The gift of music frequently brings together people from across the world in fellowship, and Christmas at Concordia is no exception. Over the course of four performances the weekend of December 5-7, over 2,400 students, faculty and staff, and Concordia community members gathered in St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Nebraska, to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the salvation that the world receives through him.

Professor of Music Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo commented, “There is no greater joy for our department than to share, through music, the good news of Jesus, our Christmas treasure.”

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of Christmas at Concordia. The annual concert series includes performances by Concordia’s A Cappella Choir, Cantamus Women’s Choir, Male Chorus, Handbell Choir and Wind Symphony.

"Christmas at Concordia reverberates the tradition of excellence in our music department. It's so beautiful that year by year, alumni and patrons can feel grounded in the traditions that we maintain within the concert but also expect to hear something new and exciting or inspiring.”

The yearly Christmas at Concordia concerts feature hymns that largely remain the same from year to year, as well as pieces performed by each ensemble that are new each year. This year featured a wide variety of pieces such as “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, “Go Tell it on the Mountain” arranged by Joel Raney for handbell choir and percussion and “Betelehemu”, a Nigerian carol written by Babatunde Olatunji and arranged for male chorus by Wendell Whalum.

“Christmas at Concordia has built a reputation as a “must-see” event,” said music department chair Dr. Kurt von Kampen. “I think the reason for that is that it blends three things well – familiarity, variety and a straightforward message. We preach the Gospel through all of our music, readings and congregational song. This is a Christmas concert, not a holiday performance.”

Christmas at Concordia has come to be more than a concert for the students who participate and the many people who come to listen. It imparts the Gospel and the hope of Christ in an incredibly unique way to anyone who listens to the music that is rung, played and sung to the glory of God. 

“Christmas at Concordia reverberates the tradition of excellence in our music department,” said professor of music Robert Cody. “It’s so beautiful that year by year, alumni and patrons can feel grounded in the traditions that we maintain within the concert (certain hymns, etc.) but also expect to hear something new and exciting or inspiring. My favorite part is seeing so many people come from so far to hear the news of Christ’s birth proclaimed time and time again.”

 

Students involved in Christmas at Concordia include:

University Wind Symphony

Faith Brackney, Allen, Texas, Flute

Molly Miller, Bloomfield, Nebraska, Flute

Karalynn Pingel, Janesville, Wisconsin, Flute

Evelyn Schwartz, Peachtree City, Georgia, Flute

Danielle Turner, Derby, Kansas, Flute

Hailey Winkelman, Mayer, Minnesota, Flute

Sarah Stepp, Lincoln, Nebraska, Oboe

Joshua Jurchen, Seward, Nebraska, Bassoon

Bailey Bianco, Loveland, Colorado, Clarinet

Arabella Blakeley, Havana, Illinois, Clarinet

Hannah Ethridge, Fulda, Minnesota, Clarinet

Haley Miles, North Platte, Nebraska, Clarinet

Sydney Rohwer, Kearney, Nebraska, Clarinet

Walter Seipold, Hastings, Iowa, Clarinet

Claire VanTol, Unionville, Michigan, Clarinet

Benjamin Frerking, Rapid City, South Dakota, Bass Clarinet

Autumn Consier, Churdan, Iowa, Alto Saxophone

Grace Donnelly, Three Forks, Montana, Alto Saxophone

Nathan Sollberger, Louisville, Nebraska, Alto Saxophone

Jonah Carter, McKinney, Texas, Tenor Saxophone

Taylor Rogers, Plainville, Kansas, Baritone Saxophone

Caleb Anderson, Affton, Missouri, Trumpet

Taylor Beal, Frisco, Texas, Trumpet

Emily Castens, New Haven, Indiana, Trumpet

Matthew Feusse, Saginaw, Michigan, Trumpet

Matthew Hoops, Utica, Nebraska, Trumpet

Ellen Klintworth, Seward, Nebraska, Trumpet

Abbey Kudrna, Omaha, Nebraska, Trumpet

Mitchell Stephens, Brenham, Texas

Mary Bennet, Vernon Center, Minnesota, Horn

Kylie Burken, Holdrege, Nebraska, Horn

Nathan Feusse, Saginaw, Michigan

Elizabeth Salo, West Ely, Missouri, Horn

Creighton Urban, Callender, Iowa, Horn

Maxwell Carlson, Norfolk, Nebraska, Trombone

David Eatherton, St. Louis, Missouri, Trombone

Miriam Ganoung, Halsey, Nebraska, Trombone

Matthew Guilford, Lincoln, Nebraska, Trombone

Joshua Meyer, Longmont, Colorado, Trombone

Jacob Laesch, St. Louis, Missouri, Euphonium

Joshua Oberdieck, Elizabeth, Indiana, Euphonium

Matthew Frerking, Columbia, Missouri, Tuba

Benjamin Sams, Utica, Nebraska, Tuba

Ethan Bryson, Clarinda, Iowa, Percussion

Aleksa Chambers, Wilber, Nebraska, Percussion

Gretchen Hoft, Eldridge, Iowa, Percussion

Timothy Mars, Cody, Wyoming, Percussion

Shasta Tonniges, York, Nebraska, Percussion

Rebecca Tredray, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Percussion

Jacob Wald, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Percussion

Aaron Wulff, St. Charles, Missouri, Percussion

Kelsey O’Gara, Duvall, Washington, String Bass

Male Chorus

Chipper Banks, Loveland, Colorado, Tenor I

Andrew Brosius, North Platte, Nebraska, Tenor I

Dalton Lee, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Tenor I

Gavin Martens, Kansas City, Missouri, Tenor I

Joshua Nikodym, Grand Island, Nebraska, Tenor I

Samuel Olson, Overland Park, Kansas, Tenor I

Jacob Wald, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Tenor I

Cayden Carrasco, Sidney, Nebraska, Tenor II

Duncan Carrasco, Sidney, Nebraska, Tenor II

Ernest Clausing, Moshi, Tanzania, Tenor II

Matthew Hitt, Jackson, Missouri, Tenor II

Matthew Hoops, Utica, Nebraska, Tenor II

Tyrayvion Jerrell, Desloge, Missouri, Tenor II

Jack Nunnink, Maryville, Tennessee, Tenor II

Keith Siek, Saint Joseph, Michigan, Tenor II

Christian Sutcliffe, Jefferson City, Missouri, Tenor II

Christopher Wagner, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tenor II

Harvey Walter, Fort Morgan, Colorado, Tenor II

Josiah Ceyanes, Austin, Texas, Bass I

Timothy Dose, Algona, Iowa, Bass I

Rocco Fritz, Mondovi, Wisconsin, Bass I

Jack Hagan, St. Charles, Missouri, Bass I

Ethan L’Heureux, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Bass I

Nathan Mahrt, Lucas Texas, Bass I

Jarrett Miles, North Platte, Nebraska, Bass I

Johann Nafzger, St. Louis, Missouri, Bass I

Joshua Oberdieck, Elizabeth, Indiana, Bass I

Kai Olbrich, Bennington, Nebraska, Bass I

David Rodriguez, Norfolk, Nebraska, Bass I

Joshua Schultz, Great Falls, Montana, Bass I

Walter Seipold, Hastings, Iowa, Bass I

Creighton Urban, Callender, Iowa, Bass I

William Voelker, Columbus, Nebraska, Bass I

Keller Wilson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Bass I

Ethan Bryson, Clarinda, Iowa, Bass II

Jacob Deines, St. Charles, Missouri, Bass II

Caleb Ethridge, Fulda, Minnesota, Bass II

Vaclav Fiala, Brezno, Slovakia, Bass II

Matthew Koenig, Kalispell, Montana, Bass II

Levi LaPlant, St. Peter, Minnesota, Bass II

Timothy Meyer, Lexington, Texas, Bass II

Noah Niederklein, Pittsburg, Kansas, Bass II

Gage Olsen, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Bass II

Richard Peperkorn, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bass II

Jaden Sutcliffe, Jefferson City, Missouri, Bass II

Concordia Handbell Choir

Taylor Beal, Frisco Texas

Bailey Bianco, Loveland, Colorado

Rachel Brinkman, Plymouth, Minnesota

Ethan Bryson, Clarinda, Iowa

Olivia Craig, Kansas City, Missouri

Amy Crow, Wichita, Kansas

Matthew Feusse, Saginaw, Michigan

Miriam Ganoung, Halsey, Nebraska

Logann Gillespie, Seward, Nebraska

Rachel Holst, Hartford City, Indiana

Samuel Olson, Overland Park, Kansas

Richard Peperkorn, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Kimberly Schmidt, Seward, Nebraska

