CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� welcomed approximately 100 high school student musicians to campus for its 26th Annual JazzFest Tuesday, Feb. 17. JazzFest is an  immersive educational event designed to strengthen musicianship, expand jazz knowledge, and provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

This year’s festival featured five jazz bands representing four regional school districts, including two ensembles from Hannibal High School under the direction of Mike Fuller, as well as Kirksville High School (Brad Hudson), Highland High School (Nathan Sparks), and Mexico High School (Josh Yancy).

Throughout the daylong event, students participated in a series of educational clinics led by professional musicians, college faculty, and guest jazz artists. Sessions included instrument-specific sectionals for saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm sections; two full-band coaching clinics; an improvisation workshop; and a jazz history session. Students also experienced campus life through a student-led tour.

Clinicians included Culver-Stockton faculty members Dr. Trent Hollinger, Martin Gelwasser, Dr. Alex Kirby, and Dr. Scott Giltner, alongside guest educators William DeMont, Dustin Schrum, Dr. John Cooper, and Steve Grismore. Musically, participating bands explored a diverse repertoire spanning multiple jazz traditions, including swing, Afro-Cuban, funk, bossa nova, and ballad styles.

“Events like JazzFest provide high school students with a rare opportunity to work directly with industry professionals and experience a wide range of expertise,” said Dr. Hollinger, C-SC director of bands and music dept. chair. “For schools in more rural areas, assembling a comparable group of jazz artists locally is often impractical. By bringing together professionals from many facets of jazz in one place, JazzFest offers students meaningful exposure, instruction, and inspiration that would otherwise be difficult to access.”

The event also supports recruitment and relationship-building for the College’s music program.

“JazzFest brings prospective students to campus where they can experience the quality of our faculty, our facilities, the beauty of the campus, and the culture of our music program firsthand,” Dr. Hollinger said. “Participants interacted with current Culver-Stockton students through campus tours, helping them envision themselves as part of our music community.”

New elements were introduced to this year’s festival, including the addition of a second full-band rehearsal space and expanded cross-campus collaboration, highlighted by Dr. Giltner’s jazz history presentation.

High school jazz bands interested in participating in the 27th Annual JazzFest, scheduled for February 2027, are encouraged to contact Dr. Hollinger at thollinger@culver.edu to request an invitation.

Learn more about 91ֱ��’s music programs at /majors/music/.

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� was well represented at the 88th annual Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) In-Service Workshop and Conference, held Jan. 28–31 at Lake of the Ozarks (Mo.). C-SC students’ participation in the event was highlighted by a prestigious performance honor for Faith Myers (Clarksville, Mo.), a junior music education major.

Myers was selected to perform in the percussion section of the Missouri All-Collegiate Orchestra, an ensemble composed of top collegiate musicians from across the state. Myers arrived at the conference early to rehearse with the orchestra, and she was part of the orchestra’s Jan. 28 concert performance.

In total, 12 Culver-Stockton music students attended the annual conference, which drew nearly 3,000 current and future music educators. The MMEA is a federated state association of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), representing nearly 80,000 educators nationwide committed to advancing comprehensive, high-quality music instruction.

According to Dr. Alex Kirby, C-SC’s associate director of bands and director of athletic bands, the conference served as important professional gateway for Culver-Stockton students.

“For music education majors, conferences like MMEA are transformational,” Kirby explained. “Students participate in performances, clinics, and reading sessions that sharpen their instructional skills while introducing them to the latest conversations in the field. Just as importantly, they begin forming professional networks that will support them throughout their careers.”

The experience provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing students to build relationships with veteran educators, explore graduate programs, and engage with current ideas shaping music education today.

For more information about Culver-Stockton’s major in music education, as well as about other areas of study in music, visit /majors/.

CANTON, Mo. — Dr. Dylan Marney, associate professor of music at 91ֱ��, will present a piano recital as part of the Quincy Sunday Music Series this Sunday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. The concert will take place at the Unitarian Church, located at 1479 Hampshire Street in Quincy (Ill.).

The recital will feature selections by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the performance is free and open to the public.

In addition to teaching at 91ֱ��, Marney serves the C-SC Chair of the Civic Engagement, Humanities, and Performing Arts Division and has extensive professional training and performance experience. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from the University of Arizona and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from Central Washington University. He was also the first-place winner of the Steinway & Sons Piano Competition for Washington State.

In addition to his classical training, Marney holds a master’s degree in music technology and has composed original electro-acoustic works and film scores. A frequent soloist, he performs regularly throughout the region and nationally and has served as an artist-in-residence at the Lake Chelan Bach Fest in Washington.

The Quincy Sunday Music Series is a long-standing community tradition that highlights regional talent and provides accessible, high-quality musical performances for area audiences.

Performances will take place as follows:

• Thursday-Friday, Nov. 6-7 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 8-9 at 2 p.m.

