Music Together® is a research-based method for developing basic music competence in children. It accomplishes this through singing and movement to songs and chants, drawing on a wide variety of cultures and styles. In Music Together®, children attend a weekly 45-minute class with a parent, grandparent or other caregiver, and receive a songbook and professional CD for home listening.

Classes in Goshen will be held starting June 4 at Waterford Crossing Senior Center. Classes will be offered Tuesdays and Fridays for six sessions between June 4-21. Class time is 10:30 a.m. and will be taught by a licensed Music Together instructor.

A second set of Goshen classes will be held starting July 8 at the Goshen College Music Center. These classes will be offered Mondays and Thursdays for six sessions between July 8- 25. Class times are 10 a.m., 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. and are taught by licensed Music Together instructor and Goshen resident Jenny Campagna.

Classes in Elkhart will be held starting June 10 at Prairie Street Mennonite Church. Classes will be offered Mondays and Thursdays for six sessions between June 10-July 1. Class times are 10 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. and are taught by licensed Music Together instructor and Elkhart resident Tracey Weirich.

Tuition is $100 for one child and includes all classes and materials. Additional siblings from birth to age 5 may join the class for only $20 each. Need-based scholarships are available to any family whose income qualifies them for free or reduced lunch in the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch program. The Goshen College Music Center is committed to making this program available to every family who would like to participate.

To register, or for additional information, including specific class schedules and locations, please contact the Music Center Main Office at (574) 535-7361 or visit www.gcmusiccenter.org. Patrons are encouraged to register as soon as possible to ensure enrollment in their desired class.

The Dean’s List includes students earning at least a 3.75 GPA, while completing at least 12 hours of course work for a letter grade. Only grades from the designated semester are included in the Dean’s List selection process.

Students earning at least a 3.6 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in Goshen College Division of Adult and External Studies (DAES) are also included in the list – a significant achievement since most DAES students are working adults taking highly personalized night classes.

The college initiated its Dean’s List during the first semester of the 1999-2000 school and it celebrates the achievement of students who have met high academic standards and can motivate students preparing for graduate studies, according to Anita Stalter, Goshen’s academic dean, vice president for academic affairs and professor of education.

Students say Goshen College is providing an enriching educational experience, a high level of academic challenge, a supportive campus environment and active and collaborative learning that far exceeds what is provided at the nation’s average colleges and universities, according to a comprehensive national survey.

Goshen College students reported noticeably higher involvement in the category of “enriching student experiences,” which includes experiences such as internships, study abroad and service projects. “Seniors report a level of engagement in these enriching experiences—Study-Service Term being a major one—that is significantly higher than seniors at other similar institutions,” said Associate Academic Dean Ross Peterson-Veatch. “The interesting thing is that all those things that fall into the ‘enrichment’ category at other places are required parts of the curriculum here. What this means is that we do ‘experience’ better. Goshen College students’ academic experiences are enriched.”

Of students surveyed, Goshen students were more likely than their national peers to interact with students of a race or ethnicity other than their own, more likely to complete an internship or field-experience, more likely to participate in co-curricular activities, and more likely to acquire a broad general education.

Goshen College students were also twice as likely to complete foreign language course work and seniors were three times times more likely to have studied abroad, compared with students surveyed nationally.

“Not only do the results tell us that students are getting an excellent education at GC, but over time our graduates consistently learn what we hope they will learn,” Peterson-Veatch said.

Below are some highlights of Goshen College student responses from the 2012 survey:

Enriching educational experiences

• 97% of seniors had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than their own, compared with 87% nationally.
• 83% of first-years and 73% of seniors say that Goshen College encourages contact among students from different economic, social and racial or ethnic backgrounds ‘quite a bit’ or ‘very much’, compared with 61% of first-years and 54% of seniors nationally.

Level of academic challenge

• 93% of students rated the quality of their entire educational experience at Goshen College as ‘good’ or ‘excellent,’ compared with 86% nationally.
• 84% of seniors have completed foreign language coursework, compared with 38% nationally.
• 97% of seniors say they have acquired a broad general education, compared with 83% nationally.

