Music ensembles ring in springtime at Concordia

The University Concert Band and Brass Ensemble gave a joint concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 28, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Then, the Spring JazzFest opened at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2, in the Weller Hall auditorium. Finally, the Concordia Handbell Choir and Handbell Choir II performed a concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, in the Music Center’s recital hall. All concerts were open to the public at no charge.

The Brass Ensemble explored a wide variety of music, performing four selections for brass. The ensemble opened with “Legends of the Pacific,” a two-movement piece by Frank Gulino. In “Barn Dance” by Murray Houliff, players will use a series of body percussion to create a galloping sound along with the brass timbres. Other selections include “Circus Bee” by Henry Fillmore and “Rejouissance,” a song by James Curnow that will feature Paul Soulek on organ. Soulek is the cantor at Seward’s St. John Lutheran Church. The Brass Ensemble is conducted by Dr. Wendy Schultz, adjunct brass instructor.

Concordia’s University Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Choir each performed at the annual Spring JazzFest May 2. Selections include a Kerry Marsh arrangement of “Uninvited” by Alanis Morissette, a jazz arrangement of “Skylark” by Norman Luboff and “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and the Papas. The choir is conducted by Professor of Music Dr. Kurt von Kampen, and the instrumental ensemble is directed by Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Schultz.

Both the Concordia Handbell Choir and Handbell Choir II performed a selection of Lent and Easter music, as well as original handbell compositions. Led by adjunct instructor Jessica Kite, the choirs’ songs will include percussion, bells and chimes. The Handbell Choir played a new, fast-paced piece titled, “Exultate,” as well as a jazz version of “All Creatures of Our God and King.” The choirs then joined for a combined piece.

Audience members were invited to try playing the bells after the performance. 

Participants include:

Concert Band (students and community members):

Alyssa Miller, freshman, Sioux City, Iowa, horn

Ashley Hecht, Crete, Neb., trumpet

Beth Holle, freshman, Stewartstown, Pa., percussion

Brianna Rerucha, junior, Columbus, Neb., percussion

Bruce Dickinson, Seward, Neb., horn

Bryson Pond, senior, Arkansas City, Kan., percussion

Caroline Jeppesen, Pleasant Dale, Neb., horn

Carrie Jo Hartman, junior, Onawa, Iowa, bass clarinet

Carter Morris, freshman, Columbus, Neb., clarinet

Cassie Boeka, freshman, North Platte, Neb., trumpet

Dan Hicks, Lincoln, Neb., euphonium

David Wesely, Garland, Neb., horn

Derek Theiss, sophomore, Farrar, Mo., tenor saxophone

Erik Geilenkirchen, sophomore, North Platte, Neb., trumpet

Gary Schweitzer, Seward, Neb., tuba

Hannah Rose, freshman, Louisville, Neb., clarinet

Heather Rasch, freshman, Jos, Nigeria, flute

Heidi Brownson, Malcolm, Neb., trumpet

Joanie Brecka, David City, Neb., trumpet

Johanna Meyer, freshman, Shelton, Neb., flute

Jordan Schut, freshman, Scribner, Neb., alto saxophone

Josh Wudtke, freshman, Collinsville, Ill., percussion

Joshua Weishaar, junior, Salinas, Calif., trumpet

Julie Banning, Lincoln, Neb., clarinet

Kara Blase, freshman, Hordville, Neb., flute

Karina Keating, freshman, Woodstock, Ill., flute

Kyle Hinkel, Utica, Neb., euphonium

Libby Klein, freshman, Northfield, Minn., trombone

Megan Seim, freshman, Chapman, Neb., clarinet

Micah Thiessen, junior, Lincoln, Neb., trumpet

Paul Nelson, freshman, Norfolk, Neb., tenor saxophone

Rebecca Trautman, junior, Moorhead, Minn., clarinet

Robin Schoettlin, Lincoln, Neb., alto saxophone

Ryan Carsten, sophomore, Milford, Neb., tuba

Sam Boardman, freshman, Henderson, Neb., trumpet

Sarah Smith, junior, Unadilla, Neb., flute

Shannon Ward, Crete, Neb., clarinet

Sydney Heimann, freshman, Galesburg, Ill., trombone

Van Vahle, Seward, Neb., baritone, saxophone

Brass Ensemble:

Benjamin Sievert, junior, Frankenmuth, Mich., trumpet

Hannah Weber, junior, Manchester, Iowa, trombone

Jennifer Reynolds, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind., trumpet

