News & Events

_{Bill and Jean Clark, students (l to r) Brynn Lytell, Macayle McMullin, Matthew Lehman, Lydia Scroggins, and Lucas Sparrow, and associate professor Emily Waggoner with the newly installed document display designed by the Artistry in Action EXP course. Photo credit: Derek Eckenroth} 

A recent gift of a 16th century artifact has provided the focal point for a new interdisciplinary course at BJU entitled Artistry in Action. Mr. Bill Clarke, a Greenville-area attorney, donated the artifact to the Division of Music at BJU.

“The document was delivered in a nice frame, and we considered finding a spot on the wall in an office for it,” said Michael Moore, chair of the Division of Music. “But the more I thought about it, the more I was convinced it held a great deal of potential as a catalyst for an interdisciplinary learning project.”

In consultation with other faculty and staff, Emily Waggoner, associate professor in the Division of Music, proposed a collaborative class structure that would combine music students and art and design students in the same class to complete several goals surrounding the artifact.

“Professor Waggoner’s pioneering work with this course gave us a robust but flexible framework for meaningful collaborative learning across academic disciplines,” said Moore. “The course title ‘Artistry in Action’ reflects our mission of empowering redemptive artistry and our efforts to equip students with the mindset, skills, and opportunities to connect and extend their musicianship beyond the concert stage and classroom and into our extraordinary day-to-day human experience.”

“In Artistry in Action this semester, we intentionally sought skills that were beyond the realm of typical performance settings, including critical thinking, leadership, communication, and project management,” said Waggoner. “As a team, the students created a class charter to produce three specific deliverables. First, our research team delved into the history and relevance of the artifact from a music history perspective. We had a lot of questions to answer – what is this type of music meant for, what does this piece mean, and why is studying it useful? Our art and design team investigated the artifact’s materials, lettering, and layout on the page. They designed and fabricated a unique, museum-quality display to install in our Music Library. And our composition student studied the original 6th-century plainchant depicted on this artifact and then created his own original setting of the plainchant.”

On November 29, an Artistry in Action Forum provided the platform for a performance of the new musical setting along with a research presentation and display reveal by students Lydia Scroggins, Matthew Lehman, Brynn Lytell, Macayle McMullin, and Lucas Sparrow. A video of the forum is available at music.bju.edu/live.

In January 2024 the Division of Music will release the students’ final research paper, a video documenting the collaborative process, and a professional recording of the new musical setting, all posted at music.bju.edu. The document is available now for viewing in its new display in the Gustafson Fine Arts Center Music Library.

“Future iterations of the Artistry in Action course will feature partnerships with other departments built around project-based experiential learning,” said Waggoner. “We are particularly excited about next semester’s collaboration with our kinesiology students in the School of Health Professions to produce strength-training and endurance exercises tailored specifically for performing musicians.”

The Bob Jones University School for Continuing, Online and Professional Education’s (SCOPE) Master of Music Education program has been named in the top 10 by Forbes Advisor Education. Forbes scored accredited, nonprofit colleges using 16 data points including the application process, affordability, credibility, student experience and student outcomes. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics was reviewed by an expert panel of professionals and educators in the determination of these rankings.

Learn more about this recognition of our MME program here.

The board of the Gingery-Mack Music Scholarship Fund recently announced plans to transfer the administration of the independent music scholarship to Bob Jones University. Concurrent with this transfer, the fund announced a gift of $9,000 to the newly established Gingery-Mack Annual Music Scholarship under the management of the Division of Music at BJU. Gifts to the fund are tax-deductible and will be allocated for annual scholarships to BJU students pursuing degrees in music, church music, composition, music education, pedagogy, and performance. Learn more about the scholarship fund transfer here. 

Gail and Alice Gingery taught in the Bob Jones University Division of Music for over 50 years. They graduated from BJU in 1951 and completed their graduate degrees in 1953. Gail served in the army as a chaplain’s assistant for two years, during which time he and Alice were married. In 1955 they returned to BJU to join the music faculty, Gail teaching voice and Alice piano. Starting with his freshman year, Gail regularly held roles in the opera productions and sang every week on the Sunday afternoon Vespers program. As a student, he traveled with the university’s ministry teams, and as a faculty member he trained them. In 1965 he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University. He served the BJU Division of Music as its Chairman and was Chair of the Voice Department from 1981-1998. In addition, he held leadership positions in the National Association of Teachers of Singing, including service as Regional Governor. For many years, he conducted one of four choirs that sang monthly on Vespers. If there had ever been an attendance award for recitals and concerts on the BJU campus, the Gingerys would have won it, for they missed very few of them! Dr. and Mrs. Gingery are founding members of Faith Free Presbyterian Church, where Dr. Gingery served as both music director and elder for 40 years. 

