Department of Music and Worship

Cedarville University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

In the Cedarville University Department of Music and Worship, Bach’s famous phrase “Soli Deo Gloria” (for the glory of God alone) is more than a slogan — it is the mission that drives all we do. We truly believe that our music and worship degree programs honor the Master Creator through our shared creativity.

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Music and Worship

Cedarville's music and worship program builds a strong artistic, intellectual, and practical foundation for professional careers and graduate studies.

Christmas Concert

Tour Bolthouse Center for Music Semester Events Accelerated Graduate Pathways

Oct21

Piano Guest Artist: Dr. Polina Bespalko

A Russian by birth and a proud resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Polina Bespalko currently works at Xavier University, where she teaches piano and coordinates the Xavier University Music Series. She is excited and honored to perform iconic Russian works at Cedarville University. Modest Mussorgsky's monumental "Pictures at an Exhibition" takes the listener on a musical "gallery tour" and features movements inspired by the art of Viktor Hartmann. "The Seasons" by Peter Tchaikovsky includes pieces for each of the 12 months of the year that illustrate the traditional Russian events and characteristics of each. Dr. Bespalko will present a masterclass at 4:30pm and a concert at 7pm. These events are free and open to the public.
Oct23

Senior Flute Recital: Soraya Peront

Soraya Peront will present her senior flute recital. This recital is free and open to the public.
Oct23

Junior Harp Recital: Joanna Lauer

Joanna Lauer will present her junior harp recital. This recital is free and open to the public.
Oct23

Sophomore Violin Recital: Mary Jo Johnson

Mary Jo Johnson will present her sophomore violin recital. This recital is free and open to the public.
Oct25

Faculty Recital Series: John Mortensen - Piano

Cedarville University Professor John Mortensen will improvise an entire solo piano concert. The first half will be spontaneously-created music in 18th-century styles. The second half will be improvisations on rock songs from the 70s and 80s. This concert is free and open to the public.
Oct26

General Recital

The Cedarville University Music & Worship students present a varied concert. Join us and appreciate their accomplishments as the students sing and play to the glory of God. Free and open to the public.
Oct26

Songwriting "Open Mic"

Students from the Songwriting Minor will be sharing original songs during dinner on the Stingers Stage Tuesday-Wednesday evening Oct 26-27
Oct28

Wind Symphony Concert

The Cedarville University Wind Symphony will present their first concert of the year on Thursday, October 28th at 7pm in the Jeremiah Chapel of the Dixon Ministry Center. The concert will open with Michael Daugherty's "Raise the Roof" for solo timpani and band. Senior percussion performance major, Noah Ramirez, will be the featured soloist on this dramatic and exciting work. Senior music education major Soraya Peront will conduct the band in David Dzubay's "Nocturne," a beautiful piece of music featuring crystalline timbres and shifting colors. "Danzon No. 2" by Mexican composer Arturo Márquez will feature a number of the soloists and sections of the wind symphony in a transcription of this popular orchestral work. Prof. Charles Pagnard, principal trumpet of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and trumpet instructor at Cedarville for over 40 years, will be featured on the rousing work "Concertpiece," by James Curnow. The concert will conclude with one of the more rousing works written for winds in recent years, "Come Sunday," by African-American composer Omar Thomas. The work is a "two movement tribute to the Hammond organ's central role in black worship services." Thomas utilizes the sounds and instruments of the modern wind ensemble in exciting and unique ways. This concert will feature great soloists, exciting music, and energetic performances from around the band. You will not want to miss this concert. This concert is free and open to the public.