Supportive campus environment

• 85% of seniors reported that Goshen College helped increase their understanding of people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds, compared with 57% of seniors nationally.
• 78% of seniors reported that Goshen College helped them develop a personal code of values and ethics, compared with 63% of seniors nationally.
• 83% of seniors reported that their experience at Goshen College helped them develop a deepened sense of spirituality, compared with 53% of seniors nationally. 

Active and collaborative learning

• 72% of first-years and 75% of seniors ‘often’ or ‘very often’ included diverse perspectives in class discussion or writing assignments.
• 98% of students surveyed discussed ideas from readings or classes with others outside of class.

Student-faculty interaction

• 95% of students describe faculty members as available, helpful and sympathetic.
• 92% of first-years and 89% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at Goshen College as ‘good’ or ‘excellent.’

The National Survey of Student Engagement, based at Indiana University, gathers information from first-year and senior students at hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States, using five benchmarks to gauge student experiences. The benchmarks are: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, enriching educational experiences, student-faculty interaction and a supportive campus environment.

Goshen College President Jim Brenneman, NIPSCO’s Manager of Public Affairs Angela Nelson and Goshen College Sustainability Coordinator and Utilities Manager Glenn Gilbert hold up a representational “green carbon footprint.”

Goshen College President Jim Brenneman announced today that the college has taken a major step by voluntarily purchasing all of its electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. This single action will reduce the college’s carbon footprint by about 45 percent.

The college is the first major customer of NIPSCO, the regional electricity provider, to take this action and participate in its new Green Power Program.

“What this means for Goshen College is that going forward from today, no more coal, gas or oil will be burned, no more carbon dioxide will be introduced into the atmosphere to provide electricity for our campus,” Brenneman said during an all-campus convocation. Before this step, the equivalent of 24 train cars of coal were needed (or about 12 tons per student) to provide electricity to campus each year. Coal is Indiana’s primary energy source.

In 2007, Brenneman became a charter signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In doing so, he joined with leaders of 175 other higher education institutions in agreement to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions. Goshen College was one of two higher education institutions in Indiana and the first Mennonite college or university to sign the landmark climate commitment. There now are 664 signatories.

Goshen College President Jim Brenneman

“We did that because we are very concerned about life on this planet, it was one more way we can care for the world and it was part of our broader ecological stewardship commitment,” Brenneman said. “Goshen College, like the Mennonite Church which we are a part of, has always been committed to being global citizens. 

By signing up for this program – which is recently available to all customers – NIPSCO buys renewable energy certificates (RECs) on the college’s behalf. RECs are the environmental attributes associated with electricity that is generated from renewable sources. NIPSCO Green Power Program RECs are certified through Green-e® Energy, the nation’s leading renewable energy certification and verification program. Green-e® Energy provides independent, third-party certification to ensure that certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer-protection standards.

Participants in the program pay a monthly premium in addition to the standard electric rate, which goes entirely to pay for the RECs. 

In response to the college’s energy efficiency efforts and commitment to sustainability, NIPSCO’s Manager of Public Affairs Angela Nelson presented a $5,000 check to the college’s Ecological Stewardship Committee to help with further initiatives on campus in the future.

Since 2007, the college has been very successful at energy conservation. “In that time, both natural gas and electrical consumption have been reduced by over 25 percent,” said Glenn Gilbert, the campus’ sustainability coordinator and utilities manager. “Conservation will continue to be a major component of our strategy.” The college is using about the same amount of electricity on campus today as it did in 1992, despite adding 290,000 more square feet of building space.

Gilbert added, “We seek to be leaders in environmental sustainability and to model a safe and effective way for our society to move away from dependency on fossil fuel-based energy sources that have proven to be so destructive to our environment.”

To learn more about the college’s various green initiatives – including composting, prairie planting, making biodiesel, powering hot showers with solar panels and others – visit http://www.goshen.edu/gogreen.

Jama Yoder (left) and Ariel Ropp work on a spring 2013 issue of The Record.

Goshen College students recently received awards during a state competition for their involvement with campus publications.

The Indiana Collegiate Press Association (ICPA) presented awards at its annual conference on April 13 at Indiana University at Bloomington. Among the winners were staff members of The Record, the student newspaper, and Red Cents, a student arts journal.

Three staff members of The Record received individual awards.

Twila Albrecht took second place in best news feature reporting for a profile of Marvin Graber, a piano tuner from Goshen who is blind. Kate Stoltzfus received second place for her op-ed entitled “A book is not a Nook,” a tribute to the significance of printed books. Phil Scott was awarded third place for best editorial cartoon.

