2025 Great Lakes Music Festival: “Heaven and Nature Sing”
Over 200 high schoolers visited Maranatha’s campus earlier this month for our 2025 Great Lakes Music Festival (GLMF): “Heaven and Nature Sing.” Students attending GLMF participate in a musical track of their choosing: band, string orchestra, men’s chorus, ladies’ chorus, or piano, and join an all-festival chorus led by music department chair, Dr. Doug Bachorik. The festival serves as a musical experience for high schoolers and a preview of Maranatha’s music opportunities and campus life.
In addition to the numerous attendees from Wisconsin and neighboring Midwest states, students come from states as far as California, Vermont, and Pennsylvania! Grace, a high school participant in the band track, reflected on how amazing it is to have students from all over the US come together and make beautiful music that ultimately brings glory to God.
Music Experience
GLMF provides a great introduction to the MBU music culture and faculty. Under the direction of MBU faculty, Maranatha university musicians rehearse with the high schoolers for most of Friday and Saturday morning in preparation for the Saturday afternoon concert. School sponsors and parents also attend and participate in the festival. Sarah Jones, a music teacher from Rock County Christian School, recognizes the value of students learning from different instructors and performing in larger groups. She commented, “Our school choir is small, so being in a choir like this boosts their confidence.” Mrs. Jones also appreciated the spiritual focus of music as “Dr. Bachorik [pointed] out the spiritual aspects of things while they’re singing… giving them a nugget of truth they can meditate on.”
Campus Experience
During the festival, high school students are encouraged to stay in the dorms during their visit. They eat in the Dining Complex and rub shoulders with college students and faculty. For many attendees, this is a highlight of their visit. Jonathan, a participating high school student, shared, “The MBU faculty and students were extremely welcoming and accommodating! Staying on campus in the dorms gave me a great feel for life from a student’s perspective at MBU.”
Top 10 Benefits of Attending the Great Lakes Music Festival
There are many reasons for high schoolers to attend GLMF. Here are a few benefits…
- Grow in your musical ability
- Experience the thrill of making music in large groups
- Learn under the direction of music professors
- Perform in a choir with over 200 members
- Learn challenging repertoire
- Make music alongside university musicians
- Experience MBU campus life and culture
- Meet MBU music faculty and staff
- Create new friendships
- Discover how MBU could be the right fit for you
Annabelle, a student in the piano track, shared, “The faculty and many students made me and my friends feel very welcome this weekend… I heard a few promos for Maranatha this week, but I really think that being in the school environment speaks for itself.”
Watch the full concert below:
Interested in registering for next year? Great Lakes Music Festival 2026 will occur on January 30-31, with the theme “Flora and Fauna.” Registration will open this November at mbu.edu/glmf.