A Cappella Choir embarks on Spring 2021 Choral Tour
The University A Cappella Choir from Concordia University, Nebraska, will perform at churches and schools in eight cities over April 14-18 during its annual spring tour.
The choir will begin and end its tour with local-area concerts—April 14 at Christ Lincoln and April 18 at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.
“The A Cappella Choir strives to perform music at a high artistic level – music which inspires, instructs and entertains,” Dr. Kurt E. von Kampen, the choir’s conductor and music department chair, said. “But the mission of the choir goes beyond mere artistry. The University A Cappella Choir exists to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in song and to honor God with the musical talents the students have been given.”
The internationally acclaimed choir will perform at Christ Lincoln; Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk; Fremont First Methodist Church in Fremont; Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha; Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Omaha; Atchison High School, Atchison, Kansas; Bethany Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kansas; Trinity Lutheran Church in Leavenworth, Kansas, and St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.
The choir performs full-length concerts, school assemblies and participates in Sunday 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 choral music of Hans Leo Hassler, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Aaron Copland, Ola Gjeilo, Ivo Antognini, Paul Basler, Eric Whitacre, Philip Stopford, Mack Wilberg and others.
The A Cappella Choir has toured the country each year and internationally approximately every four years since its inception in 1939, performing throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Asia, Mexico and most recently South Africa. It also has participated in international choral festivals in Australia and Austria, placing first and third respectively under von Kampen’s direction.
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.
Admission to concerts is free. Free-will offerings will be taken at evening concerts to help defray tour expenses.
Members of the University A Cappella Choir (listed by voice type):
Soprano I
Rachel Fisher, Freshman, Lincoln, Neb.
B.S. Education (Elementary)
Shanda Fujan, Senior, Oakland, Neb.
B.A. Art Therapy
Jennifer Horne, Sophomore, Canton, Kan.
B.Mus. Church Music
Grace Huesmann, Junior, Jackson, Wis.
B.S. Education (Early Childhood), LTD
Megan Kroeker, Senior, Henderson, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Therapy
Renata Peperkorn, Junior, Rocklin, Calif.
B.Mus. Music Education, Church Music, LTD
Soprano II
Makenna Clovis, Senior, Albuquerque, N.M.
B.Mus. Church Music
Brooke Ann Duerr, Junior, Warren, Mich.
B.A. Psychology, Behavioral Science
Hannah Eatherton, Sophomore, Sheboygan, Wis.
B.S. Education (Elementary)
Rebekah Eatherton, Sophomore, Sheboygan, Wis.
B.S. Education (Elementary)
Alyssa Hoeft, Senior, Garland, Neb.
B.A. Psychology
Jessica Landrey, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
B.A. Psychology, Behavioral Science
Olivia Leising, Junior, Arapahoe, Neb.
B.S. Agricultural Science, B.A. Environmental Science.
Alto I
Katie Benkendorf, Sophomore, Uniontown, Mo.
B.A. Music, Theory/Composition; English
Elizabeth Bergdolt, Senior, Grand Island, Neb.
B.S. Biology and Chemistry
Abigail Bimler, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
B.A. World and Intercultural Studies; History
Keziah Bruns, Senior, Waco, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Hannah Cmeyla, Junior, Bay City, Mich.
B.A. Music (Vocal Performance); B.S. Business Administration
Rebekah Guilford, Junior, Lincoln, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Education
Nicholle Harstad, Junior, Norfolk, Neb.
B.S. Elementary Education, LTD, ESL
McKenna Kaskie, Senior, Grand Island, Neb.
B.A. Marketing
Abigail Meier, Junior, Lawrence, Kan.
B.A. Psychology; Behavioral Science
Jacee Pfeifer, Senior, Holdrege, Neb.
B.A. Music (General Studies)
Anna Royuk, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
B.A. Music (Violin Performance), Computer Science
Alto II
Jill Bultemeier, Sophomore, Texarkana, Texas
B.A. World and Intercultural Studies
Kathryn Castens, Sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind.
B.S. Education (Secondary) Mathematics
Jenna Fredrickson, Senior, Concordia, Kan.
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Annah Heck, Sophomore, Coon Rapids, Iowa
B.S. Psychology
Abigail Joers, Sophomore, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
B.A. Behavioral Science (Pre-Law)
Gabrielle Krutsinger, Freshman, Imperial, Neb.
