Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 6

news WHEATON Nelson Leads Wheaton Ensembles in Haydn’s The Creation John Nelson ’63 conducted the combined ensembles of the Conservatory of Music in a performance of The Creation by Joseph Haydn on November 15, 2014. The Artist Series concert featured the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra as well as the Concert Choir, Women's Chorale, Men’s Glee Club, and an impressive lineup of professional soloists. The Creation unites the words of Milton’s Paradise Lost with the Genesis creation story. Dr. Michael Wilder, dean of the Conservatory of Music, says the professional performance offered students and audience members “a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a deeply spiritual and aesthetically rich composition.” A week of special events preceded the Saturday concert, beginning with a chapel message from Old Testament professor Dr. John Walton M.A.’75. Writer and philanthropist Roberta Ahmanson spoke in Friday chapel on “Dreams Become Reality” and “The Heavens Are Telling.” She later joined a panel on art, architecture, and worship with Old Testament professor Dr. Daniel Block and art instructor Leah Samuelson ’02. English professor Dr. Jeffrey Galbraith and music history professor Dr. Jonathan Saylor ’81 presented on “Celebrating the Creation.” Maestro Nelson participated in sessions before and after the concert. The internationally acclaimed conductor is known for his interpretation of the Romantic repertoire. He has appeared with many of the world’s most celebrated orchestras, including the London Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic. CREDIT: David Zaugh CAMPUS NEWS Wheaton's Accredited Status Continued Wheaton received notification September 30 that the Higher Learning Commission has continued its accredited status. As part of the reaffirmation process, the College hosted a review team from the Commission in April 2014. In their formal report, the review team affirmed the College for many reasons, including the “simultaneous commitment to open intellectual inquiry while maintaining commitment to Christian mission,” as well as progress and demonstrated commitment to increasing ethnic and international diversity, and a strong culture of student care and sense of community. “This favorable reaccreditation report independently confirms that we are meeting our commitment to educate the whole person in ways that build the church and benefit society worldwide,” says President Philip G. Ryken ’88. 4    W I N T ER   2015 Wheaton College has been accredited by the Commission since 1916. The next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled to occur in 2023-24. Publishers), and/or a Conservatory of Music CD along with one from Getty Music: Live at The Gospel Coalition. Thanks from our missionaries abroad . . . Learn more about the value of a Wheaton Japan: “We feel so blessed to benefit from education at wheaton.edu/value. this! It makes us feel connected to back home, and is a great encouragement.” The 2014 International Chile: “We have really appreciated receivMissionary Book Mailing ing the books these past 28 years that we This Christmas, over 500 alumni families have been serving here in Chile. Thank serving as missionaries in more than 70 you so much for this kind and very valued countries will receive gifts from Wheaton’s gesture of support and encouragement.” annual International Missionary Book France: “In the autumn, I start looking Mailing. Thanks to publishers who donate for the package. When it comes, I hide books and the College’s Board of Trustees it in the closet, and then in December, I which gives funds for shipping costs, this place it lovingly under the Christmas tree! year’s package includes an assortment of the following: The Moody Handbook of Theology It is a very important part of Christmas for me. I am an avid reader, and it is so nice by Paul Enns (Moody Publishers), Growing Down by Sarah Horner Wetzel (Deep River to get books in English. I share the books with fellow Anglophone missionaries here. Books), Honestly: Really Living What We Thank you to all those who fund, come Say We Believe by Johnnie Moore (Harvest up with book lists, and donate money and H