鈥淲e are so encouraged to have Mrs. Franks join our fine arts department,鈥� said HLGU President Dr. Anthony Allen. 鈥淪he is finishing her doctoral work, and her extensive experience and technical expertise will be an asset to our institution.鈥�

Mrs. Franks has most recently been a graduate assistant at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she is completing her PhD in Music Education. She has also completed all of her doctoral work and is in the final stages of her dissertation. She is expected to graduate in July.

Mrs. Franks brings experience in K-12 music education, secondary choral programs, director of choral ensembles, and college classes. She conducted the University Singers, an elite choral ensemble at the University of Missouri. Her graduate coursework included vocal pedagogy, choral methods, and conducting. She is a member of the College Music Society, the National Association of Music Educators, and the Missouri Music Educators Association.

鈥淗LGU is dedicated to preparing future music educators, and Mrs. Franks has much experience in this field,鈥� said HLGU vice president for academic administration Dr. Larinee Dennis. 鈥淚 am confident she will provide rigorous instructions an develop excellent musicianship in our students. She is a very talented vocalist and pianist and we look forward to her joining the music department.鈥�

Prior to her time at the University of Missouri, Mrs. Franks was an Assistant Professor of Music at college of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri.

She is married to Neil Franks, who is the president of the Missouri Baptist Foundation, and has two sons, Nathan and Travis.

The concert will feature The HLGU Concert Choir, under the direction of Jane Griffen, and the HLGU Orchestra and Jazz Combo, both under the direction of Jason T. Laczkoski.

Songs to be performed include, 鈥淥f the Father鈥檚 Love Begotten,鈥� 鈥淰eni, Veni Emmanuel, Ero Cras,鈥� 鈥淪ee Amid the Winter鈥檚 Snow,鈥� 鈥淕lory to God in the Highest,鈥� 鈥淐hill Out Gents,鈥� 鈥淎ngled Angels鈥�, a few tunes from holiday movie favorites, and 鈥淐hristmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24鈥� in the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and tickets must be reserved in advance. For more information about the concert, or to reserve a ticket, contact Jane Griffen at 573.629.3165.

by Alex Shipley, student worker

鈥淢rs. Griffin has served HLGU for 33 years,鈥� says HLGU President Dr. Anthony Allen. 鈥淗er contribution has been monumental for our music program. She is greatly loved by students, faculty, and staff. We appreciate her continued help on a part-time basis!鈥�

Gifted by the Lord with a beautiful soprano voice, she has put that gift to good use both in her personal performances and in mentoring others, encouraging and challenging them to reach their full potential. She has served both school and community well.

Mrs. Griffen holds a bachelor of music degree with teaching certification from Culver-Stockton College and a Master鈥檚 in Education from the University of Missouri 鈥� Columbia. Mrs. Griffen has been teaching at 番茄社区 University since 1987.

Her responsibilities have included chairmanship duties, teaching applied voice and piano, advanced choral conducting, choral techniques, choral and instrumental literature, and music pedagogy.

In addition to directing HLGU鈥檚 Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and string orchestras, Mrs. Griffen has also been the director of the Hannibal Children鈥檚 Choir for four years and vocal director and vocal mentor for many of the University鈥檚 theatre productions and musicals. She has also directed several of HLGU鈥檚 performance groups including Praise Song and Covenant.

Mrs. Griffen and students performed with the Muddy River Opera Co. in Aaron Copland鈥檚 The Tenderland and Poulanc鈥檚 Dialogues of the Carmelites. She has enjoyed adjudicating for high school district vocal competitions both in Missouri and Illinois, being a guest conductor for all-conference choirs in the state of Missouri and Illinois, and for ten years directing the Mark Twain Chorale.

Mrs. Griffen enjoys horses, dogs, walking, taking in nature, riding bikes, and watching her children and grandchildren grow into wonderful individuals.

鈥淛ane Griffen influenced me so much during my college career,鈥� says HLGU alum Kailea Griffen. 鈥淗er passion for teaching music fueled mine even when I felt burnt out after a stressful jury or a music theory test. She is someone that I trust with issues inside and outside of the classroom. Her door was always open for anyone who needed help or just someone to talk to! She made my time at HLGU so memorable whether it was making the most beautiful music in chamber choir or playing pranks on the other music professors! Her instruction helped me become the choir teacher I am today and I am so thankful to have had the honor to be her student!鈥�

Faculty performing in the recital include John Francis on cornet and trumpet, T. C. Pierceall on guitar, John Ferguson on Violin, Ben Kendall singing tenor, and Janet Ferguson accompanying.

For more information on the event, contact Jane Griffin, music department chair, at 573-629-3165, or via email at jgriffen@hlg.edu.