Our Music Program

"Lord, we bring our gift of music, touch our lips and fire our hearts,
Teach our minds and train our senses, fit us for this sacred art.
Then with skill and consecration we would serve you, Lord, and give
all our powers to glorify you, and in serving fully live."

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.

Tim Shue

For one student, music means a unique community of friends; another revels in the beauty of it. One is challenged to develop a unique musical talent while another discovers a totally new academic playground of wonder. In an age of overwhelming musical options and technology, Tim Shue believes that creating good music with others, though not always the quickest route, can be one of the most deeply rewarding experiences a person can have.

"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 a capella 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.

Concert Choir

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.

Student

Vocal/General Music

Teaching general music PreK-6th grade is Maria Miller. Maria is a 2002 Alumna of Central Christian and is a graduate of Bluffton University. She is excited to enter back in the program at Central as an educator, working side by side with some phenomenal music educators. Her motto for the year comes from Psalm 89:1 exclaiming "I will sing of the loving kindness of the Lord forever; to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth." She hopes to use music as a tool to inspire all generations, young and old, and challenge her students to find God's personality sprinkled throughout the many forms of music they will be studying.

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.

At least one choir has achieved a Superior rating every year since 1991. Choirs often compete at Class AA which is the most difficult level.