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
OCU Students Minister Through Drama
Published: September 13, 2016
Ohio Christian University is excited about launching a new semester of the
drama ministry travel team, Living Parables. This group is made up of 14
residential undergraduate students (two teams), including the Student Leaders
Brittany Twining and Haley Fowler. The group is under the direction of Mrs.
Bethany Bolin, who is a graduate of OCU and possesses many years of teaching
and leading drama.
Living Parables ministers in churches, schools and youth events presenting
sketches of real-life circumstances which focus on the gospel as well as
moral values.
Ohio Christian University is excited about launching a new semester of the
drama ministry travel team, Living Parables. This group is made up of 14
residential undergraduate students (two teams), including the Student Leaders
Brittany Twining and Haley Fowler. The group is under the direction of Mrs.
Bethany Bolin, who is a graduate of OCU and possesses many years of teaching
and leading
Ohio Christian University is excited about launching a new semester of the
drama ministry travel team, Living Parables. This group is made up of 14
residential undergraduate students (two teams),
OCU's Ablaze and Tenth Avenue North Rock Ross County Fair
Published: August 12, 2016
CHILLICOTHE - The fair board took a gamble that appeared to pay off.
Thursday night's concert at the Ross County Fair was something the fair board
had never tried before. With the help of Ohio Christian University, it
brought two contemporary Christian bands, OCU's Ablaze and headliner Tenth
Avenue North, to the grandstand.
The grandstand was packed with more than 500 people of all ages cheering,
clapping and even at times dancing along to the music. The high-energy lead
singer of Tenth Avenue North ran up and down into the crowds, jumping and
dancing along with them. The longer the
CHILLICOTHE - The fair board took a gamble that appeared to pay off.
Thursday night's concert at the Ross County Fair was something the fair board
had never tried before. With the help of Ohio Christian University, it
brought two contemporary Christian bands, OCU's Ablaze and headliner Tenth
Avenue North, to the grandstand.
The grandstand was packed with more than 500 people of all ages
CHILLICOTHE - The fair board took a gamble that appeared to pay off.
Thursday night's concert at the Ross County Fair was something the fair board
had never tried before. With the help of Ohio
Chamber String Ensemble to Minister in Japan
Published: August 10, 2016
The excitement is building as the members of Ohio Christian University’s
Chamber String Ensemble prepare for their musical ministry trip to Japan from
August 11-29, 2016. “My wife and I have always had a love for the Japanese
people and a strong desire to share the message of Jesus and salvation with
them,” says Roger Stieg, the ensemble’s director and founder.
“The opportunity that the Chamber Strings have to perform in Japan is a
wonderful new door that God is opening for the music students at Ohio
Christian University”, commented Dr. John Anthony, the Music Department
Chair
The excitement is building as the members of Ohio Christian University’s
Chamber String Ensemble prepare for their musical ministry trip to Japan from
August 11-29, 2016. “My wife and I have always had a love for the Japanese
people and a strong desire to share the message of Jesus and salvation with
them,” says Roger Stieg, the ensemble’s director and founder.
“The opportunity that the
The excitement is building as the members of Ohio Christian University’s
Chamber String Ensemble prepare for their musical ministry trip to Japan from
August 11-29, 2016. “My wife and I have always
OCU's Ablaze to open for Tenth Avenue North on August 11th
Published: August 4, 2016
On August 11th, Ohio Christian University's traveling music ministry group
Ablaze will open for Tenth Avenue North at the Ross County Fair in
Chillicothe, Ohio.The student group travels the region bringing its
distinctive sound to churches, schools, youth events and more. Their
masterful vocals and instrumental arrangements blend the foundations of
contemporary worship with genuine, timeless lyrics as they spread the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
"We get to travel to lots of different places and meet a lot of people," said
Caitlyn McCrary, an Ablaze member and OCU Junior. "There have been
On August 11th, Ohio Christian University's traveling music ministry group
Ablaze will open for Tenth Avenue North at the Ross County Fair in
Chillicothe, Ohio.The student group travels the region bringing its
distinctive sound to churches, schools, youth events and more. Their
masterful vocals and instrumental arrangements blend the foundations of
contemporary worship with genuine, timeless
On August 11th, Ohio Christian University's traveling music ministry group
Ablaze will open for Tenth Avenue North at the Ross County Fair in
Chillicothe, Ohio.The student group travels the region
OCU's Music Program Scales Up with New Performing Arts Center
Published: April 12, 2016
CIRCLEVILLE — From classical and sacred music to gospel and contemporary
Christian, Ohio Christian University is home to a thriving music department
that promises to grow thanks to a new, state-of-the art performing arts
center. The University recently broke ground on the center that will take the
place of the chapel as the school’s performance venue.
“There’s a lot of excitement with this building,” said Vice President
of Operations Mike Fracassa. “We’ve had experts in to make it as
acoustically as perfect as possible.” The building was designed by the
McKnight Group of Grove City
CIRCLEVILLE — From classical and sacred music to gospel and contemporary
Christian, Ohio Christian University is home to a thriving music department
that promises to grow thanks to a new, state-of-the art performing arts
center. The University recently broke ground on the center that will take the
place of the chapel as the school’s performance venue.
“There’s a lot of excitement with this
CIRCLEVILLE — From classical and sacred music to gospel and contemporary
Christian, Ohio Christian University is home to a thriving music department
that promises to grow thanks to a new, state-of-