All performances will be held in the 91ֱ�� Black Box in the Robert W. Brown Performing Arts Center. Admission is free for all 91ֱ�� students, faculty, and staff. Admission for non-C-SC students is $5 and $10 for adults.

Because seating is limited, reservations are required for all performances. Reservations may be made in any of the following ways:

• Scan the QR code on the promotional poster
• Reserve online:
• Email David Lane at dlane@culver.edu

“Carrie: The Musical” is produced by the 91ֱ�� Department of Theatre. Learn more about the study of theatre at C-SC at /majors/theatre/.

The first commission is a newly re-voiced arrangement of There’s a Meeting Here Tonight. Originally written for the professional tenor-bass ensemble Cantus of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the work has been reimagined for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) voices, allowing more choirs to experience its American Gospel folk style.

Culver-Stockton students will premiere the piece during the Fall Choral Concert, which is set for Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Merillat Chapel Recital Hall in the Robert W. Brown Performing Art Center on the C-SC campus. The concert is open free to the public.

The second commission is a brand-new composition by acclaimed composer Timothy C. Takach, created expressly for the 91ֱ�� Choir. Written in a traditional choral style with piano accompaniment, this world premiere will highlight the ensemble’s artistry at the Spring Choral Concert Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 3 p.m. in Merillat Chapel. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

“Commissioning new music not only expands the canon but also strengthens our students’ education by giving them a creative role in bringing new works to life,” said Dr. Andrew Schroetter, Director of Choral Music at Culver-Stockton. “Learning a piece no one has ever performed before demands deep listening, problem-solving, and collaboration. It’s an experience that will shape their musicianship long after graduation.”

As part of the project, Takach will visit campus in spring 2026 to rehearse with the choir and deliver a lecture on composition, music entrepreneurship, and professional performance. His involvement provides students with direct access to a composer whose works have been performed by ensembles such as Roomful of Teeth, The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and The Boston Pops.

For Dr. Leenhouts, supporting this project reflects both a personal passion and a commitment to enriching student learning. A lifelong choral singer and member of The City Choir of Washington, D.C., she was first introduced to Culver-Stockton through her husband, Joseph MacDoniels ‘63, a longtime trustee and current emeritus member of the 91ֱ�� Board of Trustees. Over time, her connection to the College grew through support of student awards and scholarships.

“It was last spring while on campus that I decided I wanted to do something that reflected my love of choral singing,” said Leenhouts. “Commissioning these works underscores the vital role that music, and choral music in particular, plays in a liberal arts curriculum. For students, this experience will challenge them, as well as cultivate pride in bringing new music into the world. I hope these pieces will inspire them now and for years to come, while also bringing recognition to the College.”

Learn more about Culver-Stockton’s academic programs in music at /majors/.

Participants will spend the day in interactive sessions with the Culver-Stockton marching band, cheerleading squad, and dance team. The experience is designed to give students a behind-the-scenes look at how college-level groups prepare for and execute game day performances. The event will culminate with students performing alongside the college groups during the Wildcats’ home football game.

“This event is for any student who loves the thrill of preparing for game day but wants to see it on the next level,” said Dr. Alexander Kirby, associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at Culver-Stockton. “We are excited to offer a hands-on experience where students can build and participate in an on-field performance and truly feel what it’s like to be part of the Wildcat spirit.”

The event is open to all high school students with an interest in marching band, cheer, or dance. Information is being sent to prospective students as well as area high school directors and coaches.

Check-in will begin at the campus field house, where students will receive a welcome before breaking into their respective groups for specialized workshops. All registered participants will receive free admission to the football game and a meal voucher for the concession stand. The event will conclude at the end of the football game.

Registration is required to attend. To register for the event and for more details, please visit .

For those interested in attending or seeking further information about this event, please contact Trent Hollinger at thollinger@culver.edu or call 573-288-6418. 91ֱ��’s performing arts productions are an integral part of the institution’s Academic and Cultural Events (ACE) programming, enriching the cultural landscape of the community and beyond.

The program will begin with the Collegiate Choir singing “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” by John Michael Trotta. The group will also be performing classics, including “Psallite” by Praetorius and the rhythmic spiritual “Go Where I Send Thee!”

Following the Collegiate Choir, the Concert Choir will provide seasonal music by contemporary composers and conclude with the singing of Handel’s famous “Hallelujah” from Messiah. Mary, the Rose of Christmas, will be honored when the Chamber Choir presents “Hosanna.”

The Annual Christmas Concert is free and open to the public. For audiences unable to attend in person, the concert is available for live streaming at: . Following the performance, guests are invited to the Merillat Recital Hall for a dessert reception and music from the Jazz Ensemble.

91ֱ��’s wind ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Trent A. Holinger, associate professor of music, and is composed of the best wind, brass, and percussion players at the College. The concert is free and open to the public.