The Record also received several team awards. The spring 2012 Reporting for the Public Good class earned third place in the special issue category for their series of articles on race and culture in Goshen. The fall 2012 Writing for Media class received second place for best pullout section with their coverage on the municipal, regional and national election races.

The awards cover the calendar year 2012, during which time Matthew Amstutz served as editor during the spring semester and Becca Kraybill during the fall semester. Duane Stoltzfus, professor of communications, serves as the paper’s advisor.

In addition, a second-place award for best themed issue went to Kraybill and her staff for their Oct. 11 anniversary package on the death of James Miller, the biology professor who was murdered in 2011.

Red Cents, a literary and arts journal edited and published by students, took several honors for its 2012 edition. In group awards, the journal won first place for best single issue, third place for the best overall design and third place for best literary journal of the year.

In individual awards, Kate Stoltzfus won first place for best free verse poem with her poem “Oracle.” Mary Roth won second in the same category for her poem “Elder Song.” Sophie Lapp won third place in the category of best photographic art.

The editoral team for the 2012 issue included Annie Martens (’12), Kate Stoltzfus, Lauren Stoltzfus and Natasha Weisenbeck. Ann Hostetler and Jessica Baldanzi, professors of English, co-advised the magazine.

The association’s annual contest recognizes the best student work in Indiana college newspapers and other publications. Goshen College is entered in Division III, for colleges with a non-daily publication and an enrollment of 2,000 or fewer full-time students.

-By Becca Kraybill
Duane Stoltzfus contributed to this press release

The recipients of the Leaf Scholarships, upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

• Josue De La Rosa, son of Jorge De La Rosa and Carina Conteras of Bristol, Ind. He will graduate this year from Northridge High School, and plans to study biology.

• Fabian Lopez, son of Antonio and Terry Lopez of Osceola, Ind. He will graduate this year from Penn High School, and plans to study chemistry or biology at Goshen College.

The recipients will receive a four-year scholarship of up to $40,000 total and participate in group activities to ensure their academic and professional success.

In addition to Goshen College, NSF has awarded the STEM fund to seven colleges in Indiana: Butler University, DePauw University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and St. Mary’s College. The NSF provides more information about this program on their website.

“We are pleased to have this assistance in seeking to recruit and retain more students in the sciences from groups which are traditionally underrepresented, and to help prepare them to make significant contributions to the world,” said Academic Dean Anita Stalter.

-By Becca Kraybill

CCYC teacher Michelle Mullet works with Kian Rohn.
(Photo provided by the Campus Center for Young Children)

The Campus Center for Young Children (CCYC), located in College Mennonite Church on the Goshen College campus, was recently reaccredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC is the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals whose accreditation standards are met by less than ten percent of the early childhood programs. Since first accredited in 2000, CCYC is one of only three early childhood programs in Elkhart Country to achieve and maintain NAEYC accreditation.

CCYC formed in 1997 as a joint effort between Goshen College and College Mennonite Church. It now offers early care and education programs for children ages 18 months through 5 years. Though enrollment priority is given to students and employees of Goshen College and College Mennonite Church members, children of the broader community are also enrolled. CCYC has a second location on the north side of Goshen at Arbor Ridge Apartments. Jointly, the two programs are serving over 100 children in the Goshen community.

Janet Whalen Couch, Executive Director of CCYC, believes NAEYC accreditation is a reflection of the program’s commitment to our community. “Achieving accreditation is the result of many months of programming review, gathering evidence of best practices and surveying families and teaching staff,” she said. “CCYC has always been committed to providing the highest quality programming for the children and families we serve. Achieving accreditation is evidence of that commitment.”

NAEYC created its accreditation program in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality early education programs. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period. To receive accreditation, CCYC went through a process of self-study, a professional review by the NAEYC panel, and an intensive onsite observation of the program in action.

- By Becca Kraybill

Goshen College graduate Emily Trapp, a music major from Canby, Ore., celebrates receiving her degree following the April 28 commencement service.

