What's Happening

Get the latest news and updates related to Music at Denison University.

2023

Lori Christian '00

Alumni

Lori Christian '00 EVP of Marketing for Universal Music

As executive vice president, Lori Christian '00 will oversee Universal Music Group's Nashville’s Artist Development and more.

Date: April 20, 2023

Rachel Abzell '19

Alumni

Rachel Azbell '19 empowers girls in jazz

Jazz Arts Group's Rachel Azbell '19 leads Columbus' first Jazz Girls Day, an all-day event for high school and college students.

Date: March 10, 2023

Upcoming Events

"The Other Mozart"

The Vail Series presents ‘The Other Mozart’

Feb. 11, 2026 7:00 PM

The forgotten story of Mozart's genius sister

"The Other Mozart"

The Vail Series presents ‘The Other Mozart’

Feb. 12, 2026 7:00 PM

The forgotten story of Mozart's genius sister (2nd evening)

Guitar and banjo recital by juniors John Brown and Jack Rehbeck

Feb. 17, 2026 7:30 PM

The Department of Music welcomes John Brown, guitar and Jack Rehbeck, banjo, presenting a junior recital.

Vocal recital by Phoebe Beckwith

Feb. 19, 2026 7:30 PM

Denison senior Phoebe Beckwith ’26 presents a vocal recital.

Kenny & Amanda Smith

Bluegrass and American Roots Festival: Kenny & Amanda Smith

Feb. 20, 2026 7:00 PM

The Department of Music presents the annual Bluegrass and American Roots Festival featuring Kenny & Amanda Smith.

Band Mixer Workshop

Bluegrass and American Roots Festival: Band Mixer Workshop

Feb. 21, 2026 1:00 PM

The Department of Music presents the annual Bluegrass and American Roots Festival workshop.

East Nash Grass

Bluegrass and American Roots Festival: East Nash Grass

Feb. 21, 2026 7:00 PM

The Department of Music presents the annual Bluegrass and American Roots Festival featuring East Nash Grass.

Flute recital by Lillian Walz

Feb. 24, 2026 7:30 PM

Denison senior Lillian Walz ’26 presents a flute recital.

Voice recital by senior Andrew Hanson

Feb. 25, 2026 7:30 PM

The Department of Music is pleased to present a senior voice recital by Andrew Hanson ’26, tenor.

Viola recital by senior Meredith Shepherd

Feb. 26, 2026 7:30 PM

The Department of Music is pleased to present a senior recital by Meredith Shepherd ’26, viola.

Spotlights

A woman with dark hair, wearing a purple sleeveless dress with straps, sings on an outdoor stage.

Denison Magazine

Rising Voices

A chorus of Denison students enthusiastically joined Voice Instructor Emily Noël’s inaugural opera ensemble. The second is even more popular.

Rumi Kang ’26 sits at a piano discussing his concerto with award-winning composer Professor Ching-chu Hu.

For Rumi Kang ’26, composing a piano concerto is a ‘natural next step’

Rumi Kang ’26 is challenging himself to write a piano concerto. It’s tedious but rewarding work aided by award-winning composer Professor Ching-chu Hu.

Owen Tekelenburg ’26

An eye for science and an ear for the banjo

Tireless Owen Tekelenburg ’26 hasn’t let a health scare slow his pursuit of a wide range of interests at Denison.

The Hilltoppers singing at groundhogs day

Denison Magazine

It was strange and beautiful and unforgettable

A Hilltopper shares his experience opening up for the world's most famous groundhog.

Timothy Carpenter on stage inside Swasey chapel with singers behind him

Denison Magazine

Denison’s ‘Rev’ is moved by a spirit of tolerance and inclusion

The leader of the gospel choir and coordinator of Christian life, Timothy Carpenter embraces the struggle and tenacity of Martin Luther King Jr.

Timothy Carpenter on stage inside Swasey chapel with singers behind him

Denison’s ‘Rev’ is moved by a spirit of tolerance and inclusion

The leader of the gospel choir and coordinator of Christian life, Timothy Carpenter embraces the struggle and tenacity of Martin Luther King Jr.

Megan Barker ’25

Making their mark with Messiah

This year’s performance of Handel’s epic work included student soloists, a new twist on a long-running Denison tradition.

Kim by his pianos

5 questions with Music’s Sun Min Kim

Kim talks about his path to piano, the late mentor who still watches over him, and the freedom of teaching and studying music at a liberal arts college.

Ellie Blasko '23 sitting next to a piano

Playing to her strengths

Denison helped triple major Ellie Blasko '23 explore her passion for piano, discover new interests, and land a dream job in Beverly Hills.

Jaelyn Roth ’23, building a graph to illustrate her research

Peering into black holes

Physics major Jaelyn Roth’s research helps astrophysicists see supermassive black holes and their related phenomenon more clearly.

Blue Grass Boys

The surprising history of Bluegrass music

Visiting professor Heather Grimm ’17 shares an intriguing history of Bluegrass music.

Sydney Kistler

Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur

Sydney Kistler ’22 loves performing music — and is equally fervent about the business angle of the industry.

Winter 2022 cover

Denison Magazine

The ON Switch

Conversations with faculty about what it means to teach — and to trigger those amazing moments of illumination

Bluegrass students performing in Swasey Chapel

Bluegrass Goes to College

Praise for DU’s program from top bluegrass magazine

Tejido de Voces rehearsal (photo by Ron Abram)

Building Bridges: Ron Abram, Collaboration and Tejido de Voces

The importance of art - especially in a world divided by COVID, politics, and distance - is a tangible thing.

What's Happening

A group of singers in formal wear stand on an outdoor stage in front of a crowd.

Performances

Opera comes off its pedestal

On Nov. 20, Denison’s Opera Ensemble will perform a selection of Mozart songs.

The Fourchestra

Faculty, Performances

Denison and Granville High School team up to host concert

Genre-bending Jonathan Scales Fourchestra comes to campus on Oct. 13.

Larry Murdock, Assistant Professor & Coordinator of Keyboard Studies - Piano, Sun Min, Kim, Amelia Senior ’25

Students

Ongoing community support for Denison’s young musicians

Former registrar Larry Murdock keeps showing up — supporting Denison student musicians and sharing their music with his senior community.

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