Tyler Velkly, Lititz, Pennsylvania

University A Cappella Choir

Sophia Ball, Worden, Illinois, Soprano I

Brianna Burns, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Soprano I

Hadleigh Collison, Pierce, Nebraska, Soprano I

Lydia Edmonds, Gretna, Nebraska Soprano I

Michaela Gibbs, St. Louis, Missouri, Soprano I

Sophia Matthias, Seward, Nebraska, Soprano I

Eden Perling, St. Robert, Missouri, Soprano I

Megan Tiedje, Milford, Michigan, Soprano I

Lillian Alwood, Long Beach, California, Soprano II

Kailyn King, Daykin, Nebraska, Soprano II

Eliya Mars, Madison, Alabama, Soprano II

Brianna Pike, Vassar, Michigan, Soprano II

Danielle Turner, Derby, Kansas Soprano II

Samantha Vogel, Cleveland, Ohio, Soprano II

Amy Crow, Wichita, Kansas, Alto I

Sophia Donovan, Lincoln, Nebraska, Alto I

Averil Finnern, Sartell, Minnesota, Alto I

Miriam Ganoung, Halsey, Nebraska, Alto I

Reagan Martens, Kansas City, Missouri, Alto I

Evelyn Rouland, St. Charles, Missouri, Alto I

Alina Sankey, Hayes Center, Nebraska, Alto I

Johanna Speckhard, Munster, Indiana, Alto I

Naomi Weber, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Alto I

Bailey Bianco, Loveland, Colorado, Alto II

Brooke Carter, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Alto II

Emily Castens, New Haven, Indiana, Alto II

Grace Donnelly, Three Forks, Montana, Alto II

Aria Ferguson, Raymond, Nebraska, Alto II

Emily Lindau, Omaha, Nebraska, Alto II

Melissa Oblinger, Tomball, Texas, Alto II

Madalyn Perkins, Springfield, Illinois, Alto II

Tara Pester, Seward, Nebraska, Alto II

Morgan Rohde, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Alto II

Rebecca Tredray, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Alto II

Maximus Fritsche, St. Louis, Missouri, Tenor I

Timothy Mars, Cody, Wyoming, Tenor I

Yaphet Michael, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tenor I

Wyatt Swanson, Staplehurst, Nebraska, Tenor I

Jonathan Thurk, Glendale, Arizona, Tenor I

Aydan Toth, Surprise, Arizona, Tenor I

Micah Zeckzer, New Haven, Indiana, Tenor I

Timothy Baker, Khovd, Mongolia, Tenor II

Jason Church, Auburn, Washington, Tenor II

David Eatherton, St. Louis, Missouri, Tenor II

Matthew Guilford, Lincoln, Nebraska, Tenor II

Jonathan Jurchen, Seward, Nebraska, Tenor II

Dylan Parker, Fairfax, Virginia, Tenor II

Jacob Speckhard, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tenor II

Tyler Velkly, Lititz, Pennsylvania, Tenor II

Simeon Armbrecht, Williamsburg, Iowa, Bass I

Jonathan Baumann, Chester, South Dakota, Bass I

Matthew Feusse, Saginaw, Michigan, Bass I

Ian Fiala, Seward, Nebraska, Bass I

Matthew Frerking, Columbia, Missouri, Bass I

Deagan Jones, Bunker Hill, Illinois, Bass I

Sam Matthias, Seward, Nebraska, Bass I

Evan Moloney, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bass I

Karsten Quinton, Pearland, Texas, Bass I

Hunter Remington, Bristow, Oklahoma, Bass I

Kaleb Virus, Concordia, Missouri, Bass I

Yeabsira Yidnekachew, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bass I

Taylor Beal, Frisco, Texas, Bass II

Mark Bultemeier, Texarkana, Texas, Bass II

Aaron Cumming, Allen Texas, Bass II

Sean Duffy, Kenesaw, Nebraska, Bass II