Jessica Krome, senior, Fairmont, Minn., horn

Nick Harding, junior, Yerington, Nev., euphonium

Ryan Gross, freshman, Riverside, Calif., trumpet

Zach Hagenson, senior, Bellevue, Neb., tuba

Jazz Ensemble:

Andrew Van Velson, senior, North Platte, Neb., playing guitar in Jazz Ensemble

Andrew Malan, senior, Lincoln, Neb., playing alto saxophone in Jazz Ensemble

Ben Sievert, junior, Frankenmuth, Mich., playing trumpet in Jazz Ensemble

Carlie Mueller, freshman, Frankenmuth, Mich., playing alto saxophone in Jazz Ensemble

Cole Berry, freshman, Seward, Neb., playing trombone in Jazz Ensemble

Erin Kelley, senior, Danbury, Neb., playing alto saxophone in Jazz Ensemble

Hannah Weber, junior, Manchester, Iowa, playing trombone in Jazz Ensemble

Jennifer Reynolds, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind., playing trumpet in Jazz Ensemble

Johnathon Carnoali, junior, Hampton, Neb., playing tenor saxophone in Jazz Ensemble

Josh Wudtke, freshman, Collinsville, Ill., playing drums in Jazz Ensemble

Karl Rovey, junior, Springfield, Mo., playing trumpet in Jazz Ensemble

Nathanael Pfeil, senior, Hiawatha, Iowa, playing bass in Jazz Ensemble

Nick Harding, junior, Yerington, Nev., playing trombone in Jazz Ensemble

Olivia Oetting, senior, Seward, Neb., playing trombone in Jazz Ensemble

Paul Gaschler, junior, Imperial, Neb., playing baritone saxophone in Jazz Ensemble

Robert Cody, senior, trumpet, Alamosa, Colo., playing trumpet in Jazz Ensemble

Ryan Gross, freshman, Riverside, Calif., playing trumpet in Jazz Ensemble

Sarah Langness, senior, Larned, Kan., playing tenor saxophone in Jazz Ensemble

Sean Carpenter, junior, Hollis, N.H., playing piano in Jazz Ensemble

Vocal Jazz Choir:

Adrienne Langewisch, junior, Seward, Neb., alto

Andrea von Kampen, sophomore, Seward, Neb., soprano

Arianne Greco, junior, Papillion, Neb., soprano

Brianna Rerucha, junior, Columbus, Neb., soprano

Clara Rich, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., alto

Evan Root, junior, Naples, Fla., tenor

Jonathan Jahnke, sophomore, West Fargo, N.S., tenor

Jordan Miller, junior, Tomball, Texas, tenor

Joshua Weishaar, junior, Salinas, Calif., bass

Julie Marquardt, senior, Janesville, Minn., alto

Karen Burgess, sophomore, Lee’s Summit, Mo., soprano

Luke Wohlgemuth, junior, Alton, Iowa, bass

Megan Sparling, sophomore, Columbus, Neb., alto

Michael Scheer, senior, Lincoln, Neb., bass

Sarah Lohmeyer, senior, Lincoln, Neb., alto

Zachary Klatt, junior, Overland Park, Kan., tenor

Handbell Choir:

Abigail Connick, senior, Salida, Calif.

Andrea Leising, sophomore, Arapahoe, Neb.

Barbara Leising, junior, Arapahoe, Neb.

Cenedra White, senior, Fulton, Mo.

Christian Schultz, junior, Wamego, Kan.

Christopher Wilson, junior, Fremont, Calif.

Danielle Jarvis, senior, Hamilton, Mont.

Ellen Franzmeier, senior, Newell, Iowa

Emily Wood, senior, Osceola, Neb.

Eric Souer, freshman, Venetia, Pa.

Erik Geilenkirchen, sophomore, North Platte, Neb.

Hannah Weber, junior, Manchester, Iowa

James Clausen, junior, Hull, Iowa

Jennifer Reynolds, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Joel Marquardt, junior, Denver, N.C.

Justin Tayon, senior, Belleville, Ill.

Karen Burgess, sophomore, Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Kelli Ryddner, sophomore, Mount Pleasant, Wis.

Lara Bergdolt, senior, Grand Island, Neb.

Leah Maag, junior, Waterloo, Ill.

Maria Sasieta, junior, Carrollton, Ill.

Mary Leising, junior, Arapahoe, Neb.

Nick Harding, junior, Yerington, Nev.

Rachel Dahlke, junior, Everett, Wash.

Rebecca Trautman, junior, Moorhead, Minn.

Rebekah Holten, junior, Nicollet, Minn.

Ryan Gross, freshman, Riverside, Calif.

Thomas Hatesohl, senior, Clay Center, Kan.