FEATURED ALUMNI: DR. Mark Roads

Biola music alumnus Dr. Mark Rhoads graduated from Biola with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, choral emphasis, in 1972.  A master’s degree in choral conducting was earned from Cal State University, Fullerton, in 1980, and Mark received his DMA in music education and choral conducting from University of Oregon in 1990. 

In the years since he left Biola, Mark has been active in a variety of musical vocations, from serving as a tenor soloist in a church, to teaching general music in a public school, to working in a church as director of adult and children’s choirs, to his present position as Professor of Music at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, and others in between.  His focus in most positions up until about 10 years ago  has been choral performance and music education.

It would probably be safe to say that anyone over 30 who is a regular church attender is aware that there has been a significant shift in the music of the Christian protestant church in general during the last 25 years.  Worship bands and praise songs have become the vehicle for musical worship in many places, largely replacing the singing of traditional hymns with the more common accompaniment of piano and organ.  For some, this change is welcomed, and for others, not so much. Mark writes:

“Over the past 10 years I have switched my focus from choral performance and music education to hymnology and music and worship.  Besides teaching these courses at Bethel University I have taught hymnology in the graduate program in St. Johns University in Collegeville, MN, and have become an active member and presenter in the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada.  This summer I’ll be speaking in a plenary session at the Hymn Society conference in Indiana on the changes of musical taste in the American Protestant church during the first half of the 19th century.  Over the past 4 years I have devoted much time in researching the reform movement that took place during this period.   Far from being moldy history, I  have found that the study of this fascinating period in the history of the song of the church has greatly helped me understand the changes that have taken place in the church over the past 30 years.”

Mark is a member of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada; a member of the Music Educators National Conference, and the Minnesota Music Educators Association.  He has written several hymns, a number of published articles, and papers which he has already presented, or will in the near future, on the subjects of church music issues and music education  helps.

When asked how his Biola education prepared him for his career, Mark responded that he received a good music education at Biola, which was evidenced by his being able to pass his grad school entrance exams in theory and music history. In the first 25 years of his career, when choral conducting was primarily important, he leaned heavily on the influence of Loren Wiebe and Bill Lock.  From the two of them Mark learned solid conducting technique and rehearsal skills along with effective choir management and organizational skills.  Additionally, their  care for Mark as a person has had a lasting impact.

Reflecting further on his time at Biola, Mark relates a story which he thinks is safe to tell (now 34 years later) having to do with a time when he and Paul Davis desperately needed a certain recording to prepare for a music history assignment.  Since it was ­­­­after office hours and somewhat late in the evening, the recording was unavailable by approved methods.  In Mark’s travels around the music building he had noticed a trap door in the floor of the attic space over the lobby.  Conveniently, the trap door allowed access to the record storage closet in the music office.  With Paul’s help he let himself down into the dark record archives and fetched the needed recording.  He has no recollection of the result of the paper or exam, but they did return the record the same way a few days later—and they have a great story to tell about it.  (If you’re a current student reading this, forgetaboutit—that space is now locked up and the recordings are in the library!)

Mark and his wife, former Chorale member Marylin Nay, met during one of the traditional Chorale Yosemite retreats.  They’ve been married for 34 years, have three adult daughters and three grandchildren whom they enjoy very much.  Their home is in Circle Pines, MN, where Mark helps lead music at Hope Community Church, and where they “ . . . have grown greatly in our walk with God in this gathering of believers through a focus on the Word and the encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  What else is there?”

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