TOP REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY ASAP:

• You will receive detailed feedback on your performances from professionals.
• You will receive a Cash Prize if you win first or second.
• You will have the amazing opportunity of performing at the Great Lakes Music Festival Concert in the Gym on Saturday if you are the first place winner.
• You will perform in our newly remodeled Burckart Hall.
• You will meet other dedicated musicians your age.
• You will have the opportunity to meet some Maranatha’s piano faculty.
• You will have motivation to work extra hard.
• College hosted competition participation will look good on your college entrance resume.

Click Here for Piano Competition Details

Hurry…January 1 is the application deadline, and the contest is limited to the first 10 qualifying applicants.

What many people do not know about Maranatha’s collegiate musicians is that they use their creative juices in many other venues in addition to music (but as you will see from the pics, they probably better not change their majors to interior design!).

Music students take Harmony 1 and 2 from Dr. Brown and then graduate to Dr. Clater’s Harmony 3 and 4 courses. Students completing Harmony 2 have had a long-standing tradition of “decorating” Dr. Brown’s office as a heartfelt thank you for his fine teaching. Brown comments about his loving 2012 Harmony 2 class saying “…they went all out. Previously, I’ve been tinseled, toilet papered, sticky-noted, ballooned, etc. etc. However, this year tops them all. I guess our little “elves” did their deed last night while we were all making merry at our faculty/staff Christmas party.” After looking at Harmony 2’s interior decorating skills, Dr. Ledge said “wow, they even used a REAL TREE this year!”  And indeed, they did.

One of the “charter members” of this tradition is Senior, Kara Burgess. This morning Kara was thrilled with the evidence that the traditions they started will be continued by their successors. Burgess says, “Dr. Brown has told me that he still finds icicles floating around occasionally. Come to think of it, earlier this semester he called me into the office and had me remove a tiny bit of red tinsel still taped up in a corner. It’s so wonderful to know that for years to come, he will continue to find little reminders of his favorite students.” On Facebook, recent graduates are proudly commending their understudies. Melissa Aurand Haese wrote, “I am just so glad to see we thoroughly trained you!”

Yes, believe it or not, these are the same students who score in the nation’s 90th percentile on the music tests.

Experience Another Harmony 2 Tradition -

Harmony 2 Graduation (subscribers, please go to the post to view):

Look at some pics from past years of office decorating:

Tribute from Pamela Loggans: Few people have impacted me as significantly as Mrs. Joy Barnes. I praise the Lord for the privilege of receiving instruction in piano and organ from Mrs. Barnes. Her kindness, encouragement, and patience were always a blessing! I value her instruction and I am thankful to her for instilling in me a heart for the hymns! What a blessing it was to come back to Watertown in 1993 and teach in the music department with Mrs. Barnes until her retirement. I counted it a wonderful privilege to serve the Lord together in the music ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Watertown.

Tribute from Monty Budahl: For nearly forty years, Joy Barnes ministered with me in various capacities. She was a very supportive faculty member.  In the early, she taught many of the piano and organ students herself.  Later, she scheduled the lessons, fitting the student and faculty class schedules together like a giant jig saw puzzle.  Joy faithfully played for chapel services, the “Messiah” and graduation festivities.  For many years, she and Max hosted the music faculty Christmas fellowship after the “Messiah” presentation at their lovely home, a wonderful relief for us all.

At Calvary Baptist Church, Mrs. Barnes was the lead keyboard player, playing for most of the services, either on piano or organ, rehearsing and accompanying the choir, ensembles and special music… plus weddings and special services.  She handled “bailouts” and avoided “train wrecks” with a gracious manner.

As a friend of the family, she taught  our children.  Christmas recitals at her home were highly anticipated. The children always received a large, colorfully decorated gingerbread teddy bear.

I often heard her say “Oh, dear…”  but never “Oh, no.”

Tribute from Rick Townsend: I just remember Mrs. Barnes as one of the kindest people at Maranatha when Linda and I arrived. Her contributions in department meetings were always on target and offered with kindness and humility. The department Christmas parties at their home will always be a favorite memory for Linda and me.

Tribute from Dave Brown: One of our earliest memories of Joy Barnes is when she hosted the annual music faculty Christmas party. Like her name, she was a joyful servant of God. She had a ready smile for all and a sweet spirit that drew students and faculty alike. Joy always had time for people. She was a major help to Ruth during our first year at MBBC. Ruth would go to her office often and ask about policies, teaching, ideas for organizing her own studio. She took Ruth under her wing. Joy Barnes’ life was an example of a life well-lived for Christ.

