A Cappella performs at Nebraska Music Education Association conference

Concordia’s A Cappella Choir represented the university at the Nebraska Music Education Association conference on Nov. 18. The choir performed a half-hour set, “The Emerald Isle: Inspirations of Ireland” to music educators and attendees of the conference at St. Paul Methodist Church in Lincoln.  

“It is always an honor to perform for the Nebraska Music Educators Association annual conference,” said Dr. Kurt von Kampen, conductor, professor of music and chair of the Concordia University music department. “Since our first audio submission in 1999, the choir has always passed the audition to represent Concordia at this important event.”  

The A Cappella Choir has been singing fine choral music since its inception in 1937. Now, 85 years later, the 72-voice choir is still touring and performing locally, nationally and internationally.  

“This year’s choir performed at a very high level, and the members seemed to really value the experience,” said von Kampen. “There were many music teachers and high school vocalists in attendance and the comments I received were extremely positive! To God be the glory!” 

Members of the Concordia A Cappella Choir include (listed in program order): 

Soprano I 

Rebekah Guilford, Senior, Lincoln, Neb. 

Jennifer Horne, Senior, Seward, Neb. 

Kirsten Horne, Sophomore, Seward, Neb. 

Jessica Landrey, Sophomore, Seward, Neb. 

McKenna McSpadden, Junior, Parker Colo. 

Renata Peperkorn, Senior, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Soprano II 

Morgan Bowman, Senior, South Sioux City, Neb. 

Makenna Clovis, Senior Albuquerque, N.M. 

Hannah Cmeyla, Senior, Bay City, Mich. 

Hannah Eatherton, Senior, Sheboygan, Wis. 

Emily Klemp, Junior, Winona, Minn. 

Olivia Leising, Senior, Arapahoe, Neb. 

Eliya Moldenhauer, Freshman, Madison, Ala. 

Rebekah Stadler, Sheboygan, Wis. 

Alto I 

Lydia Armbrecht, Sophomore, Williamsburg, Iowa 

Katie Benkendorf, Senior, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 

Sadie Henson, Sophomore, Herrin, Ill. 

Abigail Joers, Senior, Kansas City, Mo. 

Ellie Lehr, Freshman, Omaha, Neb. 

Gillian Mettenbrink, Junior, Seward, Neb. 

Mary Pennekamp, Junior, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Anna Royuk, Junior, Seward, Neb. 

Alto II 

Brianna Bianco, Sophomore, Loveland, Colo. 

Abigail Bimler, Junior, Seward, Neb. 

Kathryn Castens, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Annah Heck, Senior, Coon Rapids, Iowa 

Gabrielle Krutsinger, Junior, Imperial, Neb. 

Grace Pennekamp, Junior, Fort Wayne, Neb. 

Jenna Potratz, Junior, Seward, Neb. 

Tabitha Ristvedt, Senior, Milford, Neb. 

Rachel Smith, Junior, Earlham, Iowa 

Alannah Stahl, Junior, Saginaw, Mich. 

Abigail Van Velson, Junior, Seward, Neb. 

Tenor I  

Benjamin Brenckle, Junior, Kewaskum, Wis. 

Timothy Mars, Sophomore, Cody, Wyo. 

Christoph Marsh, Senior, Concordia, Mo. 

Micah Schultz, Senior, Scotia, N.Y. 

Wyatt Swanson, Freshman, Seward, Neb. 

Logan Walgate, Sophomore, St. Charles, Mo. 

Isaac Weander, Junior, Norfolk, Neb. 

Tenor II

Samuel Dunbar, Sophomore, Lambertville, N.J. 

Matthew Guilford, Freshman, Lincoln, Neb. 

John Merritt, Sophomore, Plano, Texas 

Jackson Munter, Sophomore, Ithaca, Neb. 

Neal Patron, Senior, North Newton, Kan. 

Nathan Pennekamp, Sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Hunter Remington, Freshman, Bristow, Okla. 

Thomas Schulteis, Junior, Parker, Colo. 

Bass I 

Ian Fiala, Freshman, Seward, Neb. 

Ethan Gillespie, Sophomore, Random Lake, Wis. 

Ethan Ideus, Junior, Seward, Neb. 

Ian Johnson, Freshman, Seward, Neb. 

Nathan Kieser, Senior, Plano, Texas 

Sam Matthias, Freshman, Seward, Neb. 

Daniel, Oberdieck, Junior, Lanseville, Ind. 

Calvin Rohde, Junior, Reed City, Mich. 

Andrew Schroeder, Junior, Kendallville, Ind. 

Soren Widmann, Freshman, Long Beach, Calif. 

Bass II 

Cody Bender, Senior, Tecumseh, Neb. 

Aaron Cumming, Freshman, Plano, Texas 

Ryan Edinger, Sophomore, Wentzville, Mo. 

Joshua Jurchen, Freshman, Seward, Neb. 

Jayson Klaumann, Senior, Fairbury, Neb. 

Jonathan Landrey, Senior, Seward, Neb. 

Nathan Leonard, Senior, Topeka, Kan. 

Nathaniel Mueller, Junior, Austin, Texas 

Nathan Pennington, Senior, Lincoln, Neb. 

Grant Rohde, Freshman, Reed City, Mich. 

Conner Rosendale, Freshman, Seward, Neb. 

Cory Ruybalid, Junior, Fremont, Neb. 

Braeson Thompson, Senior, Hills, Minn.

Interested in being involved in music at Concordia? Learn more here.