DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC NEWSLETTER
WELCOME HOME!
DearAlumni:
GreetingstoyoufromtheDepartmentofMusic!Wewantedtotakethisoccasionof Homecomingtoreachouttoyouandreconnect.Thisyearmarksamilestoneinthe university’shistorywiththecelebrationoftheLutherancentenary.Tokick-offtheyearlong commemoration,youareinvitedtojoinusforahymnsingthatwilltrulybeonetoremember Weareassemblinga500-voicechoircomposedofourensembles,alumni,campusand communitymembersjoinedbyourChamberConcertBand,SymphonyOrchestra,and alumnaorganistJulieGrindle,‘92,toleadtheassemblyinareflectiveandworshipful musicalcelebration.Registerheretobepartofthisamazinganduniqueexperienceinthe resplendentspaceoftheChapeloftheResurrection
IfyoucannotcometoHomecoming,perhapswecancatchupwithyouontheroad.Our ChamberConcertBandwillbetakingaFallBreaktournearMilwaukeeandSt.Louison October10-13,2024 TheBachInstituteoutreachtourwillsendtheChoraleandstudent instrumentaliststochurchesandschoolsthroughoutMichiganduringthefirstweekof March2025.Lastly,weperformtheSt.JohnPassionwiththeLeipzigBaroqueOrchestra atSt.Luke’sLutheraninParkRidge,IL,onPassionSunday(April13,2025). Pleasereach outtousifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutanyoftheseoff-campusevents.
PleaseencouragetheyoungmusiciansyouknowtoapplytoValpoandseekoutthe opportunitiesweprovideinthearts.OurForteandVivaceScholarshipsareavailableto studentsfromanymajorwhointendtoperforminourensemblesandtocontinuewiththeir privatelessonstudies.TheSignatureArtistScholarshipsareofferedtoselectincoming musicmajorstosupportthesetalentedyoungpeopleinpreparationforthemusical profession
Welovetohearnewsfromourgraduates!Pleasesendyourpersonalandprofessional updatesanytimetomusic@valpo.edu.
Finally,ifyouareplanningatripbacktocampus,pleaseletusknow,andwe’lltrytocatch upwithyouinperson.
HailtotheBrownandGold!
Dr JosephA Bognar,VU‘94 Chair,DepartmentofMusic
CURRICULUM UPDATE
Valpo’sDepartmentofMusichasbeentrainingmusiciansforoveracentury,witha focusonmusicianswhowanttomakeadifferenceintheircommunities--studentswho haveapassionformusicwhileseekingalifethatimpactsothersthroughtheirart With thedepartment’shistoriccommitmenttotrainingmusiceducatorsandchurch musicians,theadditionofmusictherapyhasonlystrengtheneditsportfolioofprograms thatattractstudentswhodesiretousemusicinservicetoothers.
Toachievethis,theDepartmentofMusicofferstheBachelorofMusicEducationand BachelorofMusicTherapydegrees,alongwithacertificateoptioninMusicTherapyfor studentspursuingcontinuingeducation TheBMEandBMTareprofessionaldegrees thatleadtolicensureinthesefields Graduatesfromtheseprogramsvividlylive-outthe missiontoleadandservethatisatthecoreofourinstitutionalidentity.
Afterdeliberationswithinthedepartment,itwasthereluctantconclusionofthe DepartmentofMusicthatwewillnolongeroffertheBMdegreewithconcentrationsin Composition,Performance,andChurchMusic Theseprogramshavelong-servedsome ofthemostpromisingandtalentedstudentsinmusicatValpo,andtheyhaveprovideda conservatory-leveltrainingforstudentsalongsideouruniquebrandofliberalarts learninginafaith-basedcontext.BMgraduatesoverthedecadeshavegoneonto advancedgraduateworkandcareersofnationalrenown.
However,lackofdemandforitatthecurrentmomentrequiredthatwethinkthoughtfully andstrategicallyaboutitsfuture WithourNASMre-accreditationslatedfor2026,no enrollmentsintheBMprogramswouldhaveposeddifficultiesforourrenewal Instead, wearerevisingthesecontentareasundertheBA--apositivedirectionforusthatwill widentheappealofthedegreetomorestudents.