As a student and young faculty member, Alice often accompanied every musical number on the weekly Vesper program. For decades she served as the accompanist for the BJU Opera Association and Oratorio Society, also playing for visiting recitalists as well as for many BJU senior and faculty recitals. During summers at Boston University, she studied with Leo Litwin, former pianist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, and attended the Dorothy Taubman Institute of Piano in Amherst, MA, to learn how to rehabilitate piano students with wrist and hand injuries. She held membership in several professional organizations, including the Crescent Music Club of Greenville, the American Guild of Piano Teachers, and the Music Teachers National Association, which honored her with a 50-year distinguished service award. She regularly served as a judge for the Guild, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the MTNA, and her students often won high honors in regional competitions. 

Warren Mack, a World War II army vet who landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day, invaded Bob Jones College in Cleveland, Tennessee, as an indefatigable freshman in 1946. The following year the school moved to Greenville, SC, where he graduated from BJU with a Bachelor of Arts in piano in 1950. He earned a master’s degree in piano from BJU in 1952 and served for one year on the piano faculty before moving to Chicago, where he taught piano for two years in the Christian Music Center, a studio for private music lessons. From there he was called to a church ministry in Ohio, serving as music director and youth pastor and developing a graded choir program in the church’s Christian school. In 1963 BJU asked him to return to teach piano, music theory, and church music courses in the Division of Music. From 1965 through 1973, he directed the Bob Jones Academy Choir in what he describes as the happiest years of his life. For eleven years, in addition to his teaching, Warren directed the church choir at Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville. After retiring from his teaching ministry in 1989, he continued tuning pianos, a business he practiced from 1963 until 2011. His love for the Lord, his love for his students, and his wonderful sense of humor have left a lasting imprint on the lives of his students and colleagues.

Supporting music student success is taking a new direction with the Division of Music’s Crescendo to Career program. Based on a holistic advising approach, Crescendo to Career will give music majors at BJU access to a suite of support services designed to develop a personalized pathway to ministry and marketplace employment. 

Learn more about the new student success program here.

The Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra will embark on a two-week tour of Italy, June 19 – July 2, 2023. The tour will include stops in Rome, Florence, Venice, Cremona, and Milan where the orchestra will perform as part of the Cremona Summer Music Festival, an orchestra festival in Florence, and the American Celebration of Music in Italy concert series. 

Planning for the tour began two years ago when the orchestra received an invitation from the City of Cremona. Dr. Michael Moore, BJUSO conductor, and his wife, Dr. Deanna Moore, worked with the BJU Office of Study Abroad to build a three-credit course around the performance tour with a special focus on experiential learning through immersive study and reflective practice.

Learn more about the trip here.

This summer we took delivery of a brand-new 7’4” Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano, thanks to the incredible generosity of Mr. John Adair, a 1961 alum. John donated the piano in memory of his late wife, Ellen Rampey Adair (‘62 alum).

Learn more about the Adair's inspiring story here.

The Bob Jones University Division of Music announced today a $1 million gift to begin and fund the Robert O. Jones and Mary B. Jones Scholarship Fund. This endowed fund will support music scholarships for students studying music at BJU.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of friends who share our vision for preparing Christian musicians for careers in the ministry and marketplace,” said Dr. Michael Moore, chair of the Division of Music. “This is truly a transformative gift that will make an impact now and for generations of students to come.”

Moore says the gift is the largest in the history of the division. Since assuming the role of chair of the Division of Music in 2018, he has also overseen the establishment of the Dwight and Gwen Gustafson Music Scholarship Endowment, the Mary Alice Stitt Endowed Scholarship and the Patron of the Arts Annual Music Scholarship. During that time, over 100 students received music scholarships.

“These scholarships really make a difference in a student’s college decision,” said Moore. “We have a competitive audition process and always have more applicants than available scholarships. This new endowment will help close that gap in a significant way.”

This year, the Division of Music also announced the formation of Friends of Music at BJU to recognize those who are giving towards scholarships or other needs in the division.

