MVNU to host central Ohio honors choirs

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Mount Vernon Nazarene University is proud to host the 2023 District 10 Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Honors Choir Festival on Saturday, Nov. 4.

The event will feature high school and middle school honors choirs from 27 participating schools in Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morrow and Richland counties. To be eligible, students must be nominated by their director. The day will feature a morning of instruction and will culminate with a final concert at 3:30 p.m. in the R.R. Hodges Chapel Auditorium on the MVNU campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

Dr. Scott MacPherson will direct the high school honors choir. Renowned for his innovative programming of diverse repertoire from early music through premiering new works, conductor MacPherson has established a national and international reputation for choral excellence.

In addition to serving as choral clinician and guest conductor of numerous all-state, all-region, and other festival choirs in the USA, Dr. MacPherson has been frequently invited as guest conductor in Germany, China, and Taiwan. He recently retired from his position of Director of Choral Studies in the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University, a post he held since 2008. He holds the Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education degree and Master of Music degrees in Orchestral and Choral Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His DMA in Choral Conducting is from the University of Southern California.

Ms. Kim Wolbert will direct the middle school honors choir. A native of Ashland, Ohio, she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2005 from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, and her Master of Music Education from Kent State University. Wolbert’s 17-year teaching career has included both general music and choral music education in grades 5-12 in public schools, most recently at Ashland City Schools. She currently serves as a music minister at Trinity Lutheran Church developing and directing a choral program of more than six choirs from pre-k to adult. She is also the Praise and Worship Team Director at Trinity. Additionally, she enjoys music-directing youth and adult shows at the Mansfield Playhouse and Ashland High School.

For more information about MVNU, visit mvnu.edu.