Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) has announced that its music department will conclude the performance season with a free public concert on Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m. in the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium. This announcement was made in a press release on April 16, 2025.
According to MVNU, the concert will feature performances by the university's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, String Ensemble, Flute Choir, Collegians Chorale, Una Voce Chamber Choir, and Treble Singers Women’s Choir. Instrumental groups are directed by Dr. John Packard, Chuck Dettmar, Dr. Juan Carlos Ortega, and Jennifer Packard. Choral groups are led by Dr. Robert Tocheff, Carrie Vail, and Sabina Anderson. The event will culminate with a collaborative performance of "Baba Yetu" by the combined choirs and Wind Ensemble—a composition by Christopher Tin originally created for the video game Civilization IV featuring a Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer.
MVNU offers a variety of instrumental music ensembles open to all students regardless of their major. These include the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Flute Choir, String Ensemble among others formed based on interest. Most groups do not require auditions; they meet weekly and perform regularly both on and off campus. Some ensembles offer academic credit while others do not.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble focuses on concert band literature and holds a fall retreat; the Jazz Band performs popular and big band music; and the Pep Band plays at basketball games. Additional opportunities include specialized groups like Flute Choir and String Ensemble with rehearsals scheduled during the week under MVNU faculty direction.
Founded in 1968 as a Christian liberal arts college in central Ohio affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, MVNU is grounded in Wesleyan-Arminian theology combining academic study with spiritual growth to foster Christ-centered leadership learning service. The university's main campus spans 327 acres serving approximately 2,100 students from 22 states and 21 foreign countries. It includes students from over 40 Christian denominations emphasizing a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1 along with over 30 sports teams and strong financial aid support.