RELATED LINKS

• Photos of Commencement Weekend activities
• Baccalaureate sermon by Dr. James E. Brenneman (full text)
• Commencement speech by Dan Charles, NPR’s food and agriculture correspondent (full text)

Members of Goshen College’s Class of 2013 received undergraduate and graduate degrees on Sunday, April 28 after being encouraged to seek God’s love that surpasses knowledge, as well as true and authentic relationships.

The Class of 2013 consisted of 277 graduates who were awarded the following degrees: 185 Bachelor of Arts, 55 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 21 Bachelor of Science, 14 Master of Science as family nurse practitioners and two Master of Arts in Environmental Education.

At a morning baccalaureate worship service in the college’s Church-Chapel, President James E. Brenneman delivered a sermon titled “Love in the Clouds of Unknowing,” based on Ephesians 3:16-19, in which the Apostle Paul speaks of God providing “love that surpasses knowledge.”

Although philosophers, social scientists, civil rights activists, educators and many others have described the quest for knowledge as a central goal of life, Brenneman said “love in the cloud of unknowing” can surpass knowledge as well as bridge profound differences.

“When Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies,’ it was not just a nice cliché,” Brenneman said. “Jesus sensed that until one learned to love someone who profoundly disagrees with you, you, and we, have not truly known love. Indeed, one of the best ways to learn, to grow, to know it all, is to wrestle with alternative points of view.”

Brenneman praised the graduates for their spirit of love, which he said allowed them to adjust well to college, endure separation from family members and friends, thrive despite academic adversity, sorrow and heartbreak and to give back through their donations and service to the community and the world.

“You have held newborns in Nicaragua, taught English in Cambodia, served the deaf community in Peru, held basketball camps down the street. You have learned to live lives of service and learning on every inhabitable continent on earth. By my estimation, in the four years you were here at Goshen College, all students, along with faculty, staff, and administrators, showed God’s love for others with more than 60,000 service hours per year that you were here. You, my dear students, have embodied a ‘love that surpasses knowledge.’”

Brenneman closed his sermon by encouraging the graduates to remember the central message of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 that “faith, hope and love, abide, but the greatest of these is love,” which is an enduring gift of God.

“I pray with St. Paul, and all your beloved professors, that more than any diploma presented to you … that each of you for the rest of your days may continue to receive power to know the height and depth and the breadth and the width of the love of God in Christ – a love that surpasses all knowledge.”

On April 28, under slate-gray clouds, 138 current and retired Goshen College faculty members led the graduates in a procession into the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center for the 115th Goshen College Commencement.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, under slate-gray clouds, 138 current and retired faculty members led the graduates in a procession into the gymnasium of the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center for the 115^th Goshen College Commencement. The Goshen College Commencement Orchestra, directed by Assistant Professor of Music Christopher Fashun, played a prelude, a processional and recessional.

Brenneman welcomed a crowd of about 2,000 people gathered for the ceremony by describing the joy of grandparents, parents, and other family members, friends, faculty, administrators, staff and the accomplishments of the graduates the past four years.

“Our journey together has been filled with lots of hard work, late nights, poetry jams, bicycle rides, deep learning and joyful memories. We came with questions and leave with a few answered, but many more to ponder. We have prayed together, shared lots of fun, some pranks, loads of goodwill, a few severe mercies and deep sorrows,” Brenneman said. “In the end, when the last diplomas are given, when all is said and done, I hope and believe that each of us has become better individuals having encountered each other on this part of our journeys.”

Brenneman acknowledged the tragic loss of Millicent M. Morros, 48, who was killed on March 14 in downtown Goshen. She received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership at Sunday’s ceremony and a moment of silence was observed on her behalf. Her classmates in the adult program wore pink roses in her honor.

After an invocation and the hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Brenneman introduced the commencement speaker — Dan Charles, a food and agriculture correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). Before working at NPR, Charles was an independent radio producer and writer and he has contributed articles on technology, public health, environment and education for publications including National Geographic, Science and the Washington Post.

Dan Charles, a food and agriculture correspondent for National Public Radio, addresses “Searching for what’s real in a digital world” during the 115th annual commencement at Goshen College on April 28.

In his commencement address, “Searching for what’s real in a digital world,” Charles talked about growing up in a rural Mennonite community near Lancaster, Pa., and how his life was enriched by Goshen College graduates, who have become some of his closest friends. Charles said he has developed close connections with others and enjoyed a true sense of community, but worries that young people today have a much more difficult time searching for what is true and authentic.