“The Friends of Music at BJU play a vital role in supporting initiatives that directly impact student learning,” Moore said. “It’s both humbling and reassuring to see our alumni and friends stepping up to underwrite professional development for faculty, visiting artist residencies, new instruments or study abroad opportunities for our ensembles.”

Timothy Bedard will join the Bob Jones University faculty this fall as an assistant professor in the Department of Instrumental Studies in the Division of Music, School of Fine Arts and Communication. In addition to teaching in the horn studio, he will teach courses in brass pedagogy and literature, music education, and music theory.

“We are thrilled to have Tim joining our music community here at BJU,” said Dr. Michael Moore, Division of Music chair. “As we have gotten to know him over the last several months, it has become clear that his proven track record of musical excellence as a professional artist flows from a heart for God’s glory and a desire to disciple the next generation of musicians preparing for the ministry and marketplace.”

Tim served for six years as a member of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Band horn section, the premier ensemble representing the service branch. He holds a Master of Music degree in French Horn from Northwestern University where he studied with Gail Williams and Jonathan Boen. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in French Horn Performance at Wheaton College, studying with Melanie Cottle, and has completed additional studies with William C. Robinson.

“We’re so grateful for how the Lord led Tim to join our team here,” said Dr. Bruce Cox, head of the Department of Instrumental Studies. “We are excited to welcome him as well as the students that are coming to study with him in the fall!”

Tim and his wife Leah, an oboe player, met during their careers in the USCG Band, and have been blessed with three children, Malachi, Bethany and Jane. Tim said, “We here in the Bedard family are really looking forward to joining the faculty and community at BJU, especially the Division of Music!”

Tim will also be joining the horn faculty at the MasterWorks Festival this summer. He first attended MasterWorks during college and praises God for the formative experience he gained there as a Christian performing musician.

The Division of Music at BJU announced today it will offer a new certificate in Church Music Ministry beginning Fall 2023. The certificate program is designed to address the demand for musicians who can serve in bi-vocational ministry leadership roles in a local church setting.

The 13-credit certificate program, open to any music major, features courses in ministry, theology, and practical techniques for planning and leading gathered worship. The program culminates with a local church music ministry internship in partnership with the church leadership team.

In addition to the new certificate, the Division of Music will continue to offer a full Bachelor of Science degree in Music and Church Ministries. For more information, click here.

In October 2022, conductor Richard Kaufman and orchestrator Patrick Russ visited Bob Jones University for a series of film music workshops and recording sessions with the BJUSO and Cinematic Arts Department. Click here for a look back at the rich learning experiences students and faculty enjoyed together with these visiting artists!

Last year's Carols & Classics concert will air on SCETV channels and be available on demand beginning December 20. The concert features the Symphonic Wind Band, University Singers, and Concert Choir under the direction of Bruce Cox. Narrators Lonnie Polson and Kate Jones are also featured in this performance, presented before a live audience in December of 2021.

"We're grateful to have an opportunity to share this fantastic performance with a larger audience across the Carolinas," said Michael Moore, Chair of the Division of Music. "It's been a privilege to work with the folks at South Carolina Educational Television to make this happen again this year."

Listings for the Carols & Classics concert are as follows:

10:00pm, 12/20/2022 | ETVHD
7:00pm, 12/22/2022 | ETVHD
10:00pm, 12/21/2022 | SC Channel
2:00pm, 12/21/2022 | ETV World
9:00pm, 12/25/2022 | ETV World

The faculty and students of the BJU Department of Vocal Studies recently hosted 16 voice students from Clemson University on campus. The students, under the tutelage of Clemson Professor and BJU music alum Dr. Lisa Sain Odom, presented a wide variety of literature from the classical art song, opera, and musical theater repertoire. 

"They were thrilled for the opportunity to sing in our beautiful War Memorial Chapel," said Dr. David Parker, Head of BJU's Vocal Studies Department. "They raised a high bar for our students in the artistic communication and vocal delivery of their repertoire."

BJU vocal studies students will complete the exchange with a trip to Clemson to perform on Tuesday, November 15. With the success of this exchange, Dr. Parker is already planning similar exchanges with Furman and other upstate schools. 

"We are grateful for Dr. Parker's vision for this exchange and the value it is adding to our student's growth as vocal artists," said Dr. Michael Moore, Chair of the BJU Division of Music. "And it's always exciting to see alumni like Dr. Odom out there making a difference in lives through music."

