The Department of Music at Andrews University has recently received several generous donations in the form of musical instruments. These instruments will be housed in either Hamel Hall or the Howard Performing Arts Center and will be used by various music students, faculty, and performers. 

Most recently, a Kawai Grand Piano was donated by  Fairplain Presbyterian Church, which was previously located in Benton Harbor. The donation was made in honor of Vladimir Slavujevic, an Andrews alumnus and the long-time music director of the church. Slavujevic is a professional musician who has contributed to Seventh-day Adventist churches across Europe and the United States. He has performed concerts for the Lake Union Conference along with his wife, daughters, and sister. Slavujevic’s musical contributions have also been broadcast on the Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) and Hope Channel. 

A Klop Continuo Organ was donated by the Rhoads family in memory of the late Donald Rhoads, former chair of the university’s Department of Mathematics. Rhoads attended Andrews when it was previously Emmanuel Missionary College. While studying mathematics, he met his wife, Jean Schlunt, and they both graduated in 1958. Rhoads returned to Andrews University as a professor of mathematics for a total of 18 years, spending six as the department chair. He died on Dec. 16, 2023, and the organ donation was orchestrated by his surviving relatives. The organ has already been featured in a concert performed by the Andrews University Singers and Chorale on April 5, 2025. 

 A Steinway Grand Piano was also donated in 2023 in memory of Phyllis Staples, a pianist and long-time resident of Berrien Springs, Michigan. Prior to her death in 2019, Staples served as a volunteer greeter at the Howard Performing Arts Center. 

In addition to the gift of physical instruments, the Department of Music has also received numerous monetary donations toward its Steinway fund, which raises money for additional Steinway-branded pianos used for educational and performance purposes. 

Max Keller, chair of the Department of Music, shared that the department is very grateful for the contributions it has received.“We have all of our rooms, and all of our spaces filled now, which is fantastic,” he said. He affirmed the high quality of the donations, noting that they will be used primarily by students within the department.

Carlos Lugo, a graduate student in music performance, said the recent donations have been helpful for his learning experience. He shared that he has used the Kawai Grand Piano in Hamel Hall to practice and finds it comfortable, with a “refreshing sound.”. 

“Sometimes arts are disregarded by other budget priorities,” said Lugo. “Investing in the arts is investing in our soul. Donors should know that what they do is so beneficial for music students. They are investing in our talents so that we can succeed and change the world.”

Senior Aiko Ayala,  a music performance major with a piano concentration, expressed “great joy” in using the quality donations. 

“Knowing that people care about my education makes me feel more confident in pursuing my goals as a musician and servant of God,” she said. “It also motivates me to try new things without worrying too much about limitations of instruments [or] finances. Therefore, donations are vital and appreciated for music students like me, who like to go beyond and above the standards, so that we can change the world one note at a time.”

Future music projects include the completion of the Howard Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2003. According to Keller, “The Howard was originally built with the intention of building a full-size organ in it.” While there are discussions of possible legacy donations contributing to the project, it will take significant resources to install the organ and officially finish the plans for the center. 

— Andrew Francis is a University Communication student writer at Andrews University.

To contribute to Andrews University’s Department of Music or any other Andrews initiative,  visit the Office of Development’s webpage. To donate an instrument, please contact the Department of Music at music@andrews .edu.

Founded in 1874, Andrews University is a premier institution of higher education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its main campus is in Berrien Springs, Michigan, with instruction at colleges and universities around the world.