Spring Arbor University Music Dept.

Spring Arbor University Music Dept. Welcome to our page! 📍 Spring Arbor, MI
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♬ Music Department of ♬

Happy Retirement, Dr. Runyon! 🌿💙✨Here's a little bit about Dr. Runyon's journey🌿Dr. M. Renée Runyon entered Spring Arbor...
05/28/2026

Happy Retirement, Dr. Runyon! 🌿💙✨

Here's a little bit about Dr. Runyon's journey🌿
Dr. M. Renée Runyon entered Spring Arbor College in fall 1976 with sophomore standing and completed a 60-hour piano performance degree by January 1980. She originally majored in math (since she wanted to teach high school math) but switched to music. After working as Humanities Division Secretary, she moved to Indiana in 1980, became a mother and widow in 1982, and returned to Spring Arbor in 1983 as a newlywed with a toddler. She began accompanying the choir in 1984, took over piano teaching in 1988 after the adjunct teacher's accident, and taught continuously until 2025/26. She earned her Master of Education from SAU in 2002, was named the first SAU Adjunct Teacher of the Year in 2008, and earned a Doctor of Worship Studies in 2018.

Outside SAU, she has accompanied the Jackson Chorale since 1998, led worship at Vista Grande Villa since 2018, and served in piano and worship roles at Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church since 1978. In addition to frequent collaborations with vocal and instrumental soloists and adjudicating piano festivals, she enjoys providing dinner music for events and has repeatedly been the featured soloist for the Elderhostel/Road Scholar music week at Michindoh Camp and Conference Center.

Married to Dr. Dan Runyon, they have co-authored a book on worship (40 Days of Worship: Rehearsing the Story of God), teamed together as leaders of Engaged Encounter and Marriage Encounter weekends, and are the parents of three adult sons and grandparents to three granddaughters.

We are so thankful for Dr. Runyon's incredible journey with us! We are wishing her nothing but the best in her retirement.💙✨🌿
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America The Beautiful: Spring Instrumental Concert Recap (Pt. II) 🗽✨💙Another huge thank you to everyone who made this ev...
05/25/2026

America The Beautiful: Spring Instrumental Concert Recap (Pt. II) 🗽✨💙

Another huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible!

Stay tuned for some clips from this performance 💙
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When You Believe: Spring Choral Concert Recap (Pt. II) 💚✨🌿We had such a great time at our Spring Choral Concert sharing ...
05/23/2026

When You Believe: Spring Choral Concert Recap (Pt. II) 💚✨🌿

We had such a great time at our Spring Choral Concert sharing our hearts for worship.

Another huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible!
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• STUDENT SPOTLIGHT •Meet Aimee Corwin, a senior music education major here at Spring Arbor University.🌿🎶Aimee is from D...
05/22/2026

• STUDENT SPOTLIGHT •

Meet Aimee Corwin, a senior music education major here at Spring Arbor University.🌿🎶

Aimee is from Dowagiac, Michigan, and they have a passion for sharing their love of music with others. As an acclaimed saxophonist, they also enjoy singing and playing various instruments. Their dream is to become a music teacher, inspiring students of all ages to explore the joy of music.
Aimee is a student of Dr. Nathan Salazar (saxophone) and Professor Annabelle Pollard (soprano).
Ultimately, they hope to glorify God using their musical gifts and to make a positive impact on those around them.

We are so proud of Aimee, and we look forward to seeing where their talent leads them next 💛
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main character energy fr ✨_______________Millenial vs Gen Z trend time! _______________
05/20/2026

main character energy fr ✨

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Millenial vs Gen Z trend time!
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When You Believe: Spring Choral Concert Recap (Pt. I) 💚✨🌿We had a blast at our spring choral concert. This concert featu...
05/18/2026

When You Believe: Spring Choral Concert Recap (Pt. I) 💚✨🌿

We had a blast at our spring choral concert. This concert featured our Rooted Vocal Ensemble and Concert Choir, with pieces by Treble Choir and Bass Choir.
This evening was dedicated to honoring Dr. Runyon, our collaborative pianist/accompanist for 42 years! It was also a time to honor our seniors and, above all, share our hearts for worship.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible, including everyone behind the scenes and our audience! Thank you all for coming out and supporting SAU Music.

