NEWS ARCHIVE

RECORD STRINGS ENROLLMENT
This year, the Conservatory string area is enjoying record enrollment. Enrollment of string majors is up 70% since 2000. In 2000, the then Biola Chamber Orchestra fielded 22 string players; that number has almost doubled and the Biola Symphony Orchestra.

BIOLA YOUTH MINISTRY OUTREACH BAND
A group of Music in Worship majors have teamed up to form a highly sought after Biola Youth Ministry outreach band. Brandon Burch, lead vocals and electric guitar, Mark Becklund, electric guitar, Patrick Grafton-Cardwell, bass, vocals, and Chris Hansen, drums are members of “Una”.

ACCENT ON FACULTY: CLIFF HULLING
Cliff Hulling, percussion/composition faculty, was busy this fall with the Ahmanson Theater productions of “The Light in the Piazza,” and “Edward Scissorhands.” He also performed with the Pacific Symphony, which this year presented their inaugural concerts in the new $200 million dollar concert hall.

MUSIC IN WORSHIP PROGRAM COMPLETES THIRD YEAR
The new Music in Worship program experienced a rewarding third year and is off and running with its second class of students who arrived in August. The program is housed in the new Music in Worship facility, which opened last fall. It has quickly become a place of prayer, encouragement, and music making. If you stop in to visit, be prepared to take off your shoes at the front door.

TECHNOLOGY STUDIO
A new dimension has been added to the Conservatory’s music technology studio. Under the direction of part-time composition faculty member, Neil Argo, the facility has been upgraded to become a comprehensive recording studio.

ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE WITH LEN MONTGOMERY, CLASS OF 1989
"The musical education I received gave me a solid footing both as a performer and as a teacher.  So many students and professors provided not only valuable input and training, but also valuable modeling of good teaching and good musicianship."

INTERVIEW WITH FIRST-YEAR MUSIC IN WORSHIP STUDENT
We recently sat down with Kevin Krogstad, a first-year student in the program, to get his thoughts about why he chose the Biola Music in Worship program and reflections on his first semester.

BIOLA CHORALE SPRING 2006 TOUR - The Biola Chorale left for tour onMarch 18th, flying from Long Beach to Seattle. Along with concerts at churches in the Seattle area, the Chorale sang for chapel services, participated in choral exchanges, and gave combined concerts with Christian schools.

GERMAN-MADE VIOLIN DONATED TO CONSERVATORY
Mrs. Virginia Moats has donated to the Conservatory a Reichers violin and Tourte bow that belonged to her father, Carl Mueller (1887 - 1918).  The German violinmaker August Reichers constructed the violin around the turn of the 20th century. 

FACULTY PERFORM IN NY CITY
Performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center are known in musical circles as some of the most respected of professional achievements.  We are pleased to report that by the end of 2005, the Conservatory will have been well represented in both of these venues.

RIBBON-CUTTING CELEBRATION FOR NEW FACILITY OPENING
The ribbon cutting for a new Music in Worship facility took place October 26, 2004. The newly refurbished facility, which once housed University Facility Services, includes two ensemble rehearsal/ recording spaces and seven teaching and practice studios.

JAZZ CD "CROSSROADS" RELEASED
The Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Cliff Hulling, released its first recording in September, 2004. The album, entitled Crossroads, was produced by sWill Kennedy, noted percussionist formerly with the “Yellowjackets,” and features the Conservatory Jazz Ensemble and some of LA’s finest jazz musicians.

IN MEMORY OF MISSY
Missy Belton attended Biola as an oboe performance major for only a short time, yet she had a deep impact on the Conservatory community before her tragic death in an auto accident in April, 1999.

BIOLA CHORALE RECEIVES NATIONAL EXPOSURE ON "TONIGHT SHOW"
Last spring, 28 members of the Chorale were given a rare opportunity for national exposure on television. Composer John Debney, who wrote the score for “The Passion of the Christ”, was asked to perform music from the movie on “The Tonight Show”.

STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM MASTER CLASSES WITH OUTSTANDING ARTISTS
Each year the Conservatory of Music holds several master class sessions with major performing artists, and 2003/04 was no exception.  These sessions prove to be some of the most valuable experiences students have during their time at Biola.  Below, we feature our two Artist-in-Residence, who come every year to encourage Conservtory students to excellence.

DON GIOVANNI OPERA PRODUCTION A SUCCESS! The Biola Opera Theatre’s production of Don Giovanni, Mozart’s amorous tale and what many consider his crowning operatic achievement, was an unmitigated artistic and popular success attracting over 1,000 opera lovers to performances. 

BIOLA HONORS STRING QUARTET TOUR
Sponsored by the Canadian Alumni Board, the Biola Honors String Quartet, accompanied by Mary Beth Woodruff, assistant professor of violin, performed in and around Vancouver, Canada in November.

"MUSICAL POSTCARDS" EUROPE 2003
May 25th, 2003, the Chorale and Orchestra journeyed to the other side of the world.  For over a year plans were made for the two ensembles to bring the love of God expressed through music to Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.  The purpose of the tour was to share the Gospel and to provide a rich musical and cultural experience for students.

"MUSICAL POSTCARDS" ROMANIA 2003
As the school year ended and students headed home, the five members of the Biola Brass Quintet and their coach boarded a plane and flew to Bucharest, Romania for a musical mission-minded trip.

THE CONSERVATORY WELCOMES PIANIST ANN SCHEIN - Friday, November 10, the Conservatory of Music welcomes to the Lansing Recital Hall stage pianist Ann Schein. Ms. Schein has been thrilling audiences since her sensational first recordings for Kapp Records and her highly acclaimed Carnegie Hall debut.

AFTER 42 YEARS, DR. JACK SCHWARZ RETIRES Storage boxes stand in stacks around the walls of Dr. Jack Schwarz’s Sutherland Hall office in a disconcerting array, signaling the fast approaching end of a very important era. For 42 years, Dr. Schwarz has had an immeasurable impact on the students of Biola.

SECOND QUINT-ANNUAL ALUMNI POPS CONCERT
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble hosted the Second Quint-Annual Alumni POPS Concert on May 7th. Approximately 90 current and former Symphonic Winds members were on stage.

MEET THE CONSERVATORY ADVISORY BOARD
In May of 2003 a Conservatory Advisory Board was formed. Members of the board are outstanding Christian professionals with a wide spectrum of musical training and experience.

A HEART FOR ROMANIA - Anna Sorrels, senior, trumpet performance, received the Gardner Service through Sacred Music Award from the Conservatory of Music. This summer, she is once again traveling to Romania.