Christmas spirit fills the air during 2024 Christmas at Concordia events

The 2024 Christmas at Concordia weekend took place from December 6-8 and included four concerts and a Christmas buffet.  

Preceding these events was a Christmas tree lighting open to the public on Wednesday, November 20, at 7 p.m. The event took place outside of Concordia’s Weller Hall and featured caroling led by Concordia’s Chamber Choir, refreshments and holiday fellowship.  

Across the four Christmas at Concordia weekend concerts, more than 3,000 community members, faculty and staff, and Concordia students and family members gathered at St. John Lutheran Church for music presented by Concordia’s Cantamus Women's Choir, Male Chorus, Handbell Choir, Wind Symphony and A Cappella Choir.  

The program included Scripture readings as well as choral and instrumental music. The congregation listened to pieces like Gustav Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” and Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium”  and had the opportunity to join in on selected verses of traditional hymns like “A Great and Mighty Wonder” and “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending.”  

On Saturday, December 7, Concordia hosted a Christmas buffet that preceded the evening’s 7 p.m. concert. The meal was held in the Cattle Conference Room and featured live music from Concordia’s String Ensemble along with a full menu of traditional holiday foods.  

Thank you to our generous sponsors, Cattle Bank & Trust, for their support of this cherished annual event!

 

Members of the Cantamus Women’s Choir, conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, include (in alphabetical order by state, city, then last name):  

