Music faculty host benefit concert

The MVNU Music Department will host a benefit concert this Sunday at 3 p.m. to raise money to purchase a grand piano.

The funds raised at the concert will go toward the purchase of a new grand piano for Thorne Performance Hall located in the MVNU chapel. The music department also hopes to refurbish the current piano which is over 30 years old.

The campaign goal is $38,000.

“The new piano we hope to purchase will ensure quality performance for our students performances, guest artist recitals, ensemble concerts and theater production,” said MVNU Music Department Chair Dr. John Packard.

The concert will take place in the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium and will feature faculty members and friends from MVNU.

The event is free and open to the public. Funds for the campaign will be raised through a collection taken at the end of the concert.

“Our music students have been asking for a faculty collage concert for many years and this is the first time in my time at MVNU that it has happened,” Packard said.

Packard encourages all students to attend the concert to support the faculty and the music department.

“Many of these faculty have not performed for our students in a formal concert event,” Packard said. “Students should catch this concert as it will likely be years before we coordinate such an event again.”

Performing at the concert will be Rebecca Abbott (organ), Elizabeth Barrett (soprano), Charla Dryburgh (accompanist), JoAnn Koh-Baker (piano), Adrienne Lape (clarinet), Juan Ortega (violin), Jennifer Packard (flute), John Packard (trumpet), Jim Puckett (percussion), Bob Tocheff (organ), Carrie Vail (mezzo-soprano) and Joel Vega (tenor).