Concordia University's A Cappella Choir to perform throughout South Africa

The University A Cappella Choir from Concordia University, Nebraska, will travel to South Africa for its international tour May 7–27, 2017. The 74 voice choir was auditioned to get the number of students to 44, which is the optimum number to travel with internationally.

“This place has been on our hearts and minds for more than two years,” said Dr. Kurt von Kampen, conductor. “We don’t know what God has in store for us but we are prepared to serve Him through our singing and interactions with the people of South Africa. We know that will be blessed as much as those who come to hear us perform.”

The internationally acclaimed choir will perform concerts at churches and schools in eight cities on their 20-day tour. Concert sites include Atlanta, Georgia, Johannesburg, Middelburg, Kruger, Swaziland, St. Lucia, Durban, Lesotho and Pretoria.

During their travels, the choir will get to experience a safari and tour the city of Durban, as well as visit the Nelson Mandela museum. They will also get to perform with a Swazi Tribal Choir and visit Krueger National Park.

The choir performs full-length concerts, high school assemblies and church worship services.  The repertoire of sacred and secular choral compositions spans all historical periods and is representative of many cultures. This year’s concert features the works of Paul Manz, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franics Poulenc, Austin Theriot, Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, among others. 

The A Cappella Choir has toured the U.S. each year and internationally approximately every four years since its inception in 1939, performing throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Asia and Mexico. It also has participated in international choral festivals in Australia and Austria, placing first and third respectively while under the direction of Dr. von Kampen.

Von Kampen earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Concordia University, Nebraska, a master’s degree in choral conducting from Oakland University and a doctorate in choral music education from the University of Nebraska.

Members of the A Cappella Choir traveling to South Africa include:

SOPRANO I

• Vanessa Marsh, sophomore, Concordia, Mo.
  • B.A. Music and Communication

• Kayleah Moravec, sophomore, Seward, Neb.
  • B.S. Biology (Pre-Med)

• Emily Sievert, junior, Frankenmuth, Mich.
  • B.S. Education (Secondary) English, Music Minor

• Meredith Locke, junior, Winter Haven, Fla.
  • B.A. Music, Performance

SOPRANO II

• Corrianne Cain, freshman, Cedarburg, Wis.
  • B.S. Education (Middle/Secondary) LTD

• Sarah Krause, junior, Rockford Ill.
  • B.S. Education (Elementary), B.A. Music; violin

• Sarah Mueller, sophomore, Hemlock, Mich.
  • B.A. Theology, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences

• Mallory Parrish, junior, Auburn, Neb.
  • B.S. Business Administration, B.S. Business Communications

• Paige Stadler, sophomore, Columbus, Neb.
  • B. Mus. Music Education

• Lauren Wilcox, junior, Seward, Neb.
  • B.S. Education (Elementary)

ALTO I

• Kaitlyn Christensen, sophomore, Kenosha, Wis.
  • B.Mus. Vocal Music Education, LTD

• Hannah Davis, sophomore, Coon Rapids, Minn.
  • B.S. Education (Early Childhood), LTD

• Emily Jensen, senior, Sioux City, Iowa
  • B.S. Education (Secondary) Vocal Music; Drama

• Emily Kollbaum, senior, Concordia, Mo.
  • B.S. Education (Secondary) Theatre, English

• Jennifer Reynolds, senior, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
  • B. Mus. Music Education

• Clara Rich, senior, Lincoln, Neb.
  • B.A. Music, B.S. Biology

• Ann Spilker, Junior, Ashland, Neb.
  • B.S. Biology (Organismal)

ALTO II

• Emma Gremmer, sophomore, New Braunfels, Texas
  • B.S. Accounting

• Laura Hedstrom, junior, Lakefield, Minn.
  • B.Mus. Church Music

• Sophie Hoelz, freshman, Milwaukee, Wis.
  • B.S. Education (Secondary) Spanish

• Audrey Rich, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb.
  • B.S. Biology, B.A. Psychology

• Megan Sparling, senior, Columbus, Neb.
  • B.A. Music; Business Minor

TENOR I

• Albert Boldt, sophomore, Hewitt, Minn.
  • B.A. Music; Vocal Performance

• Matthew Gerhold, sophomore, Atkins, Iowa
  • B.Mus. Vocal Music Education, LTD

• Nathanael Patron, sophomore, North Newton, Kan.
  • B.A. Biology: Optometry

• Jeramy Willis, junior, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • B.A. Psychology, CEL, DCE

TENOR II

• David Dieckhoff, sophomore, Seward, Neb.
  • B.A. Physics

• Micah Holten, junior, Nicollet, Minn.
  • B.M. Church Music

• Micah Most, sophomore, Ogallala, Neb.
  • B.S. Biology/Chemistry, Pre-Veterinary

• Jonathan Rippe, sophomore, Gretna, Neb.
  • B.A. Music; Psychology and Accounting Minors

BASS I

• Isaiah Armbrecht, sophomore, Williamsburg, Iowa
  • B.A. History, Pre-Seminary

• Joshua Brumm, sophomore, Seward, Neb.
  • B.A. Theology, DCE

• Jacob Fink, junior, Long Beach, Calif.
  • B.S. Education (Secondary), History and Theology

• Jacob Henson, junior, Herrin, Ill.
  • B.S. Computer Science; B.A. Music

• Brandon Holmes, freshman, Waconia, Minn.
  • B.Mus. Music Education

• Alex Kaldahl, freshman, Spencer, Iowa
  • B.S. Education (Secondary)

• Mason Koeritz, senior, Northrop, Minn.
  • B.A. Music, B.S. Chemistry

• Benjamin Leeper, junior, Denver, Colo.
  • B.A. Theater, Communications; Pre-Seminary

BASS II

• Cameron Christiansen, senior, Palmer, Ala.
  • B.A. Psychology and Behavioral Science

• Tyler Miles, senior, Omaha, Neb.
  • B.A. Psychology, CEL

• Timothy Rasch, sophomore, Jos, Nigeria
  • B.S. Math, Computer Science

• Aaron Strackbein, junior, San Antonio, Texas
  • B.A. Theology, DCE

• Austin Theriot, junior, Lake Charles, La.
  • B.M. Church Music

• Caleb Worral, junior, Fargo, N.D.
  • B.A. English, Pre-Seminary