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Arts & Humanities

The Arts and Humanities Department offers intellectually rigorous programs designed to foster your creativity and promote your aesthetic literacy. Our faculty are strong pedagogues with stellar educational backgrounds, committed to bringing out the best in you.

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Department Overview

Arts & Humanities at MNU includes music, theatre and English areas of study. Professors provide opportunities for students to learn, grow and experience human culture and self expression in coursework, experiential activities and performance.  

Discover Performance Opportunities on the links below. Learn about Academic Programs on the left navigation links.

Dr. Christopher M. Smith, Director

SYMPHONIC CHOIR
Symphonic Choir is an auditioned large ensemble meeting Monday evenings. Symphonic Choir presents large choral masterworks performed with orchestra. Recent works include choruses from Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Regina Coeli, and Schubert’s Mass in G.

HERITAGE CHOIR
Heritage Choir is an auditioned ensemble representing a wide range of majors. Heritage Choir meets MWF afternoons and performs on most choral concerts. Repertoire includes historic masterworks, contemporary music, multicultural music, Broadway shows, vocal jazz, and gospel. Heritage Choir sang in New York’s Carnegie Hall in March 2011 and in the National Capitol Choral Festival in Washington, DC in May 2013. Members participate in Symphonic Choir.

APOSTELLŌ WORSHIP
Apostellō Worship is a small, auditioned ensemble of drums, bass, keyboard, guitar, and vocals, producing music in popular/modern styles for Christian worship, providing musical worship leadership in Chapel worship services on campus and in church gatherings in the community.

Facebook: MNUChoirs Instagram: mnuchoirs

CONCERT BAND
Concert Band is a large ensemble of wind and percussion instruments that meets MWF afternoons. This ensemble performs a mixture of standard band repertoire and new repertoire by current composers. Periodically, chamber wind music is also performed using select members from this group. Directed by Dr. Luke D. Johnson

JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Jazz Ensemble is comprised of standard big band instrumentation. This ensemble performs a wide variety of styles, including Swing, Latin, Funk, Rock, Fusion, and Bebop. Ensemble members incorporate improvisation and appropriate idiomatic styles into the performance practice of this group. Directed by Professor Nathan Nall and Dr. Luke D. Johnson

PEP BAND
The MNU Pep Band plays at home Football and Basketball games in support of our athletic teams. Directed by Dr. Luke D. Johnson

DRUMLINE
The Drumline performs with the MNU Pep Band at home Football and Basketball games. Additionally, they support other athletic teams when possible and perform at functions across campus and in the community. Directed by Brandon Graves

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Chamber Orchestra includes Violin, Viola, Cello, and String Bass and performs a variety of works from classical and baroque, to modern selections. Directed by Katina Bilberry

OLATHE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
MNU partners with our local community orchestra to provide students an opportunity to play in a classical full orchestra. This ensemble is open to all string players. Wind and Percussion players may have opportunities to participate when instrumentation needs arise with the approval of the director. Contact Dr. Luke D. Johnson for information.

Facebook: MNUBands Instagram: mnubands

Heather Tinker, MA, director

THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
The Theatre Department offers at least four productions each year including musicals and plays performing in the 500-seat Mabee Auditorium or the intimate Sunderland Black Box Theatre. Our improv teams perform monthly and we host several campus-wide events each year, such as Live Clue and a Swing Dance fundraiser. MNU Theatre is a proud participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival every year where students have the opportunity to compete for scholarships and audition for professional theatres. Visit our social media for rehearsal and show photos of recent productions!

Facebook: MNU Theatre; Instagram: mnutheatre

mission statement

To develop in students a well-rounded understanding of God and humanity through language, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts; preparing students to enrich the lives of all persons they influence through the context of a liberal arts education.

MNU Chamber Orchestra

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