Madeline Hudson-Knowlton, junior, Kenai, Alaska, Soprano II 

Ella Gilzean, senior, Placerville, Calif., Soprano II 

Julia Hitz, sophomore, Mackinaw, Ill., Soprano I 

Grace Drews, sophomore, Tremont, Ill., Alto II 

Anna Maxson, junior, Fort Wayne, Ind., Alto I 

Isabella Peperkorn, senior, Fort Wayne, Ind., Soprano II 

Emma Von Kampen, freshman, Atkins, Iowa, Soprano II 

Autumn Consier, sophomore, Churdan, Iowa, Alto I 

Gretchen Hoft, freshman, Eldridge, Iowa, Soprano II 

Danielle Turner, freshman, Derby, Kan., Soprano I 

Rachel Postier, junior, Newton, Kan., Soprano II 

Lydia Fink, freshman, Olathe, Kan., Soprano I 

Brianna Burns, freshman, Baton Rouge, La., Soprano I 

Mackenzie Schepmann, freshman, Macomb, Mich., Alto I 

Katherine Seifferlein, freshman, St. Johns, Mich., Soprano II 

Emma VanTol, junior, Unionville, Mich., Alto I 

Hannah Ethridge, junior, Fulda, Minn., Soprano I 

Naomi Mueller, freshman, Lewiston, Minn., Alto II 

Cadison Hecksel, freshman, Mankato, Minn., Soprano II 

Emma Borgschatz, senior, Plainview, Minn., Soprano II 

Rachel Brinkman, junior, Plymouth, Minn., Soprano I 

Kyla Schleusener, junior, St. Paul, Minn., Soprano I 

Malia Schleusener, freshman, St. Paul, Minn., Alto I 

Hannah Federwitz, freshman, Concordia, Mo., Soprano II 

Abigail Constien, sophomore, Farmington, Mo., Alto I 

Sofie Stiller, freshman, Ferguson, Mo., Alto I 

Olivia Craig, sophomore, Kansas City, Mo., Alto I 

Ella Brandt, sophomore, Knob Noster, Mo., Alto II 

Alison Galchutt, sophomore, O’Fallon, Mo., Alto II 

Carrie Meyr, junior, St. Louis, Mo., Soprano II 

Olivia Nafzger, sophomore, St. Louis, Mo., Alto II 

Logann Edinger, junior, Wentzville, Mo., Soprano I 

Julia Baker, senior, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Alto II 

Abby Hemenway, junior, Clearwater, Neb., Soprano II 

Trista Hemenway, junior, Clearwater, Neb., Alto I 

Megan Welch, junior, Columbus, Neb., Alto I 

Delaney Baker, junior, Lincoln, Neb., Soprano II 

Sarah Stepp, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb., Alto II 

Rachel Rathjen, sophomore, Marquette, Neb., Soprano II 

Jolie Dittman, freshman, Omaha, Neb., Alto I 

Claire Horacek, sophomore, Papillion, Neb., Alto II 

Shasta Tonniges, junior, York, Neb., Alto II 

Ellen Klintworth, sophomore, Seward, Neb., Alto II 

Emma Wakley, sophomore, Milton, N.Y., Alto II 

Marieka Kaufman, sophomore, Milwaukie, Or., Soprano I 

Olivia Wieczorek, freshman, Warsaw, Poland, Soprano II 

Emma Williamson, sophomore, Franklin, Tenn., Alto I 

Grace Marshall, sophomore, Greeneville, Tenn., Soprano I 

Vivian Marshall, freshman, Greeneville, Tenn., Soprano I 

Michal Black, freshman, Amarillo, Tex., Alto I 

Rachel Ada, junior, DeSoto, Tex., Alto I 

Rachel VonDeylen, freshman, Friendswood, Tex., Soprano II 

Elizabeth Crawford, freshman, Plano, Tex., Alto I 

Emma Shane, senior, Bloomington, Wis., Alto I 

 

Members of the Male Chorus, conducted by Paul Soulek, include:  

Harvey Walter, sophomore, Fort Morgan, Colo., Tenor II 

Chipper Banks, freshman, Loveland, Colo., Tenor I 

Deagan Jones, freshman, Bunker Hill, Ill., Bass I 

Richard Peperkorn, freshman, Fort Wayne, Ind., Bass II 

Andrew Castens, sophomore, New Haven, Ind., Bass I 

Timothy Dose, sophomore, Algona, Iowa, Bass I 

Jalen Buls, freshman, Ankeny, Iowa, Tenor II 

Creighton Urban, freshman, Callender, Iowa, Bass I 

Ethan L’Heureux, sophomore, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Bass I 

Keller Wilson, freshman, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tenor II 

Samuel Olson, freshman, Overland Park, Kan., Bass I 

Will Ebel, freshman, Salina, Kan., Bass I 

Noah Taylor, freshman, Wichita, Kan., Tenor II 

Everett Scarbrough, freshman, Carsonville, Mich., Bass I 

Caleb Ethridge, freshman, Fulda, Minn., Bass I 

TJ Jerrell, freshman, Desloge, Mo., Tenor II 

Jack Hagan, junior, St. Charles, Mo., Bass I 

Jacob Deines, junior, Wentzville, Mo., Bass II 

Matthew Koenig, junior, Kalispell, Mont., Bass II 

Andrew Ring, sophomore, Bismarck, N.D., Tenor I 

Kai Olbrich, sophomore, Bennington, Neb., Bass I 

William Voelker, freshman, Columbus, Neb., Bass I 

Joshua Nikodym, sophomore, Grand Island, Neb., Tenor I 

Robert Schmidt, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., Tenor II 

Andrew Brosius, sophomore, North Platte, Neb., Tenor I 

Gage Olsen, freshman, Plattsmouth, Neb., Bass II 

Duncan Carrasco, freshman, Sidney, Neb., Tenor II 

Dalton Lee, sophomore, Bartlesville, Okla., Tenor I 

Jacob Wald, freshman, Sioux Falls, S.D., Tenor I 

Vaclav Fiala, freshman, Zillina, Slovakia, Bass II 

Ernest Clausing, junior, Moshi, Tanzania, Tenor II 

Jack Nunnink, freshman, Maryville, Tenn., Tenor II 

Timothy Meyer, freshman, Lexington, Texas, Bass II 

Nathan Mahrt, freshman, Lucas, Texas, Bass I 

 

Members of the Concordia Handbell Choir, conducted by Jessica Kite, include:  

Bailey Bianco, sophomore, Loveland, Colo.  

Brianna Bianco, senior, Loveland, Colo.  

Sadie Henson, senior, Herrin, Ill.  

Isabella Peperkorn, senior, Fort Wayne, Ind.  

Amy Crow, sophomore, Wichita, Kan.  

Matthew Feusse, senior, Saginaw, Mich.  

Rachel Brinkman, junior, Plymouth, Minn.  

Logan Walgate, senior, St. Charles, Mo.  

Logann Edinger, junior, Wentzville, Mo.  

Grace Donnelly, junior, Three Forks, Mont.  

Miriam Ganoung, junior, Halsey, Neb.  

Tyler Velkly, sophomore, Lititz, Penn.  

Ethan Gillespie, senior, Random Lake, Wis.  

Timothy Mars, senior, Cody, Wyo.  

