School of Music

The Olivet Nazarene University School of Music offers limitless opportunities for students to hone their musical craft. From worship services to the concert hall, you’ll find music in every corner of the campus.

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Tiger Marching band

Overview

Olivet’s Rich Heritage of Musical Excellence

From the university’s earliest days, music has been a significant part of the academic, social and spiritual offerings.

The School of Music has produced graduates serving in classrooms and colleges all around the country. Performance majors are found in opera houses, musical theatre productions, concert stages and amidst some of the country’s leading performing ensembles. Composition graduates are penning popular music, and scoring films for major production houses and commercials.

From the Dean

“Our faculty are credible, practicing musicians. Students get real-world experience in and out of the classroom.”

At the School of Music, we believe that every student needs to develop quality music skills as part of discipleship so that when they go into the broader world they have credibility in their craft, which leads to open conversations about other things, such as their faith.

Olivet Nazarene University Music Ensembles

Orpheus Choir - Olivet

Orpheus Choir

Dr. Jeff Bell, Director

Proclamation Gospel Choir

Proclamation Gospel Choir

Dr. Marvin Jones, Director

Tiger Marching band Olivet Nazarene University

Tiger Marching Band

Dr. Matt Stratton, Director

University Orchestra, ONU

University Orchestra

Dr. Neal Woodruff, Director

Concert Band

Concert Band

Jerry Luzeniecki, Director

Choral Singing

Sounds of Praise Choir

Nathan Lain, Director

Concert Singers

Concert Singers

Dr. Neal Woodruff, Director

Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Band & Jazz Combos

Jerry Luzeniecki, Director

ONU String & Chamber ensembles

String & Chamber Ensembles

Rebekah Cope, Director

guitar ensembles ONU

Guitar Ensemble

Freddie Franken, Director

wind ensembles ONU

Wind Ensemble

Dr. Matt Stratton, Director

Steel Drum band ONU

Steel Drum Band

Matt Jacklin, Director

full university orchestra and soloists

Music Scholarships

Scholarship Opportunities Available for both Music Majors and Non Majors

Whether you have decided to be a music major or not, Olivet offers all incoming new students the opportunity to audition for music scholarships including voice, band, orchestral instruments, piano and composition.

Music Recruitment & Scholarship Form

Scholarship Information

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Grammy Nominee, Bethany Robinson

Two-time Grammy Educator of the Year Nominee, Bethany Robinson ’04/’11 MED sits down for an interview to share stories about her time at Olivet, her work, and her personal life.

Detail photo of violinist
Photo of male guitarist
Professor instructing students by an organ

Music Lessons

ILCMEA Private Lesson Program

ILCMEA (Illinois Collegiate Music Education Association), our professional music education organization at Olivet Nazarene University, strives to give our music education majors professional development and guidance. Each student instructor that is part of this program has been under School of Music faculty mentorship and guidance and will continue to hone their instruction skills through the experiences teaching as a part of this program.

Register for Private Lessons

man on laptop outside

Find Your Path at Olivet

Majors, minors, concentrations and areas of study can be overwhelming. Our innovative search feature allows you to choose general areas of interest, and see which ONU program you’d like to explore.

Find Your Interest

School of Music Faculty

Meet Dr. Neal Woodruff

Dr. Woodruff is the Dean of the School of Music.

Dr. Woodruff joined the ONU faculty in 2000. He is the conductor of the University Orchestra and Concert Singers. His teaching responsibilities include applied voice/pedagogy (both classical and contemporary), opera/music theatre, applied conducting, and church music.

Prior to his appointment at Olivet, he served on the faculties of Malone College, Southern Nazarene University, and the Herscher, Ill., school district. In addition, he has maintained numerous full- and part-time church positions in Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.

Meet more School of Music Faculty

More Information

We Hope to See You

Whether you’re interested in one of our concerts or musicals, or whether your a prospective new student who’s interested in the program and facilities, we’d love to see you around!

concert soloist

Concerts & Events

Olivet’s School of Music hosts a variety of concerts and events on campus for campus and community alike. Many events are general admission and free, while some require tickets.

Centennial Chapel interior

Our Facilities

Larsen Fine Arts Center is the home of the School of Music. The building is filled with classrooms, studio space, practice rooms, rehearsal halls and Kresge Auditorium, which hosts musical performances, recitals, plays, lectures and more.

Orpheus Choir

Travel World-wide

Orpheus Choir and Proclamation Gospel Choir schedule tours each year, presenting concerts in the U.S. and around the globe. The University Orchestra and other ensembles have presented concerts and recitals at various locations.

MUSIC PLUS

Theatre & Music Combined

Our thriving School of Music and Theatre program incorporate music into many of the productions.

Join Us on Social

Check out the latest from Instagram by following @olivetschoolofmusic.

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students in lecture ONU

Where Your Future Begins

We Believe. You Belong Here. Discover why Olivet is a place where faith meets calling. Take the first step today.

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