or Dr. John Packard, Music Department Chair, at ext. 3001.
MVNU Music majors spend much of their time in the R.R. Hodges Chapel and Fine Arts Center. The first floor of the Chapel features the Thorne Performance Hall, which features a new Shigeru Kawai piano. This is where Music majors perform their senior recitals. There is also a large band room in which you will learn and practice. The second floor of the Chapel holds fully equipped musical classrooms, such as a keyboard lab for piano class. There are also multiple small practice rooms with pianos and outstanding acoustics for student use.
Our graduates can be found in places like: Kenya, Hawaii, Indonesia, London and Australia. Many are employed as music educators, worship leaders, professors, choir directors, sound engineers, and more!
Graduates of the Music Department are trained for a variety of careers, including:
- Graduate School or Seminary Preparation
- Minister of Music/Worship Leader/Music Director
- Choral Music Teacher (K-12)
- Instrumental Music Teacher (K-12)
- Private Studio Music Teacher
- Accompanist for schools, bands, orchestra, instrumental recitalists
- Community Choir or Orchestral Director
- Director of Orchestral Education
- Contemporary/Classical Solo artist
- Studio Musician
- Media Relations Coordinator
- Art/Music Research
- Music Producer
- Recording Engineer/Sound Electronics Specialist
- Artist Manager/Booking Agent
- Concert Hall/Festival/Opera Company Manager
- Music Publishing -- Editor/Journalist/Critic
- Composer/Arranger
- Music Tour or Concert Logistics Coordinator
- Music Librarian
- Music Therapist (with appropriate certification)
- Collegians Chorale: This 40-50 member SATB ensemble performs frequently on campus for events such as chapel, Advent service, Christmas Festival, Spring Concert, Baccalaureate, and is an integral group in the annual Choral Union presentation of Handel's Messiah.
The choir tours the educational region of Ohio, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky, and also performs the National Anthem for professional athletic games and the MVNU Cougars.
Every third or fourth year, Collegians Chorale takes a mission/concert tour abroad. Past trips have taken them to Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Portugal, Spain, France, Bulgaria, Russia, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and The Czech Republic. Most recently in May, 2017 Collegians returned to Croatia and Italy. This choir performs a wide variety of styles including sacred classics, hymn arrangements, folk, gospel and contemporary.
Collegians Chorale will meet 4:40-5:40 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in Fall 2020 for 1 credit hour. They also meet 4:40-5:40 on Wednesdays in the fall as part of Choral Union. They do not meet on Wednesday during spring semester. The choir is directed by Dr. Robert Tocheff.
- Treble Singers Women's Choir: This women’s ensemble numbers 25-35 members and presents a spring concert on campus, performs in chapel, and tours churches on the educational zone fall and spring semesters. Treble Singers join other choirs for the Choral Union presentation of Handel's Messiah in December. This group meets 4:40-5:40 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the fall for 1 credit hour. They do not meet on Wednesday during spring semester. The choir is directed by Mrs. Sabina Anderson.
- Goliards Chamber Ensemble: This chamber ensemble numbers 14-20 members and presents fall and spring campus concerts, selected off-campus concerts, and regional tours. Repertoire consists of a cappella chamber choir literature. Goliards rehearses Tuesday and Thursday 3:20-4:20 for 1 credit hour. They also meet 4:40-5:40 on Wednesdays in the fall as part of Choral Union. They do not meet on Wednesdays during spring semester. The choir is directed by Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett.
- Music Stage Production: This course provides students an opportunity to prepare and present scenes from an opera or a full operatic production, a Broadway musical, or a musical showcase depending on the semester. The course is taken for 1 credit and rehearsal times are determined at the beginning of each semester. It is directed by Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett.
- Flute Choir: The Flute Choir performs at concerts on campus, as well as appearing at the annual Central Ohio Flute Association Festival. This ensemble meets Tuesdays at 10:20 a.m. Flute Choir can be taken for .5 credit hour and is directed by Mrs. Jennifer Packard.
- Jazz Band: The Jazz Band performs contemporary, popular, and Big Band jazz music. This ensemble presents fall and spring concerts and performs frequently in other campus activities and at local public schools. The Jazz Band rehearses on Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jazz Band can be taken for 1 credit hour and is directed by Dr. Isaac Winland.
- Pep Band: The Pep Band plays for home basketball games. Rehearsals are Tuesdays 7:00-8:30 p.m. beginning in September and continuing through February, depending on post-season games. Game days and times vary. Pep Band can be taken for .5 credit and is directed by Dr. John Packard.
- Symphonic Wind Ensemble: This ensemble is the traditional concert band at MVNU and performs regular fall and spring concerts on campus. The Wind Ensemble also presents concerts and workshops for area schools, most recently for River View High School and Polaris Christian Academy. The ensemble meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wind Ensemble can be taken for 1 credit hour and is directed by Dr. John Packard.
- String Ensemble: This ensemble performs at labs and selected ensemble concerts and is directed by Dr. Juan Carlos Ortega. It generally rehearses once a week, currently for zero credit.
- Percussion Ensemble: This ensemble is formed when there is sufficient student interest and budget availability. It is a zero credit ensemble.
- Other Chamber Ensembles: These ensembles are formed when there is sufficient student interest and budget availability. They are zero credit ensembles.
MVNU Music Department Ensembles have the opportunity to travel not only locally but on MVNU's educational region of Ohio, West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and beyond. This includes Collegians Chorale, Treble Singers Women's Choir, Goliards Chamber Choir, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Chamber Winds. Periodically our ensembles travel abroad on concert/mission trips, the most recent being the Collegians Chorale trip to Croatia and Italy in 2017.
Many of our music students connect with Music and Ministry teams coordinated by the Admissions Department, and are given the opportunity to minister at churches, camps and retreats on MVNU's region.
For other service learning and academic travel possibilities, visit mvnu.edu/travel.
- Eastman School of Music
- The Ohio State University
- Baylor University
- Belmont University
- Kent State University