 

Members of the University Wind Symphony, conducted by Robert Cody, include:  

Joshua Meyer, sophomore, Longmont, Colo., trombone 

Bailey Bianco, sophomore, Loveland, Colo., clarinet 

Evelyn Schwartz, freshman, Peachtree City, Ga., flute  

Arabella Blakeley, junior, Havana, Ill., clarinet 

Sadie Henson, senior, Herrin, Ill., flute 

Isabella Schmid, senior, Rockford, Ill., bass clarinet 

Emily Castens, freshman, New Haven, Ind., trumpet 

Emma VonKampen, freshman, Atkins, Iowa, flute 

Creighton Urban, freshman, Callender, Iowa, horn 

Autumn Consier, sophomore, Churdan, Iowa, alto saxophone 

Micah Travis, freshman, Sioux City, Iowa, euphonium 

Danielle Turner, freshman, Derby, Kan., flute 

Taylor Rogers, sophomore, Plainville, Kan., tenor saxophone 

Taylor Beal, sophomore, Wichita, Kan., trumpet 

Nathan Feusse, junior, Saginaw, Mich., horn 

Thomas Zimmerman, sophomore, Apple Valley, Minn., clarinet 

Hannah Ethridge, junior, Fulda, Minn., bass clarinet 

Rebecca Tredray, freshman, Minneapolis, Minn., percussion 

Matthew Frerking, freshman, Columbia, Mo., tuba 

Elizabeth Salo, freshman, Palmyra, Mo., horn 

Logan Walgate, senior, St. Charles, Mo., baritone saxophone 

Aaron Wulff, junior, St. Charles, Mo., percussion 

David Eatherton, freshman, St. Louis, Mo., trombone 

Jacob Laesch, freshman, St. Louis, Mo., euphonium 

Grace Donnelly, junior, Three Forks, Mont., alto saxophone 

Abby Kandt, senior, Wake Forest, N.C., flute 

Katheryn Rice, senior, Bellevue, Neb., clarinet 

Megan Welch, junior, Columbus, Neb., alto saxophone 

Miriam Ganoung, junior, Halsey, Neb., trombone 

Jackson Munter, senior, Ithaca, Neb., trombone 

Sydney Rohwer, sophomore, Kearney, Neb., clarinet 

Matthew Guilford, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb., trombone 

Nathan Sollberger, sophomore, Louisville, Neb., alto saxophone 

Maxwell Carlson, sophomore, Norfolk, Neb., trombone 

Abbey Kudrna, sophomore, Omaha, Neb., trumpet 

Ellie Lehr, junior, Omaha, Neb., clarinet 

Joshua Jurchen, junior, Seward, Neb., bassoon 

Ellen Klintworth, sophomore, Seward, Neb., euphonium 

Bailey Hidy, sophomore, Trenton, Neb., trumpet 

Psalm Richters, senior, Utica, Neb., flute 

Benjamin Sams, freshman, Utica, Neb., tuba 

Aleksa Chambers, sophomore, Wilber, Neb., percussion 

Shasta Tonniges, junior, York, Neb., percussion 

Samuel Dunbar, senior, Lambertville, N.J., trumpet 

Jacob Huber, PB, Canton, S.D., alto saxophone 

Maddy Peters, senior, Sioux Falls, S.D., trumpet 

Colin Thuringer, senior, Sioux Falls, S.D., tuba 

Jacob Wald, freshman, Sioux Falls, S.D., percussion 

Faith Brackney, freshman, Allen, Tex., flute 

Mitchell Stephens, freshman, Houston, Tex., trumpet 

Jonah Carter, sophomore, McKinney, Tex., tenor saxophone 

Walker Ranada, senior, McKinney, Tex., oboe 

Michaela Gibbs, freshman, Virginia Beach, Va., trombone 

Karalynn Pingel, sophomore, Janesville, Wis., flute 

Ethan Gillespie, senior, Random Lake, Wis., percussion 

Timothy Mars, senior, Cody, Wyo., percussion 

 

Members of the University A Cappella Choir, conducted by Dr. Kurt von Kampen, include:  

