https://www.skillfulnewsong.com/thechristianmusician daily 0.75 2025-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1614016773384-NWR2HCVFMD0AD35CRTCK/Dr.+Gus.jpg The Christian Musician - Dr. Gus, as he was affectionately called, was Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Bob Jones University for over 40 years. The Lord fitted him for that work in amazing ways. He was an able administrator and he intimately knew all the arts. He was truly a Renaissance man. He was an artist. He was an actor. He was a singer. He was the conductor of the University Symphony orchestra for decades. He was a talented composer and arranger. And he was a lay preacher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1614277879477-8MEE5AA0Q3I6VNG48LI6/DwightGustafson.jpg The Christian Musician - As a faculty kid, music camper, music major, and faculty member, I observed Dr. Gus for decades. I thrilled to hear him sing, whether it was “Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head” or it was portraying Dulcamara in Elixir of Love. I enjoyed his whole-hearted acting as Falstaff in Henry V. Even before I was a member of his orchestra his conducting of oratorios, operas, and symphonies shaped my appreciation for excellence and beauty. I joined his orchestra, the BJU Symphony, at age 17. He made me, the little runt of the group, feel welcome. He was so good at not only getting us to play professionally, but to love the pieces we were studying. We performed a major opera every year, many oratorios, many symphonies and shorter orchestral works, and many other choral-orchestral works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1614280271411-D9QQACC710N7QGEFXKPZ/MX-4071_20210224_103446_0002+%282%29.jpg The Christian Musician - My happiest memories of orchestra though, are the orchestra tours. We travelled to churches and Christian schools, presenting very fine sacred orchestral works that he had written or arranged. He had a burden to pass on to young people the love for excellence in worshipping the Lord. We had many fun experiences, including culinary ones—from being served fried chicken four days in a row, to being served two large suppers in one evening, to eating sack lunches at a truck stop. My very first orchestra tour, when I was a freshman, we travelled to New England, and worked our way back down the East Coast. The last day of tour, I was very sick. I mean, we made sure we had a bag handy when I got on the bus. Not to sit, but to lie down on the fold down bed. That would have been embarrassing, because it was right inside the door, but I didn’t care. Dr. Gus sat in the seat right at my head and was very kind. It worked out well except when he pulled out some Spanish Peanuts, and the smell almost caused a problem for me! Anyway, when we got back to campus, Dr. Gus instructed the bus driver to head directly for my home, back campus. Somehow I got down the stairs of the bus, but before I started up the driveway, I felt myself being lifted up (I was 50 pounds lighter than I am now!) and Dr. Gus carried me into the house and laid me on my own bed! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1614280324859-G0KDN54RRL6R8GLZ35CT/MX-4071_20210224_103446_0001.jpg The Christian Musician - Dr. Gus was committed to excellence and to the Lord’s cause of Christian fine arts because he was committed to the Lord. He could have made much money and been at the top of his field if the Lord had led him that way. But the Lord had a better plan—to use him to shape and mold thousands of lives. Dr. Gus was content to live in a small house and receive small remuneration for his work. In return, the Lord blessed him abundantly and in heaven his reward is great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/7ce99093-9a62-4bf1-9790-f7f369652d83/17-1974+family+picture%2C+%282%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1415661f-b958-48a9-94c8-87e19a485c6e/913517mulfinger.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/7e9084ec-d412-43a0-a795-28be90c150e9/16-1979+We+started+violin+lessons+%282%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/b3e669ad-ce68-419b-b3bc-433324cde203/17-1979+Becca+and+Maria+started+violin%2C+Fall+%282%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/a1dd24af-cb45-4a06-8d3c-c777a7ab74b2/WIN_20210807_153136.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/d4e5fa7c-ca12-42ee-905a-401859306992/18a-1984+Puppies+%282%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/27978951-a9c7-437e-a8f1-b022c00531ea/38-1990+Kitter%2C+Becca%2C+M+March+1990+%282%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/90fb86eb-6e25-40bc-95d1-cfb8b7a7e81b/WIN_20150601_121830.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/01d97245-ef12-487d-a210-256009a2ab98/Dr.+Gus.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/faf626d6-810e-4388-9e1d-4e9bcb1ac693/2-1991+Becca%27s+sr.+recital++Dec+%282%29_hq.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/321b76da-ea46-4b23-8157-05795a641d8f/22-2015+Maria+and+B+playing+violin+%282%29.jpg https://www.skillfulnewsong.com/about daily 0.75 2025-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1612202523564-LOSWMTLUKBBYM2EXNM69/WIN_20200726_163845_original.jpg Meet the teacher - Experience Rebecca Grove holds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bob Jones University. She served as a BJU string faculty member for 26 years, teaching string pedagogy classes and private lessons in violin, viola, cello, and bass. She also coached chamber groups. Becca also conducted the Bob Jones Junior High Symphony and String Orchestras, as well as the BJU Junior Music Camp Advanced Orchestra. She also directs the Youth String Ensemble at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. Becca has mentored and coached many future string teachers as conductor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1612209075613-TKER60LZ6ZS2J6J92C9T/image.jpg Meet the teacher - Expertise Becca has served as judge in Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Solo and Ensemble Festivals, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) High School Scholarship Contests, and American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Competitions. As a violinist and violist, she has performed many of the major orchestral works, including symphonies, operas, and oratorios, with the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra, as well as many chamber works. Becca has been a recording orchestral performer with The Wilds, BJU, Sacred Music Services, Lorenz, and Pinner Publications. As a string instrument repair technician, Becca serviced and maintained a large collection of school and finer instruments. She enjoys sharing sacred music in her church as violinist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1612210754936-A6V3IVUAMJK7OBB1YPBN/image-asset.jpeg Meet the teacher - Dedication Becca gives her students her undivided attention and does everything in her power to help them grow musically and spiritually. She spends much time outside of the lesson corresponding with her students and preparing them and herself for the next lesson. She wants to see each student succeed! https://www.skillfulnewsong.com/home daily 1.0 2024-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1613412424436-GDS2ETD2L6TTC1LVWI3F/image-asset.jpeg Home Bright natural dining room nook with vases plates and fruits on the table. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1613413549897-4XI90UMS6O8ZHNLD3DSI/image.jpg Home Pretty Caucasian woman at the beach smiling at camera. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1613414095856-3ZJI49T0XXDLHAT6XIL0/midori+pic.jpg Home Happy smiling woman with curly hair lounging on couch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1613873625096-5Q38SZ0QS1SEMDNK1H3E/Dr.+Gus.jpg Home Scenic shot of the beach with waves hitting the rocks. https://www.skillfulnewsong.com/belt-explanation daily 0.75 2024-12-30 https://www.skillfulnewsong.com/get-started daily 0.75 2021-01-23 https://www.skillfulnewsong.com/students-homepage daily 0.75 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60060658dfad4a36492271cd/1613433878991-792MYIRK8LUC9FXTUCZB/image.jpg Student Homepage - 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