Bluefield University Department of Music

08/04/2026

🎶 Bluefield University Chapel Worship Ensemble — Auditions Next Week!

Looking for a place to use your musical gifts to serve the Lord and encourage our campus in worship? The Bluefield University Chapel Worship Ensemble is now accepting auditions for the Fall semester! This for-credit course is open to all Bluefield University students, regardless of major.

Our ensemble rehearses three times a week throughout the semester and helps lead the musical portion of worship in our weekly Chapel services. It’s a great opportunity to grow spiritually, develop musically, and be part of a team that ministers to our campus community.

👉 Scan the QR code for audition sign‑ups and requirements
📅 Auditions: Aug. 12–13
📍 Harman Chapel, Office 108
📧 Questions? Contact Dr. Yowell — [email protected]

Come share your heart for worship — we’d love to hear you! 💙🙌

04/27/2026

🎶 We’d love to see you tonight at Harman Chapel for the Bluefield University Jazz Band Concert. The music starts at 7:30 p.m., and our students have prepared a fantastic program full of energy, creativity, and heart. Bring a friend and enjoy a night of jazz with our campus community!

04/27/2026

✨ Join us for the Senior Voice Recital of Abigail Bradley!

“Her Voice: Songs Inspired & Composed by Women”

📅 April 30 • ⏰ 7:00 p.m.
📍 Harman Chapel, Bluefield University

Abigail invites us on a musical journey celebrating women’s voices, stories, and perspectives across the centuries—love, longing, reflection, resilience, and triumph. The evening culminates in Jason Howland’s powerful finale, “Astonishing.”

PROGRAM
BAROQUE
• Lascia ch’io pianga — Handel
• Che farò senza Euridice — Gluck

CLASSICAL
• Voi che sapete — Mozart

ROMANTIC
• Gretchen am Spinnrade — Schubert
• Liebst du um Schönheit — Schumann
• Habanera — Bizet

MODERN
• Boy Wanted — Gershwin
• She Used to Be Mine — Sara Bareilles
• Goodnight Moon — Whitacre/Brown

SACRED
• Lord of the Small — Anderson/Forrest
• Over My Head I Hear Music in the Air

FINALE
• Astonishing — Jason Howland

✨ All are welcome. Come celebrate Abbie’s artistry and this milestone moment.

04/24/2026

Congratulations to the Hadestown band members on their opening night performance! The band is a collaboration of former, current and upcoming BU music majors and two BU music faculty members. It was a memorable evening for the band to perform live with such amazing, talented young people. There are still three shows left so grab your tickets now!

04/07/2026

Bluefield Music Alumni Reunion Concert—THIS SATURDAY!

Choir. Concert Band. Alumni. Students.
And guest composer Craig Courtney.

Free admission • Everyone invited
📍 Harman Chapel • 7:30 PM

Come celebrate music, community, and the Bluefield story.

04/07/2026

This is TONIGHT! Don't miss this piano recital!

🎹 Blake Carter’s Senior Piano Recital • April 7 • 7 p.m. • Harman Chapel

The Bluefield University Music Department invites you to join us as senior pianist Blake Carter presents the culminating recital of his years at Bluefield—an evening shaped by artistry, discipline, and a vibrant range of musical styles.

Program Highlights
- Mozart — Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448: a brilliant, joyful dialogue of virtuosity and clarity.
- Scriabin — Vers la flamme: a fiery, atmospheric ascent into sound and color.
- Weber — Perpetuum mobile: nonstop motion and sparkling technical flair.
- Brahms — Intermezzo: introspective lyricism and warm, expressive depth.
- Rameau — Les Cyclopes: bold Baroque energy with rhythmic drive.
- Joseph Lamb — The American Beauty: elegant ragtime charm from one of the greats of the genre.

Blake’s program reflects the unique abilities he has honed during his time at Bluefield—pairing intellectual curiosity with expressive performance.