Tribute from Janet Tschida: I didn’t have the privilege of really getting to know Mrs. Barnes until I started teaching at Maranatha. I remember being amazed by how much she did behind the scenes that I had absolutely no idea about as a Maranatha college student, and I was so impressed by her quiet faithfulness. As a young teacher, Mrs. Barnes encouraged me so much when I was feeling incredibly apprehensive and overwhelmed. I learned much from her those first few years, both about teaching and about serving. She had a good sense of humor too. As we worked together on several projects, I remember us just laughing and laughing while thinking to myself, “I had no idea she could be this fun!” She made a lasting impression on me, and I am grateful for the few years we were able to work together.

Tribute from David Ledgerwood: When I came to Maranatha in 1986, I was the “new kid on the block” in the Music Department. The person I worked most closely with in the piano area was Joy Barnes. Joy made me feel instantly welcome. She had our family over for dinner, and patiently helped me learn the ropes of collegiate piano teaching. She was always encouraging and helpful. Every Christmas, she and Max would host a music department get together after the Messiah concert. That was a great highlight to our year. We would have splendid fellowship with the Cedarholms, Budahls, Burckarts, Heiderichs, Carol Senn, and Dr. Weniger. Later on the list included Jeremy Vegter, Rick Townsend, Dave Jaspers, Betsy Pabon, and Janet Tschida. What a treat!

Joy loved her students. She wanted to make them successful and so she poured her heart into them. She was always looking for ways to improve her teaching. Joy was an example of a sacrificial and committed Christian servant who believed that Christian education could make a difference. We will all miss her.

Tribute from Carol Senn Ruffin: Over the years I have known Mrs. Joy Barnes as a teacher, colleague and friend.

Teacher: I had always admired the piano playing of Mrs. Joy Barnes at church when I was in high school, so I was thrilled as a new Maranatha college freshman to learn that she was going to be my piano teacher. She stretched me—so much so that I was a finalist in the commencement piano contest that first year. Although Mrs. Barnes was disappointed when I changed my proficiency to voice she never stopped encouraging me to excel at whatever the Lord wanted me to do.

Colleague: By just being her normal, kind, thoughtful self she was kind of “paying it forward;” for not too many years later I became her daughter Tami’s voice teacher—teaching in a studio just across the hall from Mrs. Barnes. Now Mrs. Barnes and I were colleagues, although I never could make myself call her Joy. We chatted a little most days—sharing a funny story, a prayer request, and sometimes a piece of staff paper. I really missed that when she retired.

Friend: I was also privileged to call Mrs. Barnes my friend. What fun to work side by side in her kitchen helping prepare things for the annual Music Faculty Christmas party that she always insisted on hosting at her home! She knew how to entertain. She was one classy lady. She taught me a lot—much of which had absolutely nothing to do with piano or music—but stuff I needed to learn nonetheless.

I will miss Mrs. Barnes, but I take solace in knowing she is glory. In a providential “circle of life” sort of way I now enjoy being voice colleagues with her daughter Tami Collupy. Now, how cool is that?!?! Rest in peace, Mrs. Barnes.

Please share your tribute in the comment section.

Piano Sonata, No. 2, “Concord Sonata” IV. Alcotts by Charles Ives

Each movement in the Concord Sonata depicts the life of a famous transcendentalist author from Concord, Massachusetts. In this depiction of Louisa May Alcott’s home, Charles Ives uses the technique of quotation. If you listen carefully, you will hear the theme from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, “Missionary Hymn,” “Here Comes the Bride,” “Loch Lomond,” and the minstrel song “Stop Dat Knockin’” all included! Ives weaves these songs together with his own ideas, skillfully contrasting the strife of the Civil War outside the home with the peace of the family within.

Keyboard Concerto, No. 1 in D Minor J. S. Bach Assisted by June Brus

While no primary sources on the composition of this piece exist, musicologists speculate that it may have been originally written for violin. The theme is stated in unison at the beginning, tossed back and forth throughout the piece, and again stated in unison at the conclusion. Unlike most baroque pieces, this one includes a notated cadenza passage, where the soloist plays a virtuosic ornamental display without orchestral accompaniment. Interestingly, this is one of the few pieces by Bach that has been continuously performed, even during periods when his works were unpopular.

Be Still, My Soul by Jean Sibelius/arr. Ream    

During the spring of my freshman year, the Lord allowed both of my parents to be hospitalized at the same time. It was a frightening time to be so far from home and unable to help my parents or my younger siblings. God taught me a lot of lessons about putting my full trust in Him. Two days after Mom was hospitalized, we sang this song in chapel. Time after time during the last four years, these words have been a challenge and encouragement to me:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake to guide the future, as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on. When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Kara Burgess Senior Piano Recital Program

Pastor Kurtz of Calvary Baptist Church in Watertown, WI challenged Daniel Mulder, a music arranging minor at Maranatha, to write a hymn, and Daniel took the challenge.

