Concordia music ensembles give final performances of school year
Concordia’s Male Chorus, Women’s Chorale, University Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Choir and two handbell choirs gave concerts during the last week of April and first week of May. All performances were free and open to the public.
The Male Chorus and Women’s Chorale gave a joint concert on Sunday, April 28, at 4 p.m. The performance was held at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb., located at 800 Fletcher Road. The Male Chorus, directed by Professor of Music Dr. Kurt von Kampen, is a four-part ensemble that sings both sacred and secular music. During several songs in the program, the Chorus sang with the Women’s Chorale, a four-part choir of female voices, directed by Professor of Music Jeffrey Blersch.
The University Concert Band performed on Monday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. The Concert Band is a community outreach ensemble, made up of university and high school students as well as Concordia staff and other community members. The band rehearses once a week and gives several performances throughout the year.
Concordia’s Chamber Orchestra gave a concert on Wednesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the Music Center’s recital hall. The performance featured selections dating from 1745 to 1917, representing Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century styles of music. The orchestra’s concert also featured a faculty soloist, Michael Keelan. Keelan, a strings instructor at Concordia since 2011, earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Maryland-College Park. He has conducted and performed with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and currently coaches the violin sections of Omaha’s senior youth orchestra. Keelan performed “Romance, Op. 26” by Johan Svendsen on the violin.
“He is a very accomplished violinist and string teacher,” said Dr. Christopher Nichols, director of the Chamber Orchestra. “We are so fortunate to have him on faculty at Concordia.”
The annual Spring JazzFest was held Friday, May 3, beginning at 7 p.m. Concordia’s Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Choir performed at the Hillcrest E-Free Church, located at 2433 Progressive Road in Seward. Formed nearly 30 years ago, the Jazz Ensemble’s repertoire includes early jazz, swing, blues, fusion, funk and Latin styles of music. The band is conducted by Andrew Schultz, assistant professor of music. The Vocal Jazz Choir, conducted by Dr. Kurt von Kampen, professor of music, is made up of the members of Concordia’s University Chamber Choir.
Concordia’s Handbell Choir and Handbell Choir II performed a joint concert on Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. in the Music Center’s recital hall. Under the direction of conductor Jessica Kite, each 14-member choir performed arrangements featuring five octaves of hand bells, three octaves of chimes, and additional percussion.