03/31/2026

🎶 Experience an unforgettable night of music—FREE to the community!

Bluefield University invites you to the Music Alumni Reunion Concert on Saturday, April 11, featuring internationally acclaimed composer Craig Courtney.

Hear powerful choral and instrumental works brought to life by alumni, students, and friends of the program—all gathered for one inspiring evening of artistry and worship.

✨ Free Admission
✨ Open to all
📍 Harman Chapel, Bluefield University
🕢 7:30 PM

Come enjoy a rare opportunity to hear a world‑renowned composer’s music conducted under his own direction. It’s a night you won’t want to miss.

🎵

03/28/2026

🎹 Blake Carter’s Senior Piano Recital • April 7 • 7 p.m. • Harman Chapel

The Bluefield University Music Department invites you to join us as senior pianist Blake Carter presents the culminating recital of his years at Bluefield—an evening shaped by artistry, discipline, and a vibrant range of musical styles.

Program Highlights
- Mozart — Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448: a brilliant, joyful dialogue of virtuosity and clarity.
- Scriabin — Vers la flamme: a fiery, atmospheric ascent into sound and color.
- Weber — Perpetuum mobile: nonstop motion and sparkling technical flair.
- Brahms — Intermezzo: introspective lyricism and warm, expressive depth.
- Rameau — Les Cyclopes: bold Baroque energy with rhythmic drive.
- Joseph Lamb — The American Beauty: elegant ragtime charm from one of the greats of the genre.

Blake’s program reflects the unique abilities he has honed during his time at Bluefield—pairing intellectual curiosity with expressive performance.

03/16/2026

🎶 Bluefield University Music Alumni, Reunion Weekend Is Almost Here! 🎶

We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus April 10–11 for a weekend of music‑making, reconnecting, and celebrating the legacy of BU Music. This year we’re thrilled to host composer Craig Courtney as our guest artist!

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening:

Friday, April 10
• 3–5 PM — Check‑In & Welcome (Harman Chapel Lobby)
• 7:30 PM — Meet & Greet + Interview with Craig Courtney

Saturday, April 11
• 8:00 AM — Coffee with Aubade (Harman Chapel Lobby)
• 8:30 AM — Worship & Devotional
• 9:00 AM — Choir & Band Rehearsals
• 10:45 AM — Workshop #1: Art in the Making, The Compositional Process
• 12:00 PM — Lunch on your own
• 1:30 PM — Combined Music Rehearsal
• 2:30 PM — Workshop #2: Ache in the Musician, The Melancholy Within
• 5:00 PM — Celebration Dinner
• 7:30 PM — Alumni Reunion Concert

Whether you sang in Masterworks, played in Concert Band, marched, or simply loved being part of BU Music—this weekend is for you. Come reconnect, make music again, and be part of something meaningful.

✨ Registration is still open; we’d love to see you there! ✨

03/03/2026

🎙️ Big News in Lansdell Hall! 🎥

Bluefield University is building a brand‑new multimedia audio/video recording studio—and the possibilities are huge!

Located in Lansdell Hall, this new space will support broadcasting, podcasting, video production, and digital media creation. While it’s being developed for Communications, it opens the door for exciting cross‑department collaboration, including:

- 🎧 Recording opportunities for student musicians, worship leaders, and ensembles;
- 🎤 Podcast and interview spaces for music education, alumni stories, and student projects;
- 🎬 High‑quality video production for recitals, promotional content, and digital performances; and
- 🤝 Partnerships with Communications students in audio engineering, editing, and media creation.

The studio could be ready as early as this spring, with full availability no later than Fall 2026.

We’re excited to see how this new creative space will enrich the work of our music students and expand what’s possible at BU!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KCb4bzhzq/

An interview with Professor Allen Roberts about the new multimedia studio coming to Lansdell Hall, covering his vision for the space, the studio’s purpose, and when it may be ready.