Concordia University, Nebraska hosts 2023 Band and Choir Days

On November 3 and 10, Concordia University, Nebraska’s music department hosted its National Band and Choir Days, with a total of 205 students attending both days. 

Although this was the first year the band and choir were in the new music building, the experience of producing beautiful music with like-minded musicians remained the same. Elizabeth Crawford, a senior from Faith Lutheran School in Plano, Texas, can speak to this consistency. Elizabeth has been attending the national honor choir day since her freshman year of high school. “I love getting to sing amazing songs with many strong singers who have the same passion for singing that I do. Even though the people change every year, getting to meet people from all over the country and producing beautiful music has been a constant part of the national honor choir experience.” 

That was especially true, according to Dr. Kurt Von Kampen, chair of Concordia’s music department. He stated that, “In one day, with only about 5 hours of rehearsal time, the group achieved a cohesive and robust choral sound.” 

Professor Robert Cody, who was the clinician for the national honor band day and is in his first year of teaching at Concordia, appreciated the way that the band and choir days brought people together. “To see young people excited about music in droves inspired me as much as I believe it inspired them. The students had the opportunity to connect with others and to know that they are not alone, as musicians and as humans. I look forward to seeing this day grow in the future and am thankful to our university students for their help in making it a success!” 

Interested in pursuing music at Concordia? Learn more here.