The hymn verse above, scripted large for everyone to see, is displayed on the wall of the choir room. For it is more than just a side note or nice quote, it literally sums up the purpose of Central's music program. Music is a gift received, a skill learned, refined, and a gift given back in service and praise.
"As humans, we are gifted with both the creativity to compose and the means to sing and play," comments Shue. "I'm glad I teach at a Christian school where that spiritual connection is recognized and students can experience these things at a very deep level." He continues, "We can't imagine church without music, so like prayer, it is a discipline that can be practiced."
Building on a strong accapella singing tradition in area Mennonite churches, music at Central has gone far beyond what its founders may have dreamed. From Brahms to bluegrass, Chopin to chapel, jazz to jigs, music can mean both an exhilarating public performance or a private prayer at Central Christian. Housing a facility designed for musical needs, music rooms at Central can accommodate both large choirs and orchestras as well as one on one private instruction in a studio practice room.
Music as Academics
Music as both an academic pursuit and spiritual discipline, something appreciated by the ancient Greeks and again pursued by the theologians of the Reformation era, is being hailed again by recent studies as a brain stimulator, facilitating growth in cells and enhancing comprehension of abstract thought. Music at Central is treated as a class more in tune with typical academic classes. Instrumental and vocal music classes are mandatory from kindergarten through middle school, while vocal continues through the first semester of freshman year. Music ensembles are then voluntary through senior year. The second semester of choir during students' junior and senior years becomes more skill-based and is by audition. Instrumental music for the most part is open enrollment.
Vocal music at Central
In many ways, singing is part of Central's identity, whether it be a simple chorus in chapel or striving for straight superior ratings at state contest, it is an act of discipline and joy. Currently under the direction of Tim Shue, Central's choirs have enjoyed many enriching opportunities. Shue's love of music is contagious and his interest in music-making has found him in virtually every type of performance venue possible: The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, folk festivals, fiddling for square dances, Royals Stadium in Kansas City, and more. His ability to create enthusiasm for group music making has been recognized by the larger Mennonite church as he has been the music leader of three different nationwide Mennonite conventions. Though he still dreams of being in the perfect "newcoustic" type of band, his greatest joy is seeing students discover for themselves the satisfaction of making music together and creating a lifetime of great memories.
"I became a music teacher because of the connections it gave me to life," Shue said. "Music and the church have been the main thread woven throughout my life." Tim teaches Concert Choir, Varsity Singers, Freshman/Sophomore Chorale, music theory, music leadership and middle school boys. He is a graduate of Hesston and Bethel Colleges, both in Kansas.
Instrumental music at Central
"Instrumental music is creative energy captured in sound, it can convey what words alone cannot express" - Bonnie Weaver
Central Christian is one of the few schools in the area to offer students the opportunity to be a part of a full orchestra. Our current orchestra is fifty members strong, consisting of strings, winds and percussion. Works studied are primarily sacred and non sacred pieces by classic composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Few things proclaim the majesty of our Lord and express emotion as an orchestra can. Orchestra performances include Prelude and Dessert, the Christmas Concert, Mennonite Regional Orchestra Festival, and a Spring Concert.
Instrumental music director, Bonnie Weaver, has been a part of the Central music department for seven years. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University's school of Music with special emphasis on winds. Working with her is strings specialist Lara Dudack. Lara comes to us from the Akron Symphony and is a graduate of Eastman School of Music. Central students benefit greatly from having instructors who have specialized areas of interest and training.
In addition to Orchestra, Central offers several other large and small ensembles for students to participate in. They Include:
Wind Ensemble: Open to high school students who play a wind instrument or percussionists. Students study a wide variety of Concert Band and Symphonic Wind literature. Performance opportunities include Prelude and Dessert Concert, Christmas Concert, Mennonite Regional Orchestra Festival and the Spring Concert.
String Ensemble: Open to high school students who play a string instrument. Students study standard string orchestra material. Performance opportunities include Prelude and Dessert Concert, Christmas Concert, Mennonite Regional Orchestra Festival and the Spring Concert.
Jazz Band: The jazz ensemble plays a variety of musical styles which include swing, rock, latin, ballads. This ensemble allows students to gain leadership skills through part independence. Performance opportunities include all high school concerts, MSC Orchestra Festival and high school basketball games.
Heartland Strings: A chamber quartet. Heartland performs at our school concerts as well as area nursing homes, weddings and local events.
Private Lesson Program: Area professional musicians come to Central during the school day to give one on one private lessons. Students receive credit for the lessons.
MSC Orchestra Festival: This is an annual collaborative effort between CCS, Bethany Christian of Goshen, Indiana and Iowa Mennonite of Kalona, Iowa. The festival rotates between the three schools and includes a mass orchestra (over 120 musicians) wind ensemble, string orchestra and jazz band. Students have the opportunity to work with a guest conductor and perform challenging music.
Vocal/General Music
Eph.5:19 instructs us to "sing and make music in your heart to the Lord". At Central Christian, it's important to facilitate the development and expression of God's gift of music at an early age. The preK-6 program includes
concepts of rhythm, pitch, dynamics, diction, and group singing. However, the most important concept developed in our students is the love of music; to sing with a joyful attitude and an eager enthusiasm.
All elementary students (preK-4) participate in two musicals each year. This includes group singing with opportunities for soloist and acting. 5-6 Choir performs at the annual middle school fall and spring concerts.
There are off campus performance opportunies for this group as well.
Historical notes:
2002: Concert Choir was invited by composer Alice Parker to perform with her choir in New York City for a Martin Luther King spirituals concert.
2004: Varsity Singers was invited to perform and debut a piece written for them at the Cincinnati Mennonite Arts Weekend.
2006: Varsity Singers was invited to participate in the installation of Bluffton University
new president.
2008: Varsity Singers was a featured choir at the William McKinley museum
Holiday Open House in Canton.
2008: Dr. Frank Jacobs of the Summit Choral Society is guest clinician with
Concert Choir
2009: Varsity Singers presented a workshop concert for the Music Department of Malone University.
2009: Varsity Singers invited to be demonstration choir in workshop with the world-
renowned ensemble, Chanticleer.
2009: Varsity Singers performs at McKinley Monument Christmas Open
House
2009: Dr. Ben Ayling from Kent State University is guest clinician with
Concert Choir
2009: Composer/Arranger Alice Parker works with music theory and concert
choir
