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2026 Commencement Contest Winners – Piano

Joseph Greene — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:25:30 +0000

��’s Music Department announces the winners of this year’s Instrumental Commencement Contest. The contest allows student musicians to develop their presentation and performance skills. Instrumentalists and vocalists have the opportunity to compete in separate categories of the Commencement Contest. Catherine Fettig adjudicated the Piano division. Winner Abigail Boorujy won first place, performing of Transcendental Etude No. 12, Chasse Neige, by Liszt. Abigail is a Music Major with concentrations in Performance and String Pedagogy. Fettig commented that “Abigail’s mature artistry and technique make the listener forget how incredibly difficult this piece is. Her performance was an absolute joy.” Competition winners receive a cash prize and a medal to wear at commencement. Runner-up Chloe Meyer delivered a beautiful interpretation of Florence Price’s Song Without Words (Pleading). Chloe is a Junior Music Major with concentrations in Performance and Piano Pedagogy. Adjudicator Catherine Fettig graduated from MBU and continued her studies at Bob Jones University to receive a master’s degree in piano performance. Since then, she has enjoyed performing in the greater Milwaukee area where she also serves in music at Lakewood Baptist Church.

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2026 Commencement Contest Winners – Vocal

Joseph Greene — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:24:59 +0000

��’s Music Department announces the winners of this year’s Vocal Commencement Contest. The contest allows student musicians to develop their presentation and performance skills. Pianists and Instrumentalists have the opportunity to compete in separate categories of the Commencement Contest. Pastor Dave Zimmerman adjudicated the Vocal division. Winner Accompanied by Jamie Martinez, Cienna Kerr won first place, singing “I Sought the Lord,” by Don Humphreys, and “Der Sandmann” by Robert Schumann. Cienna is a freshman studying Music Education. Adjudicator Dave Zimmerman says, “Everyone I listened to brought me much joy in their music and obvious hard work!” Competition winners receive a cash prize and their name is placed on a perpetual plaque. Runner-up Accompanied by Mrs. Ruth Bachorik, Daniel Earnest won second place, performing “In My Father’s House Are Many Mansions” by Lucian Jewell, and “Bright is the Ring of Words” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Daniel is a Junior Music Minor with a Voice Proficiency. Adjudicator Dave Zimmermann recently retired after a fulfilling career in education and ministry. He spent 25 years as a public school choir director in Minnesota and Watertown before transitioning to pastoral ministry in 2012 and joining the ministry team at River Valley Alliance Church, where he has […]

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2026 Commencement Contest Winners – Instrumental

Joseph Greene — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:16:48 +0000

��’s Music Department announces the winners of this year’s Instrumental Commencement Contest. The contest allows student musicians to develop their presentation and performance skills. Pianists and vocalists have the opportunity to compete in separate categories of the Commencement Contest. Janine Brown adjudicated the instrumental division. Winner Accompanied by Abigail Boorujy, Gabriella Moore won first place with her performance of Tzigane by Ravel. Moore is a Music Major with concentrations in Performance and String Pedagogy. Brown says, “It’s obvious [Gabriella] put in a lot of work, and it showed a polished, meaningful performance.” Competition winners receive a cash prize and their name is placed on a perpetual plaque. Runner-up Accompanied by Kaleb Lettau, Owynn Butler won second place with his performance of Sonata for Oboe and Piano Mvt 1 by Poulenc. Butler is a Music Major with concentrations in Performance and Arranging. After the competition, Brown commented, “Owynn gave a really strong performance with a confident sound and clear musical direction throughout. A well-earned runner-up performance.” Adjudicator Janine Kolinski Brown is an experienced music educator and director of bands currently serving at Beloit Turner Middle School in Beloit, Wisconsin, where she directs sixth through eighth grade bands and jazz band while also […]

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�� Mourns the Passing of Chancellor and Former President Dr. Marty Marriott

�� — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:35:28 +0000

WATERTOWN, Wis., April 20, 2026—�� announces with deep sorrow the passing of Dr. Marty Marriott, chancellor and former president of the university. A faithful servant of Christ and steadfast leader within churches and higher education, Dr. Marriott’s life and ministry left an indelible mark on MBU and on countless lives around the world. Funeral arrangements are as follows: Thursday, April 23 | 4-7 PM | Visitation | Calvary Baptist Church, Watertown, WI Friday, April 24 | 11 AM-12 PM | Visitation | Calvary Baptist Church, Watertown, WI Friday, April 24 | 1 PM | Memorial Service | Calvary Baptist Church, Watertown, WI Friday, April 24 | 3:30 PM | Graveside Service | ��, Watertown, WI Dr. Marriott served as ��’s fifth president from 2010 to 2023 and as chancellor from 2023 until his passing in 2026. His leadership was defined by humility, conviction, and a clear vision for training leaders for the local church “To the Praise of His Glory.” Under his direction, �� strengthened its biblical foundations while expanding academic opportunities through initiatives such as the Bible and Church Ministries Scholarship and the growth of online and distance learning programs that have reached students globally. […]

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Spring 2026 Music Recitals

Joseph Greene — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:27:57 +0000

The �� Music Department is proud to have students perform recitals showcasing their musical performance and growth. The months before Spring Break provided a busy concert season. As always, the work was well worth it as each recital came together beautifully! Abigail Boorujy Abigail took on the challenge of performing both her junior piano and minor violin recital in the same week! Though this schedule added more work for her, students and faculty were thrilled to have more opportunities to hear Abigail perform. Her junior piano recital on Tuesday and minor violin recital on Friday. Abigail delivered a stunning performance of Mozart’s 12 Variations, Bach’s Fugue in D sharp minor, and other pieces by Prokofiev and Liszt. On her violin, she prepared other wonderful pieces by composers like Prokofiev and Mozart. Grace Hedrick Grace Hedrick continued the display of fantastic recitals with her piano playing. She accompanied various instrumental pieces, including a euphonium solo with her husband Kenney. She also had the chance to prepare a piano duet with MBU freshman Meg Morken, Grace’s friend over many years of �� Music and Drama Camp. Grace played pieces by Mozart, Brahms, and Bach with careful attention to detail. Ryan Mayer and […]

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Saxon, Farnham, and Jones Co-Author Talking About Worldviews, Appear on Podcast

�� — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:38:12 +0000

Can You Defend What You Believe? Does everyone have a worldview? Can you spot a logical fallacy in a casual conversation? In an era of “my truth” vs. “your truth,” is there such a thing as objective reality? These are not just academic questions; they address moorings that govern our lives. Much-revered MBU faculty member Dr. David Saxon has collaborated with alumni Dr. Michael Jones and Dr. Mark Farnham to grapple with these questions in their new book: Talking About Worldviews: A Conversational Introduction to Thinking Philosophically (Kregel, 2026). Philosophy for the Rest of Us Unlike intimidating philosophy textbooks, Talking About Worldviews takes a different approach. Using fictional conversations (half of which Dr. Saxon composed), the authors guide readers through complex topics such as logic and epistemology. According to Dr. Saxon, explaining philosophical concepts through a sustained story was the most challenging aspect of their four-year writing project. As fictional characters present their worldviews, the book models civil discourse, presenting varied belief systems’ strengths and weaknesses. Examining these ideas through a biblical worldview, the authors equip readers with tools to test their beliefs and graciously engage others in apologetic interactions. The story involves criminals, gunrunning, and even shoot-outs. “We think […]

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Artist Series 2026 | Brass Journeys

Joseph Greene — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:30:52 +0000

The International Chamber Artists Brass Quintet performed this year’s Artist Series: Brass Journeys. The group delivered a high-energy, top-notch performance with a wide variety of brass pieces from many all over the world. Performers In 2006, a small group of Chicago-based musicians formed the International Chamber Artists (ICA), which has grown into one of the premiere chamber music organizations in the area. Today, ICA is a non-profit ensemble of 17 musicians that presents a wide variety of music each season, with concerts combining music education and performance. ICA has performed at numerous venues and concerts, including the Chicago Cultural Center, St. James Cathedral, 98.7 WFMT, and the Dame Myra Hess concert series. In 2010, ICA toured Germany to critical acclaim, and the ICA Brass Quintet represents the brass-playing members of ICA. Mike Brozick is Second Trumpet of the Grant Park Orchestra and performs with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, and as Principal Trumpet of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with leading ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, with whom he toured internationally. He appears on major orchestral recordings and holds degrees from Duquesne University and […]

