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Arts & Humanities

Undergraduate Programs

Unleash your creativity and find meaning in art, history, and life as you become a more confident performer and critical thinker.

We Prepare You

Our mission is 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.

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.

Get Started at MNU

Students on stage performing a play
Theatre
Acting, producing, directing, or writing plays
Hands raised in worship
Music-Worship Arts
Lead God's people in worship musically, theologically, spiritually, practically, & technically
Orchestra playing on stage
Music
Study elements of pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and texture
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. It meets MWF afternoons and performs for 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

MNU Arts & Humanities department offers two scholarship opportunities: Music and Theatre. Music major scholarships and/or music ensemble participation scholarships are available to exceptional students who complete the Music Scholarship Application Form and perform a successful audition. Theatre major scholarships are available to exceptional students who complete the Theatre Scholarship Application Form and perform a successful audition.

The audition experience is an opportunity for prospective students to demonstrate their level of musical/theatrical skill in the prospective student’s major (and possibly secondary) performance area, and meet the faculty.

Audition Dates

All upcoming auditions are in person on the campus of MidAmerica. If you are unable to come to campus, please get in touch with us at performingarts@piqa.c178.net.

Audition dates for 2024-2025 are as follows:

  • Friday, October 11, 2024
  • Wednesday, November 13, 2024
  • Monday, January 20, 2025 (No Theatre Auditions on this Day)
  • Friday, February 7, 2025
  • Saturday, February 22, 2025
  • Friday, March 14, 2025
  • Friday, April 25, 2025 (This date is for MAX and Pioneer Day Participants Only)
  • Friday, May 9, 2025
Music Audition Requirements
  • Fill out Music Scholarship Application Form.
  • Prepare a solo piece which best demonstrates skills in the primary performance area. Vocal selections should be memorized, and there is no requirement to sing in a foreign language.
  • At the scheduled audition, demonstrate fundamental musical knowledge through a variety of diagnostic exercises, including sight-reading.
  • Optional: Prepare one solo piece in a secondary performance area.
  • Percussionists perform on at least two instruments: snare drum, timpani, keyboard percussion, drumset.
Additional Requirements for Music Majors​
  • Perform a second solo piece in a style contrasting to the first.
  • If not primarily a pianist, demonstrate proficiency, if any, at the piano.
  • If not primarily a vocalist, sing a song of your choice.
Theatre Audition Requirements​​
  • Fill out Theatre Scholarship Application Form
  • ​Prepare two contrasting 90 second monologues OR a 32-bar musical theatre piece and one 90 second monologue
  • At the scheduled audition, be prepared to share your theatre experience and cold read from several scripts

The Community Arts Academy

Serving our community through musical training and experiences, helping participants develop musical skills and a love of music, while providing MNU students studying the pedagogy of music an opportunity to teach and gain real-life experience is our mission. Join us!



Join In Supporting The Arts

Friends of the Performing Arts exists to promote, support and encourage students in MNU Performing Arts programs—Music (instrumental, vocal, worship) and Theatre. Choose from Single or Couple Memberships.



Spark MNU Arts Camp

The Spark of an idea can change the world, especially when expressed through the stage and screen. That’s what Spark MNU Arts Camp is all about: helping students find their voice and expertly expressing it through professional-level technology and hands-on workshops.

MidAmerica Jazz Clinic

This event is a performance opportunity for any middle school or high school jazz ensemble or jazz combo. The focus will be on an education-based performance and clinic, promoting a positive experience and developing musicianship in the jazz idiom.

Sousa Band Audition Clinic

This event is a performance opportunity for any middle school or high school jazz ensemble or jazz combo. The focus will be on an education-based performance and clinic, promoting a positive experience and developing musicianship in the jazz idiom.

KMEA Audition Clinic

This event is a performance opportunity for any middle school or high school jazz ensemble or jazz combo. The focus will be on an education-based performance and clinic, promoting a positive experience and developing musicianship in the jazz idiom.

Events

First Act - Godspell
Bell Cultural Events Center - Mabee Performing Arts Hall
Feb 6, 2025 @ 7:00pm
to Feb 9, 2025 @ 4:00pm
Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz; and it took the world by storm. A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life.
First Act - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Bell Cultural Events Center - Mabee Performing Arts Hall
Feb 13, 2025 @ 7:00pm
to Feb 16, 2025 @ 4:00pm
Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
MNU Theatre | Our Town
Bell Cultural Events Center - Sunderland Black Box Theatre
Feb 20, 2025 @ 7:30pm
to Feb 23, 2025 @ 9:30pm
Our Town by Thornton Wilder is a classic among plays. Presented in three acts, we see the Webbs and the Gibbs over the years in their small town of Grovers Corner. Filled with laughter and tears, Our Town will make you appreciate all of life’s little moments.

The Pioneer Pledge

Peace of Mind for Your Future

Concern about paying back student loans is common. That’s why we provide the Pioneer Pledge, our loan repayment assistance program. If your income is modest after graduation, Pioneer Pledge assists with your educational loan repayments. Learn more on our financial aid pages.

Navigate Your Artistic Journey

Find the arts & humanities program that’s right for you. Talk to your MNU team to customize your journey.

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