First, Charles, said, an increasing number of people aren’t interested in knowing whether or not what they think is true; they reject, out of hand, anything that challenges their own beliefs. They also refuse to absorb new and contradictory information.

“Our job – not just my job as a journalist, but the job of all of us – is to search for the best, the most true and useful knowledge and understanding that we can, not fake facts that sound really good,” Charles said. “It takes passion to sort out rumor from truth; to be willing to consider evidence that contradicts our assumptions; to spend the time searching for answers to hard questions. It takes passion to really learn.”

Second, Charles said, cell phones and computers have made it more difficult to have authentic communication with others and relationships based on face-to-face contact. “How much of you gets communicated through text messages? To put it another way, how real is the version of the world that you encounter through that screen?”

Charles closed his speech by cautioning the graduates against replacing actual life with something “endlessly entertaining and always at our fingertips, but less authentic” – electronic devices, like smart phones and tablet computers, and social media platforms like Facebook.

“This authenticity I’m talking about is connected to values that … are at the heart of the religious tradition that built this college: humility, honesty, community,” Charles said. “Those are values to live by, even today – especially today.

“So cook a meal. Have your neighbors over for dinner. In fact, make that dinner a regular tradition. Plant a garden; make it a community garden. Sing a song. Play an instrument. Paint. Use that iPad to make your own movie. Build a life that’s true and real.”

After Charles’ address, Director of Student Financial Aid Judy Moore, who is retiring, was recognized for her 12 years of service to the college.

The graduates then received their degrees and signed their names in the Goshen College historical book – a tradition linking them to generations of alumni.

Presiding over the conferring of degrees was President Brenneman, who congratulated graduates after Academic Dean Anita K. Stalter announced their names. Assisting in the presentation of master’s degrees were David Ostergren, director of the graduate program in environmental education, and Brenda Srof, director of the graduate program in nursing.

After the degrees were conferred, the graduates, the faculty and the audience joined in the singing of “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

Also taking part in commencement were Rick Stiffney, the chair of the Goshen College Board of Directors, who offered the invocation, and Assistant Professor of Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Regina Shands Stoltzfus, the mother of graduating social work major Rachel Maya Stoltzfus of Elkhart, who gave the benediction.

After the benediction, faculty and administrators lined the main corridor of the Recreation-Fitness Center and applauded the departing seniors. The “applause tunnel” tradition also takes place at the beginning of each academic year to welcome students back to campus. This year, graduates, family members and friends lingered outside for hugs and photographs despite a misting rain.

Represented in this year’s graduating class were students from 23 states, including 114 from Indiana, and from 20 countries.

The undergraduate class included one graduate with a triple major, 28 graduates with double majors. Thirty-four students graduated with highest honors – grade point averages of 3.9 to a perfect 4.0. In addition, 92 others were on track to achieve GPAs of 3.60 and above.

The academic program with the largest number of graduating students was nursing, which held its traditional pinning ceremony the day before commencement to recognize the 26 individuals who completed the traditional, four-year program. This year marked the 60th graduating class for the nursing program. In addition, 29 individuals were granted degrees through the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree completion program and 14 individuals got Master of Science in nursing degrees.

Other top undergraduate majors in the Class of 2013 were organizational leadership (21), biology (20), business (16), social work (14), interdisciplinary (12), elementary education/special education (12) and environmental science (11).

As in past years, many graduates took the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility, a national program at more than 100 colleges and universities. By signing the pledge, the graduates promised to “explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”

Graduates and faculty members planned the morning baccalaureate service. It featured an instrumental prelude on viola and piano by graduating seniors Chelsea A. Wimmer, a music major from Telford, Pa., and Emily M. Trapp, a music major from Canby, Ore.

The service began with a congregational hymn, “Here in this Place,” led by Justin N. Yoder, a music and interdisciplinary major from Perkasie, Pa., followed by a formal welcome from Alita J. Yoder, a biology major from Elkhart. After the congregational hymn, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” senior reflections were offered by Rebecca W. Yoder, a social work major from Lancaster, Pa., and Juan Carlos Diaz, an art major from Goshen.