Overtheyears,theBachelorofArts(BA)degreehasenabledmanyofourgraduatesto continueontograduateschoolandprofessionalperformingcareers TheBAisaliberal artsmusicmajorwithacoremusiccurriculumof40creditsandanoptionforasmanyas 20additionalelectivecreditsinmusicstudiesacrossdiverseareassuchasmusic industry,churchmusic,composition,andperformance.StudentsintheBAdegreemay alsoelectasecondmajorinmanyotherareasacrosstheuniversity,takingadvantageof theinterdisciplinaryconnectionsacrosscampus. Popularsecondaryareasofstudy includeengineering,psychology,andcomputerscience.
Withthreedegreeoptions(BA,BME,BMT)andahostofopportunities,musicstudents canselectfrommultiplepathwaysatValparaisoUniversitytopursuetheircreativeand professionalaspirations.
CHORALE SINGING TO VISITING FAMILIES AT A CAMPUS VISIT DAY
RICKYPAZ
Music Education
Ricky will be starting a master of music in instrumental conducting this fall at East Carolina University School of Music.
2024 MUSIC GRADUA
NICHOLASSANCHEZ
Music Education
Nicholas will be teaching middle school general music and coteaching middle school and high school band in the Griffith Public Schools
VIRGINIALEAHY
Music Therapy
Virginia passed the CBMT exam and is now a board certified neurologic music therapist. She recently started serving as a Music Therapist at the Institute for Therapy through the Arts.
MATTHEWYEE
Music and Civil Engineering
Matthew won and has accepted the position of 2nd Euphonium with the United States Coast Guard Band stationed out of New London, CT
ADAMLINDEMER
Music Education
Adam will be teaching theology, as well as directing the pep band and helping organize music for the liturgy at Central Catholic JrSr High School in Lafayette
DARNELLCRATER
Music Education
Darnell will serve as the head choir director and music theatre director at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School in adley, Illinois
SOPHIADURAY
Music Performance
Sophia is participating in the Queens College Baroque Opera Workshop this summer and in the fall, she will begin a masters program in Historical Performance Practice at Case Western Reserve University
LEEROSS
Music Education
e will be teaching grades K-2 neral music and 6-12 choir at Stockton School District
OELSTOPPENHAGEN
Music Education
This fall, Joel will begin the Master of Sacred Music rogram (with an emphasis in organ performance) at the University of Notre Dame
THEATRE
Music, Theatre, and Dance form the core of the performing arts at Valparaiso University Students from across campus are encouraged to participate in productions, regardless of their major Theatre work is focused on performance, production, and management With a minor in Entertainment Production, students can explore production through coursework in basic stagecraft, prop design, scenery, lighting, and stage management Our 2024-25 theatre season includes the horror adaptation Let the Right One In, the annual dance ensemble production, a spring musical, and student-led original plays and directed scenes. For more information, visit valpo.edu/theatre.
SCHOOL SHOWS
The cast of the spring 2024 musical Tuck Everlasting presented two school shows to an audience of 450 elementary and middle school aged children from around Porter County. This hugely successful presentation included a Valpo student-created classroom resource guide to help teachers and students connect with the show. This was the first of many school shows we look forward to hosting!
LIVE ON YOUTUBE
Did you know that nearly all of the Department of Music recitals and concerts are live streamed on YouTube? Find many past recordings and upcoming live events @valpoarts
Click “Subscribe” to receive reminders about upcoming live streams so you don’t miss out!
youtube.com/valpoarts
BACH
INSTITUTE OUTREACH TOUR 2024
2024-2025 SEASON
High School Choir Festival
Lutheran Centennial Hymn Festival
University Concert Bands
Let The Right One In (UT) $
Symphony Orchestra Halloween
Spooktacular
All Saints Service
Let The Right One In (UT) $
Jazz Ensemble (UT)
Julefest
Christmas at Valpo $ TUBACHRISTMAS
Dance Ensemble (UT) $
Dance Ensemble (UT) $
Epic Film Music Concert
Small High School Band Festival
Community Band Festival
Symphony Orchestra
Bach Institute: VOCES8 $
Bach Institute: Outreach Concert
Spring Theatre Production (UT) $
Bach Institute: St. John Passion $
Jazz Festival (UT) $
Sousa Tribute Concert
Symphony Orchestra
Schedule is subject to change. Visit valpo.edu/music for updates, times, and additional performances.
Performances are in the Chapel of the Resurrection unless otherwise noted.
Performances are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted with $. UT= University Theatre, Center for the Arts