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�� Nursing Professor Carolyn Yager Earns Doctorate in Nursing Practice

�� — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:07:18 +0000

�� (MBU) applauds Associate Professor Dr. Carolyn Yager on the recent conferral of her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). A DNP prepares nursing leaders, educators, and policy specialists, focusing on clinical practice, leadership, and system improvements rather than theoretical research. Carolyn says, “I was drawn to nursing because of its unique blend of science, compassion, and service.” Required to teach during her master’s work, she discovered genuine enjoyment in teaching which influenced her doctoral work and career goals. Actively engaged in church planting with her husband in addition to full-time nursing and family responsibilities, she successfully balanced advanced studies through flexibility of an online program. Doctoral Project Challenges and Lessons While working in an emergency department during her studies, Dr. Yager designed her doctoral project to address bottlenecking within the triage process, seeking to improve workflow efficiency and patient care in a high-acuity setting. The project faced unanticipated challenges when a hospital buyout resulted in significant organizational change and a nine-month delay. Upon resuming, time constraints forced a reduction in the project’s scope, causing complexities in implementation and inconsistencies, making it difficult to fully demonstrate the intervention’s impact. “Through these challenges I learned the importance of flexibility and perseverance,” […]

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2026 Concerto Competition Winners

Joseph Greene — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:36:24 +0000

��’s 2026 Concerto Competition was held on Tuesday, February 10th. Adjudicated by Mr. Jeremiah Willson, the competition showcased students’ talent and musicianship through powerful and moving performances. Winner Benton Ellis was the competition’s first place winner. Accompanied by Kaleb Lettau, he delivered a powerful interpretation of Franz Schubert’s Erlkönig. Adjudicator Jeremiah Willson described him as “an excellent story-teller.” Benton is a Music Education Major and will be receiving a $100 cash prize and an opportunity to perform in ��’s spring concert. Runner-up This year’s runner-up is Meg Morken. She beautifully performed Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto no. 2, mvt. 2. Meg is studying Humanities as a major, and Composition and Arranging for her minor. She will receive a $25 cash prize. Adjudicator In response to the performances he heard on the evening, Mr. Willson said, “It is wonderful to see that MBU is still preparing its students to such a high caliber. MBU is teaching excellence to each student and this excellence shows in their music-making.” Mr. Jeremiah Willson is a flutist and teacher based in the South-Central Wisconsin area. As an orchestral flutist, he performs with the Wisconsin Philharmonic Orchestra and the La Crosse Symphony. As a soloist, he presents […]

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Music on Mondays: Trio Arabesque II

Joseph Greene — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:36:42 +0000

�� is honored to host Trio Arabesque II for Music on Mondays this Spring. On March 9, the group will perform two concerts: one short, kid-friendly concert with fun and lively arrangements, and another college student and music-enthusiast-oriented concert. Both will be filled with wonderful piano trio settings that every attendee will love, young and old. Music on Mondays exists to benefit the community by bringing classical music right to the heart of Watertown, Wisconsin and leaves those in attendance always anticipating the next performance. Read on about the members of the Trio and their extensive backgrounds in excellent music! Roberta Carpenter, violin An accomplished violinist, Roberta Carpenter enjoys a successful career as a recitalist, soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. She served as Concertmaster for the Waukesha Choral Union Orchestra for over 26 years, performing large-scale orchestral/choral works, also with the Beloit/Janesville Symphony. She has performed with the Waukesha Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, and has collaborated as a chamber musician with the Jubilate Chorale, the Waukesha Choral Union, Mendelssohn Piano Trio, the Medici Quartet, Trio Arabesque, and with the former Karl Ratzsch Piano Trio. As a Soloist, Ms. Carpenter […]

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