Lars Gindler, Collinsville, Illinois, Bass II

Jack Habegger, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bass II

Joshua Jurchen, Seward, Nebraska, Bass II

Timothy Pester, Seward, Nebraska, Bass II

Caleb Schlichting, Lyons, Nebraska, Bass II

Joel Smith, Earlham, Iowa, Bass II

Robert Wagner, Elizabeth, Colorado, Bass II

Soren Widmann, Long Beach, California, Bass II

Cole Yunker, Newburgh, Indiana, Bass II

Cantamus Women’s Choir

Rachel Brinkman, Plymouth, Minnesota, Soprano I

Hannah Ethridge, Fulda, Minnesota, Soprano I

Lydia Fink, Olathe, Kansas, Soprano I

Logann Gillespie, Seward, Nebraska, Soprano I

Julia Hitz, Mackinaw, Illinois, Soprano I

Marieka Kaufman, Milwaukie, Oregon, Soprano I

Grace Marshall, Greeneville, Tennessee, Soprano I

Vivian Marshall, Greeneville, Tennessee, Soprano I

Sophia Roberts, Maryville, Tennessee, Soprano I

Kyla Schleusener, St. Paul, Minnesota, Soprano I

Mi-Ree Zwick, Minden, Nebraska, Soprano I

Naa Kordai Addy, Jamestown, Ghana, Soprano II

Delaney Baker, Lincoln, Nebraska, Soprano II

Rebekah Bowman, Buffalo, Texas, Soprano II

Eunice Clausing, Seward, Nebraska, Soprano II

Hannah Federwitz, Concordia, Missouri, Soprano II

Cadence, Fulfs, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Soprano II

Ella Gilzean, Placerville, California, Soprano II

Cadison Hecksel, Mankato, Minnesota, Soprano II

Rachael Holle, Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, Soprano II

Carrie Meyr, St. Louis, Missouri, Soprano II

Kelsey O’Gara, Duvall, Washington, Soprano II

Rachel Rathjen, Marquette, Nebraska, Soprano II

Katherine Seifferlein, St. Johns, Michigan, Soprano II

Emma VonKampen, Atkins, Iowa, Soprano II

Olivia Wieczorek, Warsaw, Poland, Soprano II

Rachel Ada, DeSoto, Kansas, Alto I

Michal Black, Amarillo, Texas, Alto I

Elizabeth Burger, Andover, Kansas, Alto I

Autumn Consier, Churdan, Iowa, Alto I

Abigail Constien, Farmington, Missouri, Alto I

Olivia Craig, Kansas City, Missouri, Alto I

Elizabeth Crawford, Plano, Texas, Alto I

Jolie Dittman, Omaha, Nebraska, Alto I

Lille Douglas, Cole Camp, Missouri, Alto I

Emma Kettelhake, Unionville, Michigan, Alto I

Cambria Saunders, Waco, Nebraska, Alto I

Mackenzie Schepmann, Macomb, Michigan, Alto I

Malia Schleusener, Saint Paul, Minnesota, Alto I

Sofie Stiller, Ferguson, Missouri, Alto I

Ella Brandt, Knob Noster, Missouri, Alto II

Leah Brandt, Knob Noster, Missouri, Alto II

Grace Drews, Tremont, Illinois, Alto II

Emma Fiala, Brezno, Slovakia, Alto II

Alison Galchutt, O’Fallon, Missouri, Alto II

Angelicia Gracia, Klein, Texas, Alto II

Claire Horacek, Papillion, Nebraska, Alto II

Ellen Klintworth, Seward, Nebraska, Alto II

Naomi Mueller, Lewiston, Minnesota, Alto II

Mary Pieper, Algonquin, Illinois, Alto II

Emily Reimers, Timnath, Colorado, Alto II

Sarah Stepp, Lincoln, Nebraska, Alto II

Shasta Tonniges, York, Nebraska, Alto II

Emma Wakley, Milton, New York, Alto II

 

The music department at Concordia University, Nebraska provides students with a top-tier, Christ-centered education that prepares them to serve the church and world with their music. Learn more about Concordia’s musical ensembles and lesson opportunities here.