Greetings from the IWU Division of Music! I joined the music faculty in the fall of 2001 and over that time I have had the pleasure of seeing God’s blessings through growth in our division.
- We have grown from 63 music majors to a high of 181 majors.
- We have grown from four degree programs to eight degree programs, and we are getting ready to add a ninth. In 2001, we had Church Music, Music Education, Applied Music and Composition. Since then we have added:
- a Bachelor of Music in Performance and Composition
- the Music Therapy degree that began in 2014 and is already our largest major
- the Worship Arts major (double major of Church Music and Music Ministry)
- a Songwriting degree with the support of Bill and Gloria Gaither
- The IWU Chorale, the Wind Ensemble, the Women’s Chorus, the Orchestra and the IWU Honors Brass Quintet have represented IWU through performances at Indiana Music Educators Conferences in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
- Faculty has grown from nine full-time faculty to our current 16 faculty members. We also have 11 adjunct faculty.
- The last two freshman classes of music majors have been our largest (60 each).
- The Division of Music has developed a relationship with the Academies of Music in Choma and Livingstone, Zambia.
- We have IWU graduates receiving masters and doctorates and performing in Chicago, San Francisco, Paris, military bands, etc.
As a member of this division (and now the leader), it is easy to take pride in what has happened over the years, but we must reflect on what God is doing and continues to do. What you see above are honors, accolades and numbers. What we must dwell on is how God has richly blessed our graduates and give honor to Him for the impact that our graduates have had on His Kingdom.
- Our music education graduates are employed not only in the United States but also across the globe teaching music in public and private schools, showing the love of Christ in amazing ways.
- Our first graduates from our Music Therapy Program are getting positions and are making an impact.
- Our practicum students are requested over other university programs because of the character they display when they are “on the job”.
- Church musicians graduating from IWU are making a mark within the church throughout the United States, ushering congregants to worship at the feet of Jesus.
- Three students that have gone to Zambia to work at the Music Academies have ended up making this beautiful country their long-term home, working as missionaries.
- Our music graduates are changing “their world” in schools, opera houses, the military, hospitals, clinics, recording studios and churches. This gives me hope and inspires me to come to work every day.
What is next? We have a new degree in the works that we will be announcing in the coming months and someday soon, we hope to see a very large group in brightly colored uniforms giving pre-game and halftime performances for our new football team. Stay tuned as our faculty continues to seek God’s will as we develop new programs and strengthen our current offerings. The future is bright for the IWU Division of Music!
Michael Flanagin
Chair, IWU Division of Music