MVNU to host Honors Choir Festival

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to announce that it will host the 2024 Ohio Music Education Association District 10 Honors Choir Festival on Saturday, Nov. 2. This prestigious event will bring together talented young vocalists from Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morrow, and Richland Counties, representing 32 participating schools. The festival will include both high school and middle school honor choirs.

To participate, students must be nominated by their music directors. The day will begin with a morning of intensive instruction, culminating in a final concert at 3:30 p.m. in the R.R. Hodges Chapel Auditorium on the MVNU campus. This concert is free and open to the public, showcasing the talents of these young musicians.

The high school honors choir will be directed by Dr. Lisa Wong, the Olive Williams Kettering Professor of Music at The College of Wooster. Renowned for her leadership of the award-winning Wooster Chorus, Dr. Wong has elevated the ensemble to national prominence with domestic tours and performances at state and regional conferences, including the premiere of fifteen new works.

With degrees from West Chester University and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, her academic foundation is complemented by a 32-year career, dedicated to inspiring and nurturing musicians of all ages. Dr. Wong also serves as Director of Choruses for The Cleveland Orchestra, where she collaborates with world-class musicians to present critically acclaimed performances.

The middle school honors choir will be directed by Kent W. Vandock, Ed.S., a Teacher on Special Assignment in the Teaching and Learning Department of Perrysburg Schools. Mr. Vandock has an extensive background in choral direction and vocal music education, having worked in various capacities across different schools. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education from Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan, respectively. He also holds an Ed.S in Educational Administration and Leadership from BGSU.

A sought-after clinician, he has worked with choirs across the nation. In addition to his position with Perrysburg Schools, Mr. Vandock is part-time faculty at Northwest State Community College and an adjunct instructor at BGSU, working with the Master’s of Teaching Artistry Program.

For more information on the festival, visit OMEA Honors Choir Festival. For more on MVNU, visit mvnu.edu.