The themes of each verse are taken from different parts of the Bible:

• v.1 – II Timothy 4:8
• v.2 – Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 27:29
• v.3 – Hebrews 2:9; Ephesians 2:5-6; Romans 5:17

The words of the chorus are taken from a prayer written by an anonymous Puritan preacher who breaks into rapturous praise at the thought of the grace God has shown him.

O Lord, I am astonished at the difference between my receivings and my deservings, between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness, between the heaven I am bound for and the hell I merit. Who made me to differ, but thee? for I was no more ready to receive Christ than were others; I could not have begun to love thee hadst thou not first loved me, or been willing unless thou hadst first made me so. O that such a crown should fit the head of such a sinner! such high advancement be for an unfruitful person! such joys for so vile a rebel! (Source: The Valley of Vision)

Daniel writes, “As humans, we deeply reject God, and in so doing, we also reject righteousness,joy, fulfillment, even life itself. We cannot hope to deserve these things, because we willfully threw them away. But God, because he is rich in mercy, because he had such great love for us, gave us his Son. And if God gave us his Son, Paul asks, “how shall he not with [his Son] also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32) We are nothing, yet God gives us everything. This is why we sing.”

Daniel is making this hymn available as PDF: Such A Crown PDF

Listen as Calvary Baptist Church sings this hymn:

Stay posted for additional free downloads.

“One of the wonderful advantages of Maranatha is its close proximity to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. On Saturday, Nov 10, my wife and I were able to take four students from the Basic Music Literature class to the Art Institute in Chicago, located on Michigan Avenue (Sarah Dixon, Vina Martens, Stephanie Wright, and Timothy Warren). For some of the students, this was their first visit to Chicago, and the tall buildings and crowded streets were a new experience. The class was studying French Impressionism in both art and music and the museum has some of the paintings featured in our text. The pictures in the textbook can never substitute for seeing the actual painting. After stopping and taking pictures at the Chicago Bean, we spent several hours in the galleries, not only examining the Impressionist paintings, but windows by Frank Lloyd Wright, sculptures, furniture, exquisite miniatures and even paper weights. Other than getting thoroughly drenched after leaving the museum, we had a wonderful time of fellowship.”

Can you find Dr. Ledge in this “Chicago Bean” Pic?

“SACRED MASTERWORKS—Past and Present” was the theme of Maranatha’s 2012 Fall Festival program. The combined choirs and symphony orchestra presented past masterworks of sacred choral symphonic literature including works of Mozart, Brahms, Faure, and Handel. Present sacred gems included Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven arranged by Lopez & Lynch, Holy, Holy, Holy arranged by Bob Walters, and He Never Said a Mublin’ Word arranged by Monty Budahl. Read the program and watch excerpts below.

2012 Maranatha Fall Festival Program PDF

Dies Irae (from Requiem Mass in D Minor, K.626) ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place (from A German Requiem, Op.45) ~ Johannes Brahms

He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word ~ Traditional/arr.Budahl

Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah) ~ Handel

Excerpt 1: Partita II by Johann Sebastian Bach

• I. Allemande
• II. Courante
• III. Sarabande
• IV. Gigue
• V. Chaconne

This piece is part of a collection of pieces that Bach wrote for unaccompanied violin. In each movement, Bach combines the bass line with the melody line. This work is most known for the Chaconne at the end of the piece and is a staple in violin repertoire.

Excerpt 2: Sonata for Piano and Violin in A Major by César Franck

• I. Allegretto moderato
• II. Allegro
• III. Recitativo-Fantasia
• IV. Allegretto poco mosso

In this Sonata, the piano and violin both carry vital roles. At times the composer gives the melody to the piano and the accompaniment to the violin, and vice versa. It is as if the two instruments are having a conversation. Franck wrote this Sonata as a wedding present to a friend; one can definitely hear the emotion in the piece.

Watch as Jessica Garrison (Piano Pedagogy Major),  and Daniel Mulder (Arranging Minor) perform Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D Major (I. Presto) by Haydn. Continue watching after their performance to learn from the coaching given by adjunct piano professor, Dr. Stanislava Varshavski.

Recently, sixteen music students, Sherry Trainer (Music Department Administrative Assistant) and David Ledgerwood (Music Department Chair) attended a Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concert of Russian Fireworks.

Dr. Ledgerwood comments on the evening by writing the following: “We were able to secure premiere orchestra seating and were treated to a wonderful concert that included Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, Tschaikovsky’s Symphony #2 (Little Russian), Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and Polovtsian Dances by Borodin. For some of the freshmen students, this was their first live orchestral concert. The guest conductor for the evening was Sebastian Lang-Lessing, who impressed us all with his command of the music and contagious enthusiasm. In addition to orchestra playing magnificently and the ensemble being so precise, the various solos from members of the orchestra helped our students formulate mental pictures of professional orchestral sound. The fellowship we enjoyed before, during, and after the concert made for a special evening.”