Following the scripture reading and President Brenneman’s sermon, a cello quartet and vocal ensemble of 24 graduates performed “The Seed that Lands on Fertile Ground,” which was composed by Levi Smucker, a music major from Akron, Pa., with text by Justin Yoder. Its moving refrain featured the words: “How wide, how deep, how high, how long; may the roots that nourish and anchor hold strong; and may love bloom boldly in a world of wrong; wherever the Spirit may blow, let seeds of hope grow, as we journey along.”

The baccalaureate service concluded with a prayer of blessing by Minister of Worship Gwen Gustafson-Zook, a congregational sending song, “You Shall Go Out with Joy,” and a benediction by Alita Yoder.

Other events during the busy weekend at Goshen College included a senior program, which showcased the talent of the Class of 2013, a senior art exhibit, academic department receptions for graduates and their families, a reception for adult programs and an evening reception hosted by President Brenneman and his wife, Dr. Terri J. Plank Brenneman.

CLASS OF 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
Total number of graduates: 277
Number by category: 14 candidates for Master of Science degrees, 2 candidates for Master of Arts degrees, 185 candidates for Bachelor of Arts degrees, 55 candidates for Bachelor of Science in nursing degrees; and 21 candidates for Bachelor of Science degrees
Number of double majors: 28
Number of triple majors: 1
Number of students graduating with highest honors — grade point averages of 3.9 to a perfect 4.0 (based on grades as of December 2012): 34
Number of students graduating with GPAs of 3.60 and above (based on grades as of December 2011): 92
Number of states represented in this year’s graduating class: 23
Number from Indiana: 114
Number of countries represented (other than U.S.): 20
Number of undergraduates by top programs of study: nursing, 55; organizational leadership, 21; biology, 20; business, 16; social work, 14; interdisciplinary, 12; elementary education/special education, 12; environmental science, 11; art, 10, Bible and religion, 10; molecular biology/biochemistry, 10.

— Written by Richard R. Aguirre

The line-up was publicly announced on Tuesday, April 23 at the final concert of the 2012-13 season by Lea Salonga. Initial reservations were available immediately following the concert, and season package tickets formally go on sale to the public Wednesday, April 24 at 9 a.m. at the college’s Welcome Center.

The 2013-14 line-up:

Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
The Wailin’ Jennys
Back on the series by popular demand, the Juno award-winning Wailin’ Jennys are three extraordinary women whose beautiful, heart-stopping harmonies, uplifting repertoire and engaging stage presence delight and charm audiences. Their acoustic blend of bluegrass, folk and roots music has been featured on A Prairie Home Companion and alongside Bonnie Raitt and Roseanne Cash. The Jennys’ album, Firecracker, spent more than 30 weeks in the Top 5 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart.
Non-package ticket pricing: $40, $35, $23

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
An evening with Garrison Keillor
Enjoy an evening with one of the most popular American storytellers of all time! Returning to Goshen College for the first time since 1985, Garrison Keillor will share hilarious anecdotes about growing up in the Midwest, the people of Lake Wobegon and “late-life fatherhood.” Best known for his popular radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, Keillor is a best-selling author, humorist and captivating speaker who combines poignant story telling with a wonderfully dry sense of humor.
Non-package ticket pricing: $65, $60, $45

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
“Compelling grandeur … masterful,” raves BBC Music Magazine about these eight stellar string musicians who have enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with their rich, polished sound and remarkable artistry. The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble was created in 1967 to perform larger chamber works – from quintets to octets. This gifted ensemble draws from the principal players of the orchestra who regularly work together, using their camaraderie to enhance and elevate their level of musicianship.
Non-package ticket pricing: $40, $35, $23

Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Vienna Boys Choir
The world’s most beloved boys choir will be appearing for the first time in Sauder Concert Hall. Centuries after being founded by Emperor Maximilian I in 1498, the angelic voices of the Vienna Boys Choir continue to delight music-lovers across the globe with their purity of tone, distinctive charm and a diverse, crowd-pleasing repertoire that encompasses Austrian folk songs and waltzes, classical masterpieces, beloved pop songs and more.
                                                                        Non-package ticket pricing: $44, $40, $28

Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
The King’s Singers
Instantly recognizable for their spot-on intonation, impeccable vocal blend, flawless articulation, and incisive timing, the Grammy Award-winning a cappella vocal ensemble The King’s Singers will make their return to Goshen. Having sung and toured the world for 41 years and compiled a discography of more than 150 recordings, these incredible singers are consummate entertainers, charming audiences with a delightful British wit along with their stunning vocal performance.
Non-package ticket pricing: $44, $40, $28

