Gazette News Report

CEDARVILLE — He helped shape Cedarville’s music department into a nationally acclaimed and Sunday the department paid tribute to Mike DiCuirci.

DiCuirci founded the jazz and symphonic bands and directed them — along with 150 alumni — for the final time of his 37-year career during Sunday’s event.

“Mike DiCuirci has greatly shaped the musical climate at Cedarville,” said Beth Porter, M.A., chair of the department of music and worship. “His excellent teaching has equipped countless students to teach with meaning, purpose and conviction, and his testimony and transformed life have been used by God for the glory of His kingdom.”

DiCuirci has served as the coordinator for the university’s annual community Christmas concert and Veterans Day chapel, two of the biggest musical celebrations in the area, and oversaw chapel music from 1996-2010.

n addition to the alumni symphonic and alumni jazz bands, the concert featured a performance from Brass and Ivory, a duo that features DiCuirci on low brass and Charles Clevenger, senior professor of music, on piano.

The Four by Grace Quartet will also perform during the concert. The quartet includes University employees Clevenger, Robert Reid, Pat Estepp, and Jeff Beste.