The Division of Music is pleased to collaborate with the Cinematic Arts Department in the Division of Communication to bring two visiting artists to campus for a teaching residency October 24 and 25, 2022. Richard Kaufman, L.A.-based conductor and frequent guest at BJU, will be joined by Patrick Russ, symphonic orchestrator and music arranger with over 200 film credits and extensive experience working with composers and artists such as Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, Renee Fleming, Jessye Norman, Placido Domingo, Jubilant Sykes, Lang Lang, and Christopher Parkening. 

Kaufman and Russ will address a wide range of topics with students in The Enterpreneurial Musician Seminar, Cinema Lab, and Orchestration class. They will also be working with the BJUSO in the Cinematic Arts Center in a series of two sessions designed to simulate a film studio orchestra environment with a short prep, hand-written scores, and sight-reading with parts to be distributed on the spot. Cinema students will collaborate with BJUSO, conducted by Kaufman, on the recording of a live-to-film sequence from the 1959 classic movie Ben-Hur. 

The Division of Music at BJU is launching a partnership with the YOUNG MUSIC ALUMNI COLLECTIVE, a new resource designed to empower recent music graduates to develop professionally, network with peers, expand their skill sets, and engage with their communities. The YMAC BJU chapter is focused specifically on BJU music alumni who are within their first 10 years after graduation, a critical period for musicians navigating the transition from student life to professional life.

YMAC seeks to support BJU music alumni through

• networking and community engagement initiatives
• regular virtual or in-person educational meetings/studio classes
• residencies that include recitals, masterclasses, question-and-answer sessions, and class visits

YMAC members will

• vote to elect chapter officers
• nominate peers for paid artist residency opportunities
• play an active role in shaping and implementing meaningful community engagement initiatives

Interested alumni may apply for membership in the YMAC here. A membership fee of $50 helps to support the community engagement efforts of the chapter.

Katie Taylor is the founder and executive director of the Young Music Alumni Collective. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from BJU in 2020 and a Master of Music in Violin Performance at Florida State University in 2022. While at FSU, she served as a graduate assistant in the College of Music’s Office of Community Engagement. Katie is passionate about arts and community engagement, youth orchestras, and violin pedagogy; she plans on continuing to pursue these interests in the arts administration field post-graduation. In her free time, Katie loves to journal, work out, and cook with friends.

The Division of Music at BJU bid a bittersweet farewell to three beloved faculty members at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Faye Lopez, associate professor in keyboard studies, music theory, and church music, retired after 21 years of ministry in the Division of Music. Her teaching was marked by a love for God and her students and a passion for equipping a new generation of musicians to serve the Church. We are happy to announce that Dr. Kenon Renfrow will bring his wealth of expertise and experience to Faye's former role as coordinator for church music keyboard improvisation lessons in the fall.

David Lehman, associate professor in keyboard studies, has retired from full-time teaching and his role as the head of the Keyboard Studies Department. The department has grown under his leadership, and David's students have consistently garnered awards in recognition of excellence over the course of his 43 remarkable years of faithful service at BJU. David will be transitioning to the role of adjunct faculty in the fall, and department head duties will be assumed by Dr. Deanna Moore, professor in keyboard studies. Deanna has established an extensive track record of artistic and organizational service within the department as a performing artist, pedagogue, and leader at local and state levels of MTNA. We are also delighted to announce that Dr. Nathan MacAvoy has been appointed full-time assistant professor in keyboard studies. Look for further details on Nathan's appointment in a forthcoming announcement.

After 30 years of ringing, Alan Lohr has retired from leading the BJU Handbell Choir. Under his leadership, the Handbell Choir developed into one of the finest collegiate handbell ensembles in the region and performed countless times as a featured ensemble or in collaboration with choirs and orchestra on Vespers programs, Concert, Opera & Drama Series programs, Bible Conference services and recitals. We are pleased to announce that Deanna Gardner will be bringing her experience as handbell director and music educator to this role in the fall.

Lori Lane was awarded as the BJU Alumnus of the Year on October 8, 2021. Lori graduated from BJU in 1984 with a degree in piano performance. She began homeschooling her children in 1993 and then founded Artios Academies in Georgia in 1998. Artios is a nation-wide homeschool partnership that focuses on history, literature/grammar/composition, art, music and theater. There are Artios campuses in Castle Rock, Colorado; Greenville, South Carolina; Gwinnett, Georgia; Sugar Hill, Georgia; and West Michigan. 