Friday, March 14, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Pink Martini
Since bursting onto the scene in 1997 with the jazzy album Sympathique, this Oregon-based “little orchestra” has gained a national following with an upbeat multilingual repertoire of classical, Latin, jazz, pop and big band music. Led by pianist Thomas Lauderdale, the band has performed with more than 50 orchestras, and collaborated with such artists as Rufus Wainwright, Carol Channing, Saori Yuki and the cast of Sesame Street.
Non-package ticket pricing: $50, $45, $30

Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra featuring New York Voices
The Count Basie Orchestra and New York Voices will unite to recreate the magic that won them the 1996 Grammy Award for their inspired collaboration, Live at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. Despite Basie’s passing in 1984, his orchestra has remained a force in jazz music and has won 17 Grammy Awards. The Voices, celebrating their 25th anniversary, are known for their inspired arrangements and unparalleled vocal blend.Non-package ticket pricing: $44, $40, $28

Friday, April 11, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Led by its mission to inspire and foster a lifelong love of classical music through performance and education, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will present a dazzling program that will include Barber’s First Symphony, A Concerto for Flute and Clarinet by Puckett and Beethoven’s beloved Fifth Symphony. Performing since 1924, the “Phil” is led by Music Director Andrew Constantine, and is known as a leader in the region for promoting the arts.
                                                                               Non-package ticket pricing: $33, $30, $18

This year’s regular series season ticket includes six concerts. Four performances are set for each season ticket: Garrison Keillor, Vienna Boys Choir, Pink Martini and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Those buying the basic season ticket package then can choose the additional two performances, one each from these two pairs of contrasting shows: The Wailin’ Jennys / The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble; The King’s Singers / The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra featuring the New York Voices.

The six-show ticket packages are discounted 10-15 percent over individually priced tickets: $250 for A section seats (value $276), $220 for B section seats (value $250) and $150 for seats in the C section seats (value $172). Anyone can also create a seven or eight-show package that includes either or both of the remaining shows at an additional cost.

Season tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, April 24. A nonrefundable deposit of $20 per seat will hold season tickets and seat preference. Full payment is due July 15. Seats will be assigned according to the date received. Individual tickets, if available, will go on sale Monday, Aug. 5 at the Welcome Center and online at www.goshen.edu/tickets.

For information about ticket availability, prices, reservations and more, contact the Welcome Center at (574) 535-7566 or e-mail welcomecenter@goshen.edu. The Welcome Center is open Mondays-Fridays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Seating for those with disabilities is available and the minimum age of attendees is 5 years old. Tickets are nonrefundable.

The Goshen College Performing Arts Series debuted on Sept. 21, 1997. Since then, the college has hosted more than 100 concerts by some of the world’s greatest performers as part of the program.

Event:

She has played a key role in the publications of two Mennonite Hymnals and numerous song books, collected and recorded traditional music in 22 African countries and has nurtured the musical gifts of countless students in a lifetime of teaching. This month, Goshen College Professor Emerita of Music Dr. Mary K. Oyer turned 90.

Goshen College will celebrate this milestone during a weekend of music and programs. The celebration will begin on Friday, April 19, with a Goshen College Symphony Orchestra concert in the Music Center’s Sauder Concert Hall. The weekend will continue on Saturday, April 20, with a hymn sing, discussions on Oyer’s work in Africa and an African-themed dinner, culminating with an evening program with an address by Oyer, music by the GC Women’s World Music Choir, hymn singing led by Eastern Mennonite University Professor of Music Dr. Kenneth Nafziger (1963 Goshen College alumnus and former student of Oyer’s), and a performance by the Goshen College String Quartet.

“This celebration gives us the opportunity to show Mary the community of love and appreciation that surrounds her, and to celebrate how she has made our lives richer,” said Deb Brubaker, professor of music at Goshen College and a former student of Oyer’s. “As a professor at Goshen, she affected the lives of hundreds of students who have taken her Arts and Music classes. She is a professor who teaches the whole person, using the arts as a guide.”

