The OCU Music Department welcomes Dr. Dione Bennett as its newest adjunct voice and choral faculty member. Dr. Bennett brings to her position a background in classical singing and gospel music, a deep commitment to Christ, and a love for vocal instruction.Her voice has been heard in operas, recitals, and oratorios both nationwide and internationally. She has performed Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen, Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess; Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohème; Suor Genevieffa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, to name a few. She has also appeared as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Schubert’s Mass in G, Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, and Mozart’s Vespers. Dr. Bennett has been featured with such orchestras as the Warren Philharmonic, Akron Symphony, Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Columbus Symphony, Eastern Illinois Symphony, as well as Opera Cleveland and Opera Western Reserve.Dr. Bennett is the Artistic Director of Opera Project Columbus. She holds a Bachelors and Masters of Music degree from the University of Akron and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Ashland. Further study has taken her to the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.Dr. Bennet is an exciting new addition to our faculty and we are proud to welcome her to the OCU music faculty.
Articles of Interest
An Evening With Mark Lee
Published: October 16, 2019
Ohio Christian University is excited to host an upcoming concert, “An
Evening with Mark Lee,” organized by Living by Faith Ministries. Lee is a
founding member and guitarist for popular Christian rock band Third Day. The
concert will be taking place on Sept. 16 from 7:00-8:30 pm, with doors
opening at 6:00.
Lee will perform songs from Third Day and his album Unshakeable Heart. He
will also share about his book, “Hurt Road,” in which he writes about the
hardships he has faced throughout his life. The concert will include a Q
Ohio Christian University is excited to host an upcoming concert, “An
Evening with Mark Lee,” organized by Living by Faith Ministries. Lee is a
founding member and guitarist for popular Christian rock band Third Day. The
concert will be taking place on Sept. 16 from 7:00-8:30 pm, with doors
opening at 6:00.
Lee will perform songs from Third Day and his album Unshakeable Heart. He
will also
Ohio Christian University is excited to host an upcoming concert, “An
Evening with Mark Lee,” organized by Living by Faith Ministries. Lee is a
founding member and guitarist for popular Christian
Ohio Christian Receives Four New Steinway Designed Pianos
Published: July 24, 2019
As part of a larger goal to become an All-Steinway School, Ohio Christian
University recently purchased four upright Boston model pianos designed by
Steinway
As part of a larger goal to become an All-Steinway School, Ohio Christian
University recently purchased four upright Boston model pianos designed by
Steinway
As part of a larger goal to become an All-Steinway School, Ohio Christian
University recently purchased four upright Boston model pianos designed by
Steinway
OCU To Hold Nashville Styled Songwriting Boot Camp
Published: March 25, 2019
by Keegan D’Alfonso
Ohio Christian University will hold its first songwriting conference on March
30 from 9:00 am to 5 pm. Michelle Martin, Coordinator of Worship Arts at OCU,
envisioned this event after experiencing many similar writing workshops in
Nashville, TN.
“My heart for the day was just to create an opportunity for song writers in
central Ohio to come together and get an experience like they might get in
Nashville if they went to a songwriting conference,” Martin said. “The
order of events is very similar to the conferences I’ve been to.”
The event will be held in OCU’s
by Keegan D’Alfonso
Ohio Christian University will hold its first songwriting conference on March
30 from 9:00 am to 5 pm. Michelle Martin, Coordinator of Worship Arts at OCU,
envisioned this event after experiencing many similar writing workshops in
Nashville, TN.
“My heart for the day was just to create an opportunity for song writers in
central Ohio to come together and get an
by Keegan D’Alfonso
Ohio Christian University will hold its first songwriting conference on March
30 from 9:00 am to 5 pm. Michelle Martin, Coordinator of Worship Arts at OCU,
envisioned this
Archived Articles of Interest
Dr. Brent Nolte Leads Music Department
Published: September 5, 2018
Dr. Brent Nolte has joined Ohio Christian University (OCU) as the new Music
Department chair. He will teach Music History and Music Appreciation.
Previously, Nolte served as Music Department Chair and College Organist at
Talladega College where he taught courses in music theory and played the
organ for convocations and commencement. Talladega College is located in
Talladega, AL, and is a private, SACS-accredited, liberal arts college. Nolte
also served at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, as an adjunct organ and
brass instructor. Earlier, he was band and chorus director for St.
Dr. Brent Nolte has joined Ohio Christian University (OCU) as the new Music
Department chair. He will teach Music History and Music Appreciation.
Previously, Nolte served as Music Department Chair and College Organist at
Talladega College where he taught courses in music theory and played the
organ for convocations and commencement. Talladega College is located in
Talladega, AL, and is a
Dr. Brent Nolte has joined Ohio Christian University (OCU) as the new Music
Department chair. He will teach Music History and Music Appreciation.