B.M. Music Therapy
Gillian Mettenbrink, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
B.M. Music Therapy, Vocal Music Ed.
Cecilia Minchow, Junior, Lincoln, Neb.
B.A. Psychology, Behavioral Sciences
Alexandra Ryks, Senior, Bellevue, Neb.
B.M. Music Therapy
Abigail Van Velson, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
B.M. Music Therapy
Bethany Zeckzer, Junior, Fort Wayne, Ind.
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Tenor I
Garret Drews, Junior, Fremont, Neb.
B. Mus. Vocal Music Education
Noah Freeman, Senior, Bend, Oregon
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Joshua Marlatt, Junior, Minnetrista, Minn.
B.A. History; Pre-Seminary
Christoph Marsh, Sophomore, Concordia, Mo.
B.A. Music, History
Micah Schultz, Sophomore, Scotia, N.Y.
B.S. Education (Secondary) Social Studies
Christian Watters, Senior, Panama, Neb.
B.A. Psychology, Behavioral Science
Caleb Zeckzer, Freshman, New Haven, Ind.
B.A. Music, Theology; Pre-Seminary
Tenor II
Jacob Adams, Sophomore, Walled Lake, Mich.
B.A. Marketing
Trenton Bruntz, Junior, Hastings, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Education
David Ehrke, Junior, Alma, Neb.
B.S. Education (Secondary), Social Sciences
Christopher James Jr., Senior, Topeka, Kan.
B.A. Biology; Psychology
Neal Patron, Sophomore, North Newton, Kan.
B.S. Computer Science
Jacob Schielke, Senior, Decatur, Texas
B.A. History
Thomas Schulteis, Freshman, Parker, Colo.
B.Mus. Church Music
Isaac Weander, Freshman, Norfolk, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Bass I
James Gramzow, Junior, Royal Oak, Mich.
B.A. Music, Pre-Seminary
Ethan Ideus, Freshman, Seward, Neb.
B.S. Exercise Science
Aaron Jackson, Senior, Palestine, Texas
B.Mus. Church Music
Thomas Johnson, Senior, Omaha, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Avery Kesar, Senior, Omaha, Neb.
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
Nathan Kieser, Sophomore, Plano, Texas
B.A. Math; Pre-Seminary
Calvin Rohde, Freshman, Reed City, Mich.
B.M. Music Education
Matthew Wahlers, Junior, Napa, Calif.
B.S. Education (Secondary) Social Sciences
Bass II
Aaron Christiansen, Senior, Palmer, Alaska
B.A. History, Computer Science
Caleb Fischer, Senior, Jefferson City, Mo.
B.S. Education (Secondary), History and Theology, LTD
Joshua Frerking, Senior, Tomball, Texas
B.A. History
Max Johnston, Junior, White Bear Lake, Minn.
B.A. Business Administration, Pre-Seminary
Jayson Klaumann, Sophomore, Fairbury, Neb.
B.S. Education (Secondary), Mathematics
Jonathan Landrey, Sophomore, Seward, Neb.
B.A. History; B.A. Geography
Nathan Leonard, Junior, Topeka, Kan.
B.A. Music
Nathaniel Mueller, Freshman, Austin, Texas
B.S. Mathematics, Computer Science
Nathan Pennington, Sophomore, Lincoln, Neb.
B.Mus. Church Music
Grant Stadler, Junior, Columbus, Neb.
B.S. Education (Secondary), Social Sciences
The 2021 A Cappella Choir Spring Tour Itinerary
Please contact the individual church for information about attendance policies.
Wednesday, April 14
Christ Lincoln
4325 Sumner St.
Lincoln, NE 68506
Concert time: 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 15
Christ Lutheran Church
605 S. 5th St.
Norfolk, NE 68701
Concert time: 2 p.m.
Fremont First United Methodist Church
Joint Concert with Fremont High School
815 N. Broad St.
Fremont, NE 68025
Concert time: 7 p.m.
Friday, April 16
Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church
15005 Q St.
Omaha, NE 68137
Concert time: 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 17
Bethany Lutheran Church
9101 Lamar Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66207
Concert time: 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 18
Trinity Lutheran Church
2101 10th Ave.
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Sunday services: 10:45 a.m.
Home Concert
St. John Lutheran Church
919 N. Columbia Ave.
Seward, NE 68434
Concert time: 7 p.m.