After growing up in Goshen and graduating from Goshen College in 1944, Oyer began teaching music and visual arts at Goshen College in 1945. During her summers, she studied cello at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where in 1958 she became the first ever string player to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts performance degree from the university.

Oyer taught at Goshen College until 1987, during which time she developed a Fine Arts course that became legendary among students and was instrumental in bringing wide recognition and acceptance of the fine arts in a Mennonite liberal arts education. After she “retired” from Goshen College, she continued teaching for another 10 years at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, Ind.) as professor of church music, and then taught for five years at Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Taiwan. She has also served as a visiting professor at Kenyatta University in Kenya. To this day, she still teaches some of the largest and most popular courses in the college’s Lifelong Learning Institute for older adults.

“Her standards as an educator are legendary; she pushed students further than they thought possible to become thoughtful and informed listeners,” said Beverly Lapp, chair of the music department at Goshen College. “Today’s music department thrives in good measure because of those who led before us, and celebrating 90 years of Mary Oyer’s remarkable life is important to our ongoing commitment to music at Goshen College.”

With a history of being a trailblazer, Oyer is credited with ushering in two revolutions in Mennonite worship. The first was her emphasis on the fine arts while teaching at Goshen College, the second was her gift of bringing the sacred music of other cultures into the Mennonite Church.

Oyer is recognized as being integral in shaping what Mennonite music sounds like today. She was instrumental in gathering hymns and songs for the widely used 1969 and 1992 Mennonite hymnals, and for more than six decades has taught those hymns to the wider church in myriad worship settings, including national conventions and world conferences. She is well known for her role in helping establish the hymn “Praise God From Whom,” better known as “606,” as the Mennonite “anthem” after she led it in 1969 at the churchwide assembly in Oregon.

“The Mennonite Church sings as well as it does in large part due to Mary’s efforts of ‘enlivening’ hymnody. She has been at the forefront of bringing cross-cultural hymns to our canon of singing, opening our eyes to the wider church and its worship styles,” said Brubaker.

Her interest in ethnomusicology began in 1969, when Oyer travelled to Africa through a Fulbright grant. Following that experience, she spent many more summers over the next two decades in Africa, experiencing African music firsthand and recording regional music in 22 different countries. The 150 tapes from these visits have now been digitized and, along with various musical instruments that Oyer collected during her travels, are part of the Mary K. Oyer African Music Archive at Goshen College.

In 2006, A book titled Nurturing Spirit through Song: The Life of Mary K. Oyer and a DVD titled Nurturing Spirit Through Song: The Legacy of Mary K. Oyer were produced to record Mary’s contributions to the Mennonite Church.

In honor of Oyer’s 90th birthday, guests are invited by the Goshen College Music Department and Music Center to take part in these events to recognize her extraordinary life and legacy:

Friday, April 19

7:30 p.m., GC Symphony Orchestra Concert, Music Center’s Sauder Concert Hall
In addition to an exciting program of orchestral favorites, a Brazilian piece chosen for this occasion by Associate Professor of Music Christopher Fashun, and birthday cake for all in the Music Center Lobby highlight the evening. Admission $7 adult $5 seniors and students, GC students free.

Saturday, April 20

1 p.m., Hymn sing, Music Center’s Rieth Recital Hall
GC professor of music Debra Brubaker, dean of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Rebecca Slough, and GC organ instructor Kevin Vaughn will lead a community hymn sing.

2:30 p.m., Discussion: Musical Instruments as a Window to African Culture, Music Center’s Rieth Recital Hall
Mary Oyer and ethnomusicologist Roderic Knight will discuss the history and cultural value of musical instruments in Africa while demonstrating various types.

4 p.m., Discussion: Mary Oyer African Music Project, Music Center’s Rieth Recital Hall
2012 GC alumna Lisa Horst and Mary Oyer will discuss and explain the Mary Oyer African Music Project and its accompanying displays in the Music Center Lobby.

7:30 p.m., Celebration program, Music Center’s Sauder Concert Hall
This finale program will feature an address by Mary, singing by the GC Women’s World Music Choir, hymn singing led by Eastern Mennonite University professor of music Dr. Kenneth Nafziger and others, and a performance by the Goshen College String Quartet. Tickets are $5; free for all students.

For more details about the weekend’s activities, visit www.gcmusiccenter.org/mko.