Friends University Choirs

08/15/2026

We mourn the loss of Marilyn Killian. Mrs. K and Barbara Bowers were the founders of WCCC and she served as an adjunct professor here at Friends in music education. A musical force here in Wichita whose influence lives on!

A Life Shaped by Music, Education, and Service Marilyn Ruth (Earls) Killian, age 90, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at her Larksfield Place home in Wichita, Kansas, with her son, Steve, by h

08/13/2026

📣FACULTY NEWS📣

Huge congratulations to our very own Dr. Knight for winning the Bill Allan Award at the Friends University Faculty Retreat! This award celebrates a faculty member who truly transform students’ lives, on campus and beyond. Thank you for everything you do for our community, Dr. Knight. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! Check out that mug!

08/06/2026

Congratulations to this Singing Quaker alum, Brian Stranghoner! ❤️🎼

Celebrating Excellence in Choral Leadership for an outstanding choral professional who has demonstrated:

🎶 Exceptional achievement in choral music education, performance, and scholarship
🌻 A lasting commitment to advancing choral music throughout Kansas
🤝 Positive, supportive, and inspiring collaboration with colleagues
⭐ Active leadership, service, and participation within KCDA
🏆 At least 20 years of dedicated service to the choral music profession

2026 Harry Robert-Wilson Award Winner: Brian Stranghoner

Brian is a graduate of Friends University and Wichita State University, where he performed with the Singing Quakers and WSU Madrigals. He recently retired after 34 years in vocal music education, including four years as Assistant Professor of Music Education and Private Voice at Tabor College.

His ensembles consistently earned top festival ratings, with three selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop. Brian has also performed professionally throughout the region and at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

He and his wife, Maggie, have four children, five grandchildren, and a boxer named Louie.

08/01/2026

The Singing Quakers—both current members and alumni—were spotted yesterday singing the national anthem for the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series here in Wichita, Kansas! ❤️🎼⚾️

07/23/2026

‼️AUDITION CALL‼️

Attention, Falcons! If you’d like to be involved in our musicals, opera, and play, sign up for auditions! ALL are welcomed to audition!

Information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyU-glFSw9eYd5YAYz4K2DnkfZ8A2nDuMnQnve8IHkbUjfVg/viewform

Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B48A5AB2AA4F85-64851861-2627 #/

07/22/2026

📣FACULTY NEWS📣

Dr. Rayvon T. J. Moore is headed to Indiana to serve as the conductor of the Convention Chorus of Mu Phi Epsilon.

Not familiar with Mu Phi? Mu Phi Epsilon is a “co-educational international professional music fraternity. It is an organization dedicated to the advancement of music through the promotion of musicianship, scholarship, therapy, and education, with a strong emphasis on service.”

Fun fact: Doc became a member as a graduate student at Cal State Fullerton (Beta Alpha Chapter). During that time he was awarded the John and Mary Virginia Foncannon Scholarship to further his conducting studies.

07/09/2026

Congratulations to David Orozco and Abigail Kreis for competing at the National Association of Teachers of Singing-National Student Auditions in San Antonio this past weekend. Abigail was a semi-finalist being one of the top 15 singers in the nation in her category! David was a national finalist and brought home 3rd place in his category!

05/10/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 🎓✨
A special shoutout to all of our choral students — you did it! ❤️🎶 So proud of everything you’ve accomplished and all the music you’ve shared along the way.

04/28/2026

Looking forward to celebrating all of our graduating choral artists! 🎓❤️🎶

04/16/2026

Join us NEXT WEEK for this year’s Symphony Of Spring! Tickets are in our bio.