The Concordia Jazz Ensemble and the Vocal Jazz Choir will present the Spring JazzFest concert Friday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Weller auditorium on Concordia University's campus. Everyone is welcome to this free event.
"These two groups compliment each other well and the audience will hear a lot of great music they will know," said Dr. Kurt Von Kampen, associate professor of music and director of the 16-member Vocal Jazz Choir. The group will perform pieces by jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Kurt Weill and Manning Sherwin.
Von Kampen will trade the podium with Andrew Schultz, director of the 20-member Concordia Jazz Ensemble and an assistant professor of music at Concordia. The Jazz Ensemble will treat the audience to both new and familiar tunes including "Take the 'A' Train" and "Come Fly With Me." The two groups will join forces for a few selections as well.
"Jazz was born out of the American experience, and I believe that as students study jazz they gain an insight into American life and culture," said Schultz.
This concert comes before the two groups hold a joint tour through Nebraska and Missouri May 12 through 16.
Concordia Jazz Ensemble
Katherine, Bailey, Tenor Sax, Junior, Oak Creek, Wis.
Alisha Bohnert, Alto Sax, Sophomore, Jackson, Mo.
Chris Effken, Trombone, Senior, Friend, Neb.
Caledonia Gerth, Tenor Sax, Sophomore, Seward, Neb.
Megan Heidemann, Alto Sax , Freshman, Seward, Neb.
Benjamin Heins, Bari Sax, Freshman, Higginsville, Mo.
Audrey Herrmann, Trumpet, Senior, Riverton, Wyo.
Jonathan Jank, Trumpet, Senior, Lincoln, Neb.
Michah Korb, Trumpet, Sophomore, Waseca, Minn.
Aaron Kortze, Piano, Freshman, Rockford, Ill.
Raymond Krueger, Trombone, Junior, Milwaukee, Wis.
Joshua Miesner, Percussion, Senior, Frohna, Mo.
Michael Palomaki, Trombone, Freshman, David City, Neb.
Patrick Phelps, Percussion, Freshman, Rapid City, S.D.
Brad Ramp, Bass, Junior, Friend, Neb.
Chase Reihmann, Trombone, Freshman, Marengo, Iowa
Aaron Schimm, Trumpet, Senior, Bay City, Mich.
Annie Stevenson, Alto Sax, Flute, Junior, Peoria, Ill.
Brian Swearer, Trumpet, Freshman, Lincoln, Neb.
Paul von Kampen, Percussion, Sophomore, Seward, Neb.
Vocal Jazz Choir
Lindsey Auten, Soprano, Sophomore, Blue Hill, Neb.
Peter Baye, Bass, Senior, Green Bay, Wis.
Adele Bohnert, Soprano, Junior, Altenburg, Mo.
Mark Cook, Bass, Senior, Eden, Wis.
Matthew Elmshauser, Tenor, Sophomore, Littleton, Colo.
Kathleen Garner, Alto, Junior, Lansing, Kan.
Theron Jenkins, Tenor, Junior, Baltimore, Md.
Rebecca Kaaz, Alto, Sophomore, Red Bud, Ill.
Natalie Kreutz, Soprano, Senior, Aurelia, Iowa
Adrienne Langefeld, Soprano, Senior, O'Fallon, Ill.
Christopher Loesel, Tenor, Senior, St. Charles, Mo.
Johanna Miller, Alto, Sophomore, East Helena, Mont.
Michael Palomaki, Bass, Freshman, David City, Neb.
Christopher Ramstad, Tenor, Senior, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Paul von Kampen, Bass, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
Jessica Werner, Alto, Junior, Hamburg, Minn.