Learn more about Lori's story here.

Grammy award-winning conductor Richard Kaufman returned to BJU September 30 - October 7 for an action-packed teaching and conducting residency culminating in a performance with the BJUSO and Chorale for the annual Homecoming Artist Series Concert. Joining Kaufman for this residency was world-renown composer Lee Holdridge, whose music was featured on the concert.

Holdridge and Kaufman shared advice and guidance from their years of experience in the music and film industry as they worked closely with music and cinema students throughout the week of masterclasses, seminars, and rehearsals. Learn more about their residency here.

On September 10, 2021, our March 2020 performance of Così fan tutte: Dreaming & Scheming was named Second Place Winner in The American Prize in Opera Performance - College/University Division (Smaller Programs). With an all-student cast and crew, this fully staged opera production was a collaborative effort of the Division of Music, the Theatre Department, and the Division of Art & Design from start to finish. Designed and directed by Mr. Jeffrey Stegall with art direction by Mr. Jay Bopp. Conducted by Dr. Michael Moore, assisted by Dr. Shellie Beeman.

Learn more about The American Prize here.

Dr. Megan Stapleton will join the Bob Jones University faculty this fall as an assistant professor in the Vocal Studies Department of the Division of Music, School of Fine Arts and Communication. She will teach applied voice as well as courses in voice literature, vocal pedagogy, and music for the stage.

Stapleton holds degrees with honors from The University of North Texas (Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance with a related field in Vocal Pedagogy), New England Conservatory (Master of Music in Vocal Performance), and Sam Houston State University (Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance). While working on her DMA, she taught applied voice lessons and voice methods classes at UNT and was a protege of Dr. Stephen F. Austin. She most recently served as a Teaching Artist in Residence at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Read more about Dr. Stapleton's appointment here. 

Warren and Jean Cook will retire from the Division of Music this year after a combined total of 85 years of service. Learn more about these wonderful servants and their legacy of choral excellence here.

We are thrilled to announce that Andrew and Stephanie Huish will join the Bob Jones University music faculty this fall. Andrew, an assistant professor, will assume the role of Director of Choral Activities. His wife, Stephanie, will serve as adjunct keyboard faculty and collaborative pianist in the Choral Activities Department. Learn more about this talented couple here. 

We went to great lengths, literally, to pull off A Tale of Two Cities: The Musical. With COVID protocols preventing the use of the orchestra pit in Rodeheaver Auditorium, conductor Dr. Michael Moore moved the 34-piece student orchestra off site. Learn more here.

On Wednesday, December 24, 2020 at 8:30pm EST, South Carolina Educational Television will air a performance of selections from Handel's Messiah performed by the BJU Symphony Orchestra, choirs, and solists under the direction of Warren Cook. 

SCETV is also making this performance available for viewing on demand.

We trust our community of students, friends, alumni, and their families will tune in, share, and enjoy this Christmas gift from Music at BJU!

Our 48th annual High School Festival will be held this fall but with a twist because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Submissions will be made online, which opens the event to many who even under normal circumstances wouldn’t be able to participate.

“We are excited that our annual High School Festival will be able to pivot to this virtual format to allow students to participate and to hone their talents,” said Dr. Darren Lawson, dean of the School of Fine Arts & Communication. “This new format will also allow expanded opportunities for participation from schools and individuals who have been too far to travel to Greenville in the past.”

Learn more about the competition here.

Four students from our Vocal Studies Department competed recently at the National Assocition of Teachers of Singing Musical Theatre Auditions for South Carolina. All four advanced to the regional competition: Hannah Allen—First Year College Women, Heather Spencer—Second Year College Women, Andrea Lawrence—Third Year College Women, Megan King—Fourth Year College Women. BJU alum Levi Myers (BME '20) also advanced to regionals. Congratulations to these students and their professors, Dr. Shellie Beeman and Mrs. Nikki Eoute!

With most events on our campus are closed to the public for now, the Division of Music has launched Music At BJU Live. Select concerts featuring choir, band, and orchestra performances will be available for viewing free of charge on the new livestream channel. 

Bob Jones University’s presentation of Titanic: The Musical has been voted the winner of The American Prize in Musical Theater Performance for 2019–20. Dr. Darren Lawson, dean of the School of Fine Arts & Communication, was the stage director. Dr. Michael Moore, division of music chair in the School of Fine Arts & Communication, conducted the orchestra, Jeffrey Stegall designed the sets and lighting was designed by Richard Streeter. Cast members included BJU students, faculty and staff in addition to guest artists. Learn more about the production and prize here.