Stay tuned for more 💚
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▪︎ FACULTY SPOTLIGHT ▪︎Meet Professor Annabelle Pollard, our director of choirs and professor of voice! 💜✨Professor Poll...
05/13/2026

▪︎ FACULTY SPOTLIGHT ▪︎

Meet Professor Annabelle Pollard, our director of choirs and professor of voice! 💜✨

Professor Pollard earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Spring Arbor University and her Master of Music from Bowling Green State University. Professor Pollard specializes in Vocal Performance and Voice Science and Pedagogy. She studied under renowned vocologist Ronald Scherer, Ph.D. Professor Pollard has performed operatic roles including Eurydice in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld and Mabel in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. She has also sung with the choruses of Toledo Opera and Opera Grand Rapids. In addition to teaching voice and piano lessons, she directs the choir at Arbor Church.

Since 2024, she has served as Director of the Concert Choir and Rooted Vocal Ensemble, helping to create musical excellence and meaningful community through vocal music.

What is Professor Pollard up to this summer?
Jackson Chorale Concert ✨
To celebrate our country's 250th year, the Jackson Chorale is performing music that was "Made in America!" Come hear from composers Aaron Copland, Gwyneth Walker, Irving Berlin, and more!
Professor Annabelle Pollard will be a featured soloist, performing Aaron Copland's "Laurie's Song" from his opera The Tender Land, alongside Dr. Renée Runyon, who just recently retired from SAU.

Bay Shore Camp's Jr. Music Camp 🌿
Professor Pollard will be the music director at Bay Shore Camp's Jr. Music Camp this year! This is an awesome camp for a child that loves music, drama, and dancing! In addition to going all of the typical camp activities, they teach the campers an entire Christian musical that they perform their parents on Friday. Everyone is a star! This camp is for children entering grades 3-8 in the fall. Registration is still open! The link for this can be found in our Linktree in our bio.

We are so grateful for all of Professor Pollard's immeasurable contributions to our music department and our community!

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05/11/2026

Appalachian Morning by Robert Sheldon ✨️🌄💛

Performed in this clip by our SAU Concert Band from our Spring Instrumental Concert

Stay tuned for more 💛
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America The Beautiful: Spring Instrumental Concert Recap (Pt. I) 🗽✨💙Opening with our brass ensemble with Fanfare for the...
05/11/2026

America The Beautiful: Spring Instrumental Concert Recap (Pt. I) 🗽✨💙

Opening with our brass ensemble with Fanfare for the Common Man, going to our Concert Band, and finishing with our jazz ensemble, we had a blast at our spring instrumental concert.

Huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible, including everyone behind the scenes and our audience! Thank you all for coming out and supporting SAU Music.

Stay tuned for more 💙
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That's a wrap on this school year, Cougs! 💙✨Thank you to everyone who made music with us this year! We are so excited to...
05/08/2026

That's a wrap on this school year, Cougs! 💙✨

Thank you to everyone who made music with us this year! We are so excited to see you again in the fall.

Swipe to see some of our favorite moments that this last year has brought us💙
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Spring Arbor University .church

• STUDENT SPOTLIGHT •Meet Alaina Cook, a graduating Music Education senior here at Spring Arbor University 🌿🎶Alaina is a...
05/06/2026

• STUDENT SPOTLIGHT •

Meet Alaina Cook, a graduating Music Education senior here at Spring Arbor University 🌿🎶

Alaina is a Senior Music Education student from Swartz Creek who is so excited to be entering this next chapter. During her time at SAU, Alaina was actively involved in every ensemble including Rooted Vocal Ensemble, Wellspring, and Jazz Band. She also was honored to be the director of SAU's production of " Who am I" and "Much Ado About SAU" as well as lead Wellspring for two summers. Outside of the music building you will probably find her either working on the AV team or spending time with her friends and fiance, always with a cup of coffee in tow. For the past semester she has had the opportunity to student teach for Jackson Public Schools under the direction of Mr. Yuhasz Pratt and Mrs. Golembiewski.

Alaina is so thankful for her time at SAU and will always hold this time close to her heart. It has been her prayer that the Lord will be glorified through every aspect of her life and she cannot wait to see how He uses her in the next chapter.

Alaina has accepted the music teacher position at Parkview & Washington Elementary Schools with Charlotte Public Schools

We are so proud of Alaina, and we look forward to seeing where her talent leads her next 💛
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106 E. Main Street
Spring Arbor, MI
49823

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