The Grace College Department of Visual and Performing Arts has a steady lineup of upcoming free and open-to-the-public events, including a student recital on Saturday, May 2, 4-6 p.m. at Winona Lake Grace Church. The 2026 Festival of Music to follow includes the annual patriotic concert on Friday, July 3, the Village at Winona Jazz Fest on Saturday, July 25 and weekly selections from a variety of musicians called “Wednesdays Live in the Village” at the gazebo in the Village at Winona.
“The student recital is always a highlight of the year,” said Dr. Wally Brath, professor of worship arts. “It’s a culmination of the hard work and dedication our worship arts students put in all year, and it gives them a platform to share a wide variety of music – from voice, to piano, to guitar, strings, and percussion. Having the support of our greater community is so meaningful at events such as this.”
Avery Ogden, a first-year music production major at Grace from Waukesha, Wisconsin, will be performing two classical piano pieces at the recital: Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor and Ginastera’s Danza de la Moza Donosa.
“I enjoy playing the Prelude because it is well known and impressive to play, but I think that the piece by Ginastera is more meaningful to me,” said Ogden.
Despite being only a freshman, Ogden has had several opportunities to begin developing her skills in worship arts, including serving in Grace’s chapel band. “Being part of the chapel band helps you develop musically, and teaches you to work as a team with others in a band dynamic,” she said. “You also get to be part of a group that is leading others to the feet of Christ day after day, and that is a wonderfully humbling experience.”
After the student recital, the 2026 Festival of Music will begin on Wednesday, May 20, with the first installment of Wednesdays Live in the Village. These performances, which include appearances from the Symphony of the Lakes string quartet, the Wally Brath jazz quartet and other local musicians, will take place from 7-9 p.m. in the gazebo near Port Winona and Social Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop.
The Symphony of the Lakes patriotic concert will take place on Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m. at the Miller Sunset Pavilion. This year’s concert features Dr. Wally Brath playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue piano concerto with the symphony.
Finally, the Village at Winona Jazz Fest is set for Saturday, July 25, 11:30-3:30 p.m., at the Rodeheaver Auditorium and features the Truth in Jazz Big Band, Wally Brath & Scott Allen quartet and Grammy Award-winning drummer Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band.
For more information, see www.grace.edu/about/community/musicfestival/.