For many students, faculty, and alumni, the music hasn't stopped, just changed venues. From navigating a successful pivot to online instruction to producing a heart-warming virtual choir and orchestra video, the Music At BJU community has been making and sharing music in new ways and with new audiences. Learn more here.

The BJU Division of Music, Theatre Department, and Division of Art & Design are pleased to present Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's comic opera, Così fan tutte: Dreaming & Scheming, March 13 and 14, 2020 in Rodeheaver Auditorium. The all-student cast production is designed and directed by Mr. Jeffrey Stegall with art direction by Mr. Jay Bopp. Dr. Michael Moore conducts.

Tickets may be purchased online at bju.universitytickets.com or by phone at (864) 770-1372.

Learn more about the production here: 'I Love Lucy' Meets Mozart in Student Opera

Several students from our Vocal Studies Department competed recently at the National Assocition of Teachers of Singing Classical Auditions for South Carolina. The following students have advanced to the regional competition: Heather Spencer, Rachel Stoner, Taylor Worley, Andrew Barr, Johnathan Swaffer, Caleb Wutzke, Caleb Felber, David Ritschard, Joy Herr, Victoria Richards, Marianne Freeman, and Sarah Harris. In addition, Taylor Worley won first place in the Second Year Classical Women category and was invited to perform on the honors recital. Congratulations to these students and their professors, Dr. Shellie Beeman, Mrs. Laura Brundage, Dr. David Parker, and Mrs. Amy Johnson!

Each year the South Carolina chapter of the College Band Directors National Association assembles an honor band of the state’s finest college players to perform in a weekend wind band clinic with a internationally renowned conductor. This year 11 BJU students were nominated and accepted; as a result of seating auditions four were named principal chair of their respective sections: Andrea Bell on flute, Matt Phillips on trumpet, Aaron Fox on French horn, and Nathan Gardner on trombone. Other BJU students earning chairs in the honor band were Jesse Boyd, Annie Castilla, Ashton Downs, Natalie Greiner, Katherine Knisley, Daniel Leedy, and AJ Steenhoek.

Bob Jones University Division of Music will present Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 12 – 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Rodeheaver Auditorium.

Under the direction of Dr. Warren Cook, the BJU Symphony Orchestra will accompany over 200 singers from four University choirs. Soloists include Laura Brundage, Division of Music faculty—soprano; Marianne Freeman, senior student—alto; Jason Rush, 2010 music graduate —tenor; and Dr. David Parker, Division of Music faculty—bass.

The two performances will be presented in memory and honor of Dr. Dwight Gustafson, dean of BJU’s School of Fine Arts for over 40 years, and his wife, Gwen, former music faculty. The new Dwight and Gwen Gustafson Music Scholarship Endowment was established earlier this year to provide scholarships to students enrolled in the Division of Music.

Learn more here.

The Division of Music At BJU is pleased to announce that South Carolina Educational Television will air "A Very Merry Christmas" on statewide public television as follows:

• Monday, December 23 at 9 p.m. EST on the South Carolina Channel
• Tuesday, December 24 at 7 p.m. EST on SCETV 
• Wednesday, December 25 at 1 p.m. EST on the ETV World Channel 

The televised concert features the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs along with several guest artists, including David Kim, concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The concert will also be available for viewing at scetv.org through New Year's Day.

We trust our community of students, friends, alumni, and their families will tune in and enjoy this Christmas gift from Music At BJU! 

The complete concert program, Panosian and the Providence of His Story, is now available for viewing on YouTube. The 2019 Bob Jones University Homecoming Concert traces the hand of Providence through story and song in a one-of-a-kind multimedia concert experience telling a tale of remembrance, resilience, and redemption in the lives of two families affected by the Armenian Genocide (1915-1920). Dr. Ed Panosian, beloved history professor at BJU for over five decades, and singer/songwriter Mariam Matossian together share an unforgettably heart-warming story of perseverance in persecution, divine protection, and the fragile but flourishing culture of a people preserved. 