Previously, Nolte served as Music Department Chair
ABLAZE - 2018 Summer Tour!
Published: June 12, 2018
Ohio Christian University's ABLAZE student ministry minstrel group will be
performing in Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio on these dates at the
following CCCU churches and summer camps, where OCU students are also serving
as camp counselors:
June 10: Community Wesleyan Church, Athens, OH
June 17: Hartsville Church of Christ, Harstville, IN
June 17: Chillicothe Paints Baseball Game, Chillicothe, OH (singing the
national anthem at 6:05 p.m.)
June 19: General CCCU Council, Circleville, OH
June 20-23: Teens of Praise Camp, Circleville, OH
June 24-28: Bible Camp, Maysville
Ohio Christian University's ABLAZE student ministry minstrel group will be
performing in Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio on these dates at the
following CCCU churches and summer camps, where OCU students are also serving
as camp counselors:
June 10: Community Wesleyan Church, Athens, OH
June 17: Hartsville Church of Christ, Harstville, IN
June 17: Chillicothe Paints Baseball
Ohio Christian University's ABLAZE student ministry minstrel group will be
performing in Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio on these dates at the
following CCCU churches and summer camps,
Grand Piano Donated to the Music Department
Published: March 13, 2018
Local resident and friend of Ohio Christian University, Mr. Harry Canfield
donated a beautiful Baldwin Model L grand piano to the University’s Music
Department. According to Mr. Canfield, the piano was his wife Eileen’s
favorite piano.
Eileen was a lifelong pianist who blessed many in her church as well as local
nursing homes with her piano playing. A bronze plaque fixed to the
instrument states the following sentiment, “This piano was a source of
hours of listening pleasure for many of us and was Eileen Canfield’s prized
possession. ‘To God Be The Glory’.”
Canfield’s decision to
Local resident and friend of Ohio Christian University, Mr. Harry Canfield
donated a beautiful Baldwin Model L grand piano to the University’s Music
Department. According to Mr. Canfield, the piano was his wife Eileen’s
favorite piano.
Eileen was a lifelong pianist who blessed many in her church as well as local
nursing homes with her piano playing. A bronze plaque fixed to the
instrument
Local resident and friend of Ohio Christian University, Mr. Harry Canfield
donated a beautiful Baldwin Model L grand piano to the University’s Music
Department. According to Mr. Canfield, the
OCU Aesthetic Club Hosts Worship Night
Published: February 27, 2018
By Amber Ginter
OCU Aesthetic Club, Movements from the Heart, hosted their first annual
Worship Night in the new Ministry and Performing Arts Center on Friday,
February 23. The performance comprised four choreographed routines, music
from Michelle Martin and Kyle Benecke, a ‘spoken word’ by Gerald
Mershimer, and a message by Tyler Freeman.
Featuring Amber Ginter and Anna Hambrick with paired members Amber
Ginter/Eric Fahrer, Anna Hambrick/Phillip Goodson, Faith Monaghan/Ian
Monaghan, Hannah Hostetler/Stephen Kibble, and Noelle Reif/Davi Pereira, the
club perfected a god-honoring
By Amber Ginter
OCU Aesthetic Club, Movements from the Heart, hosted their first annual
Worship Night in the new Ministry and Performing Arts Center on Friday,
February 23. The performance comprised four choreographed routines, music
from Michelle Martin and Kyle Benecke, a ‘spoken word’ by Gerald
Mershimer, and a message by Tyler Freeman.
Featuring Amber Ginter and Anna Hambrick with
By Amber Ginter
OCU Aesthetic Club, Movements from the Heart, hosted their first annual
Worship Night in the new Ministry and Performing Arts Center on Friday,
February 23. The performance
2017 Festival of Carols Performed in New Ministry and Performing Arts Center
Published: December 3, 2017
Over 950 Christmas celebrants attended Ohio Christian University’s 2017
Festival of Carols performed for the first time on December 2nd and 3rd in
the University’s new Ministry and Performing Arts Center! In the future,
the Center will be used for the community as well as OCU events.
Produced as a gift to the community, the University Chorale, Chamber Singers,
Circleville Community Choral Society, and Festival Orchestra beautifully
realized this year’s What Can I Give? theme. Instead of focusing on what we
receive in this Christmas season, Dr. Bennett focused on paying forward with
Over 950 Christmas celebrants attended Ohio Christian University’s 2017
Festival of Carols performed for the first time on December 2nd and 3rd in
the University’s new Ministry and Performing Arts Center! In the future,
the Center will be used for the community as well as OCU events.
Produced as a gift to the community, the University Chorale, Chamber Singers,
Circleville Community Choral
Over 950 Christmas celebrants attended Ohio Christian University’s 2017
Festival of Carols performed for the first time on December 2nd and 3rd in
the University’s new Ministry and Performing Arts
