A Day of Music with VOCES8 at Valparaiso University

On February 25, the Department of Music created a hands-on music education experience for 180 music students from 12 different local high schools as well as for Valpo music students. Classes and sessions were built around a performance by VOCES8, an internationally renowned a cappella group.

A group of Valpo students sing during the VOCES8 event in the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University.

Music Professor Marin Jacobson, DMA, wanted to use this performance by VOCES8 to create educational workshops that would make this a musically enriching day for both visiting high school students and Valpo students.

Among the high school students who came, some brought their entire choir (i.e. the 60-student honors choir from Munster High School), others came as individuals who had shown an interest in Valpo’s music programs. Several Valpo alumni accompanied students from the schools where they teach. Participating schools included Valparaiso High School, Concordia Lutheran High School, Washington Township Middle/High School, and some even drove three hours from Batesville High School.

The day began with a workshop for students led by VOCES8. Since it is part of their mission to educate wherever they perform, this group shined as excellent, engaging teachers. In addition to the visiting students, individual Valpo music students attended this workshop as well as Professor of Music and Director of Music Education Jeff Doebler’s, Ph.D., entire music education class.

After lunch at Founders Table, the visiting students had a presentation by the admission team, followed by campus tours. Then they could choose one of several 75-minute exploratory sessions led by music faculty and others, including:

Psychology of Music | Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (Music Therapy) Jordy Novak, M.M.
A rehearsal of Valpo’s Jazz Band | led by Adjunct Instructor of Music (Jazz) Bob Lark, MME
Music Composition | Assistant Professor of Music Diego Piedra, DMA
Video Game Music | Frederick A. and Mazie N. Reddel (Associate) Professor of Music Joe Bognar ’94, DMA
Yoga for singers | Adjunct Instructor of Music (Voice, Vocal Jazz) Anne Bice, M.M.
Video Games and Story | Professor of English Martin Buinicki, Ph.D.
VOCES8 rehearsal
Engineering | Dean Doug Tougaw ’05 MBA, Ph.D., P.E.
Honors at Valpo | Associate Professor of Theology Mandy Brobst-Renaud, M.Div., Ph.D.
Radio and TV | Professor of Communication Paul Oren, M.S., and Professor Richard Wolff, Ph.D.

A group of Valpo students warm up their vocals during the VOCES8 event in the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University.

Later in the afternoon, students had the opportunity to learn about and explore one of several learning spaces around campus. These 45-minute demo sessions included:

Brauer Museum of Art Tour | Dean of the Library Trisha Mileham, M.A. and Associate Professor Aimee Tomasek, MFA
Engineering Tour | Dean Doug Tougaw ’05 MBA, Ph.D., P.E.
Tour of the Sirko Makerspace | Assistant Professor Laura Krepp, MFA
Valpo’s Radio Station | Professor of Communication Paul Oren, M.S., and Professor Richard Wolff, Ph.D.
Electronic Music (rotating among three station set up in the Center for the Arts lobby) | Frederick A. and Mazie N. Reddel (Associate) Professor of Music Joe Bognar ’94, DMA
Open gaming time at the new Center for Games & Interactive Entertainment | Professor of English Martin Buinicki, Ph.D.

Throughout the day, Valpo music students served as guides for other and attended meals with the visiting students. After dinner, it was performance time. High school choir members who had rehearsed a song with VOCES8 then performed it with them as part of the concert. The University Chorale also performed one piece with VOCES8. Professor Jacobson reported that the concert was a rare opportunity for our own music students and the local high school students to experience vocal music of the highest quality.

The music department received many rave reviews of this day of musical education from the schools and individuals who participated. Valpo alum Luke McGinnis ’20, who brought his honors choir to the event, reflects, “You created an incredible experience for every student there. While I am still very early in my career, I can tell you that out of the honor choirs/festivals that I’ve brought students to across the Midwest, this was by far the most impactful, moving, and musically fulfilling day my students have had off-campus. Thank you for allowing me to bring so many students.”

A group of Valpo students smile during the VOCES8 event in the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University.

Luke also reported that four of his students applied to Valpo for fall 2025 as a result of attending this event!

The day was such a success that the music department expects to follow this same model with other visiting musical performers. If your department would like to consider holding a similar educational event around a visiting performance or lecture, Professor Jacobson would be happy to talk with you about the logistics.

Thanks for this day of musical education is due to the Bach Institute that sponsored both the VOCES8 concert and the activities for visiting high school students and the University Chorale.