On Nov. 4–7, BJU hosted the 47th annual High School Festival & Preaching and Teaching Conference. Teens in grades 9–12 participated in individual or group contests. The week is packed with performances, concerts and the BJU experience. With 10 individual and nine group events, Music is the biggest division of High School Festival. Instrumentalists and vocalists compete in both types of events. Learn more about the festival and side-by-side ensemble experiences offered here.

The South Carolina chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (SC ACDA) presented Dr. Warren Cook, director of choral activities at Bob Jones University, with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fall Conference held at Charleston Southern University on Oct. 11. The Lifetime Achievement Award is “presented each year by the South Carolina chapter of the ACDA to a choral director working in South Carolina who has made a significant impact on the field of choral music in South Carolina over the course of their career.” Learn more about the award and Dr. Cook's contributions to choral artistry here. 

Bob Jones University will present Panosian and the Providence of His Story at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium. The multifaceted program combines the personal story of longtime BJU history professor Dr. Ed Panosian, whose family was forced to flee the Armenian Genocide (1915-1920), with the vocal artistry of Mariam Matossian, a local singer and songwriter with Armenian roots. Matossian will be accompanied by a small band of musicians playing traditional Armenian instruments and by the BJU Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about the program here. 

The Bob Jones University Division of Music recently awarded 12 music students 2019 Gingery-Mack Music Scholarships which provide merit-based financial aid and study opportunities with master teachers. Those same students, along with three additional new music students, also received scholarship awards from the BJU Music Scholarship Fund. Both of these scholarship funds provide financial aid to student musicians who are committed to cultivating, refining, and applying their musical gifts for the glory of God and the good of others. Learn more here.

The Bob Jones University Division of Music announced today the launch of the Dwight and Gwen Gustafson Music Scholarship Endowment that will provide merit scholarships to students enrolled in academic programs and ensembles in the BJU Division of Music. Dr. Dwight Gustafson served on the BJU faculty and staff for 45 years, including 43 as dean of the School of Fine Arts. A gifted administrator, he was also a composer, conductor, actor and author. He retired in 1997. Gwen Gustafson taught as a member of the music faculty 34 years, retiring in 2000. Learn more about the Gustafsons, the founding donors, and how to contribute here.

Dr. Michael Moore was named first place winner for The American Prize in Conducting: College/University Division for Opera in 2018-2019. In consideration for the award, Moore submitted the University’s production of the tragic opera Lucia Di Lammermoor which he conducted in 2018. Learn more here.

Congratulations to our Department of Music Education and Dr. Pattye Casarow, department head, on once again achieving State Recognition of Program Approval for the undergraduate music education degree. The recognition is based on an accreditation process that occurs on a 5- to 7-year cycle.
From the accreditation report: "The data indicates that the BJU Music Education candidates perform at a substantially higher level than that which is required. Secondly, the survey data from mentor teachers indicates that the student teachers are perceived to have a strong academic preparation for their teaching... The assessment data strongly suggest that candidates have positive effect on K-12 learning."

Registration is open for our Summer 2019 Junior and Senior music Educamps. These week-long camps feature a variety of fun, faculty-led rehearsals, lessons, and activities designed for student musicians in 4th through 12th grade. A limited number of scholarships are available for students who play certain instruments. Contact pjantz@bju.edu for information.

The BJU Division of Music is pleased to host the fifth annual Rivertree Singers & Friends Choral Festival, June 20-22, 2019. The festival will culminate in a performance of the Brahms German Requiem under the direction of Dr. Warren Cook on Saturday, June 22, at 7:30pm in Rodeheaver Auditorium. Learn more here.

BJU’s Division of Music announced today a partnership with Piano Central Studios to expand pre-college music lesson offerings to serve not only BJA’s students but also the broader upstate community. The new community music program, called PCS Music Artistry at BJU, will begin enrolling students this summer for Fall 2019.

The BJU yearbook staff announced today the dedication of the 2019 Vintage to Dr. Dan Turner, who is retiring as director of bands after the 2018–19 academic year. Learn more here.

The Bob Jones University Division of Music announced today that Dr. Bruce Cox will assume the role of director of bands and conductor of the Symphonic Wind Band beginning in the 2019–2020 academic year. Learn more here.

Look for Music At BJU on the back cover of this season's edition of Overture, the program guide for the Brevard Music Center Summer Festival. The ad features photos of visting artist David Kim and our choirs and symphony orchestra performing Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo at Chicago's Orchestra Hall, information about our academic programs, and highlights of our upcoming season. We are thrilled to support the 2019 BMC Summer Festival this year!