Indiana Wesleyan University’s Music Therapy Student Organization hosted a jamboree event outside the Phillippe Performing Arts Center on October 4, 2025.
The organization’s president, Amilynn Orrell, said she hoped that the attendees would enjoy a relaxing evening of appreciating God-given talents, meeting new people, and hearing new artists.
“I kind of decided to put this on in the fall just to kind of get everyone active in the music therapy organization,” Orrell said, “and to help the freshmen start to know more people in music therapy and also in the music division.”
Orrell said the event consisted of six different live performances lasting 15 to 30 minute periods. The performers included Jadyn Mucher and Amilynn Orrell, Abbie Dennis, Katie Ousley, Danny Kuznlar and Noelle Gilbert, Shela Glas and Justin Fischer, Emery Rewa, Myah Miller and Natalee Boronzy.
Katie Ousley, senior music education major, said she felt comfortable performing at the event.
“I’ve played quite a few gigs with my dad and at Crema, so I wasn’t super nervous, but it was exciting to get to play for a different crowd because I usually play for Crema or not on campus,” Ousley said, “So I got to see a bunch of people from the music department here and they were really supportive. So that was awesome.”
Ousley said she played songs from Noah Kahn, and genres such as indie and jazz.
“I like all different styles of music,” Ousley said. “I like to challenge myself to sing different styles of music. And I think it’s more fun for the audience to listen to different styles as well.”
Ousley and senior music therapy major Abbie Dennis said they played original songs at the event. Ousley said her original songs can be found on Instagram, and Dennis said her original songs can be found on Instagram, Spotify and Apple Music.
Ousley said she invited junior Christopher Paterson and junior Naomi Rugh to join her in her performance.
“This is the first time that the music therapy jamboree happened. And I really enjoyed it. I like the atmosphere. It was inspiring to see how many people showed up,” Paterson said. “And yeah, it’s been a fun experience. Great food and great music to listen to and just kind of be in community.”
Indiana University Kokomo student Elisabeth Pennington said she attended because of Ousley, her best friend from high school. She said she helped Ousley set up for the event.
Pennington said she thought the event was incredible.
“The music is fantastic and I just, I love the messages being told,” Pennington said. “I am so glad that I made it out here. It was actually the very first time that I was able to see Katie perform, not in high school. So I almost cried watching my girl up there.”
Pennington said her main takeaway from the event involved the love for music and community.
“It’s events like these that I feel like I missed out on the most in terms of my college career,” Pennington said. “And it’s so nice to experience that vicariously through my friends or by coming and visiting them at different campuses.”