Christina Martinson, freshman, Bloomfield, Neb., Alto I 

Eliya Moldenhauer, junior, Madison, Ala., Soprano II 

Soren Widmann, junior, Long Beach, Calif., Bass II 

Lillian Alwood, sophomore, Signal Hill, Calif., Soprano II 

Robert Wagner, sophomore, Elizabeth, Colo., Bass II 

Bailey Bianco, sophomore, Loveland, Colo., Alto II 

Brianna Bianco, senior, Loveland, Colo., Alto II 

Dylan Parker, junior, Auburndale, Fla., Tenor II 

Naomi Faile, sophomore, Rome, Ga., Soprano I 

Lars Gindler, freshman, Collinsville, Ill., Bass II 

Sadie Henson, senior, Herrin, Ill., Alto I 

Isabella Schmid, senior, Rockford, Ill., Soprano II 

Sophia Ball, sophomore, Worden, Ill., Soprano I 

Yaphet Michael, freshman, Fort Wayne, Ind., Tenor I 

Evan Moloney, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind., Bass I 

Morgan Rohde, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind., Alto II 

Cole Yunker, freshman, Newburgh, Ind., Bass II 

Emily Castens, freshman, New Haven, Ind., Alto II 

Micah Zeckzer, freshman, New Haven, Ind., Tenor I 

Joel Smith, junior, Earlham, Iowa, Bass II 

Lydia Hoft, senior, Williamsburg, Iowa, Alto I 

Carolyn Bromlow, sophomore, Eastborough, Kan., Soprano II 

Taylor Rogers, sophomore, Plainville, Kan., Alto II 

Taylor Beal, sophomore, Wichita, Kan., Bass II 

Amy Crow, sophomore, Wichita, Kan., Alto I 

Megan Tiedje, sophomore, Commerce Township, Mich., Soprano I 

Grant Rohde, junior, Reed City, Mich., Bass II 

Brianna Pike, junior, Vassar, Mich., Soprano II 

Rebecca Tredray, freshman, Minneapolis, Minn., Alto II 

Matthew Frerking, freshman, Columbia, Mo., Bass I 

Reagan Martens, sophomore, Kansas City, Mo., Alto I 

Logan Walgate, senior, St. Charles, Mo., Tenor I 

Maximus Fritsche, freshman, St. Louis, Mo., Tenor I 

Ryan Edinger, senior, Wentzville, Mo., Bass II 

Timothy Baker, sophomore, Khovd, Mongolia, Tenor II 

Grace Donnelly, junior, Three Forks, Mont., Alto II 

Abby Kandt, senior, Wake Forest, N.C., Alto II 

Kathryn Rice, senior, Bellevue, Neb., Soprano II 

Matthew Feusse, senior, Clearwater, Neb., Bass I 

Kailyn Paul, sophomore, Daykin, Neb., Soprano II 

Gracin Hahn, sophomore, DeWitt, Neb., Tenor I 

Lydia Edmonds, freshman, Gretna, Neb., Soprano I 

Miriam Ganoung, junior, Halsey, Neb., Alto I 

Jordan Head, sophomore, Hastings, Neb., Soprano I 

Jackson Munter, senior, Ithaca, Neb., Tenor II 

Sean Duffy, sophomore, Kenesaw, Neb., Bass II 

Timothy Mars, senior, Kimball, Neb., Tenor I 

Matthew Guilford, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb., Tenor II 

Caleb Schlichting, sophomore, Lyons, Neb., Bass II 

Alina Sankey, sophomore, Maywood, Neb., Alto I 

Ellie Lehr, junior, Omaha, Neb., Alto I 

Ian Fiala, junior, Seward, Neb., Bass I 

Bethany Gebhardt, junior, Seward, Neb., Soprano II 

Kirsten Horne, senior, Seward, Neb., Soprano I 

Jonathan Jurchen, freshman, Seward, Neb., Tenor II 

Joshua Jurchen, junior, Seward, Neb., Bass II 

Sam Matthias, junior, Seward, Neb., Bass I 

Tara Pester, sophomore, Seward, Neb., Alto II 

Wyatt Swanson, junior, Staplehurst, Neb., tenor I 

Samuel Dunbar, senior, Lambertville, N.J., Tenor II 

Hunter Remington, junior, Bristow, Okla., Bass I 

Tyler Velkly, sophomore, Lititz, Pa., Tenor II 

Jacob Huber, post-baccalaureate, Canton, S.Dak., Bass I 

Jonathan Baumann, sophomore, Chester, S.Dak., Bass I 

Colin Thuringer, senior, Sioux Falls, S.Dak., Bass II 

Aaron Cumming, junior, Allen, Texas, Bass II 

Meredith Boster, junior, Fulshear, Texas, Alto II 

Karsten Quinton, sophomore, Pearland, Texas, Bass I 

Melissa Oblinger, freshman, Tomball, Texas, Alto II 

Michaela Gibbs, freshman, Virginia Beach, Va., Soprano I 

Jason Church, sophomore, Auburn, Wash., Tenor II 

Brooke Birdsong, sophomore, Cudahy, Wis., Alto I 

Ethan Gillespie, senior, Random Lake, Wis., Bass I 

David Eatherton, freshman, Sheboygan, Wis., Tenor II 

Christmas at Concordia is Concordia University Nebraska’s annual collection of community events celebrating the Christmas season. Events include a tree lighting, Christmas buffet and four Christmas concerts. Learn more about Concordia’s Christmas celebrations here.