Christopher Loesel: Pointing Others to Christ Through Music

This year’s Concordia University, Nebraska A Cappella Choir tour is somewhat of a walk down memory lane for Christopher Loesel ’08. A former member of the University A Cappella Choir, he graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska with a bachelor of science in education with endorsements in theology and 7-12 vocal music. Since graduation, he has served as director of performing arts at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado. 

During this year’s tour, Loesel’s high school choir will join the A Cappella Choir at Our Father Lutheran Church in Centennial, Colorado, to perform two opening numbers on their own. They will also join the A Cappella Choir toward the end of the performance for two pieces sung by both choirs.  

“In addition to teaching the Jubilate Choir, the Men's Choir and a worship class, I also oversee both the music and theatre programs at Lutheran High, providing leadership and administration for all things performing arts,” explained Loesel. “I also serve as the music director for our annual musical, working with the students as well as serving as the pit orchestra conductor for the production. It's a blessing to be in a place where I can use the gifts and talents God has blessed me with to point others to Christ through their performances and their lives.” 

Loesel said that even though he graduated from the university more than 15 years ago, he still feels supported and cared for by the university community. 

“Dr. von Kampen continues to be a strong leader and mentor in my life as I go through each day as a music educator,” he said. “We communicate frequently, and he also is a regular visitor to Lutheran High School in Parker. I feel blessed to have such wonderful resources available to me even now. It is the care shown by the staff and community that definitely sets Concordia apart from other institutions.” 

Loesel said when he first came to Concordia Nebraska, he wasn’t expecting to major in education.  

The most important thing that Concordia Nebraska emphasizes is the Gospel. A Gospel-centered vocation looks so different than one centered on self. To know that I am secure because of Christ's death and resurrection changes everything.

“I came to the university planning to become a Director of Christian Education (DCE). I was impressed by the DCE program and had several mentors, family members and friends that had attended Concordia Nebraska,” he said. “In the midst of looking at the university, I was able to hear the A Cappella Choir on their spring tour and fell in love with the ensemble. I was also able to sing with the University Chamber Choir during one of their concerts. It was such an amazing experience to hear what singing in a college choir could be like. It was an experience unlike any I had had before. After my college visit to Concordia Nebraska and sitting in on A Cappella rehearsal, I knew I wanted to be at Concordia.” 

His parents were both role models and examples for him, he said. Both church workers, they demonstrated to Loesel humility, grace, dedication and commitment in their church work vocations.  

“My dad was a church and school music director, and my mom was both a classroom teacher and a music teacher throughout her working years,” he said. “They showed me what it means to be a servant of Christ and to do everything to the glory of God. It wasn't a glamorous career, and it wasn't something they did for their own benefit. Rather, they served others and always looked for ways to share the Gospel through their interactions, their work and their lives. Their example inspired me to look for ways to use the gifts God has blessed me with to serve His kingdom. I pray that God can use me to further his kingdom through the vocation he has called me to.”  

In 2018, Loesel completed a masters degree in music education with emphasis in choral conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder. He and his wife Emma were married in June 2020. In June 2023, they welcomed daughter Eleanor Grace. Loesel said that his time at Concordia Nebraska richly equipped him for his current service. 

 “The most important thing that Concordia Nebraska emphasizes is the Gospel. A Gospel-centered vocation looks so different than one centered on self. To know that I am secure because of Christ's death and resurrection changes everything,” he said. “It is my prayer that my career reflects my Savior, and that my students can experience the life changing news of the Gospel. Although this is a message I have heard my whole life, Concordia Nebraska did such a great job centering our career preparation in that truth. I appreciate that even more now than I did when I was there.”  

 He said that his time at the university was filled with many formative experiences and that the memories he has from his time there are ones he will not soon forget. 

“So many of those memories are from my time in A Cappella, Chamber Choir and Wind Ensemble. One memory that I share frequently was from our time on a European tour with A Cappella,” he said. “One of our first concerts was in a small town in Germany that had been visited by A Cappella many times in the 1990s. It was our first time back there in a while, and they could not have been more excited to host us. This small church in the German countryside was packed with people, standing room only, for our concert. They had asked us ahead of time to learn "An Irish Blessing" so we could sing it with their choir. We joined together to sing it in a beautiful moment celebrating the body of Christ around the world. Later in the tour, as we were at an international choir competition, we were waiting for scores and some of the choirs started spontaneously singing songs. One choir started singing "An Irish Blessing" and immediately five or six other choirs from around the world joined in, including us. Once again, it was a powerful and beautiful picture of the body of Christ around the world.” 

Loesel was in the university’s A Cappella Choir for four years, the University Wind Symphony for two years and the University Chamber Choir for two years. Several of the university’s music ensembles tour nationally, and the A Cappella Choir takes an international tour every four years. He said he finds great joy in serving where God has placed him. 

“There's often a misconception that we need to go to another part of the world to effectively share the Gospel. If my career has taught me anything, it is that anywhere that God places us is a mission field. I am blessed to serve in the mission field,” he said. “The high schoolers of today need the life-changing power of the Gospel more than ever. Being able to speak truth into their lives on a regular basis is humbling and wonderful. As a music teacher, I see kids in different venues than a traditional classroom, and it's a blessing to get to use those venues to open up conversation about the Gospel. I pray that God can use me to further His kingdom in whatever calling He has me and with the people that God has placed me with.” 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s music department prepares students to glorify God in their vocations in the church and world through the study and performance of music. About one-third of the university’s students participate in music lessons, ensembles and classes. The university’s music majors come from more than 20 states across the United Staties. Whether they major in performance, church music, music education or another area of focus, Concordia Nebraska’s music students use their talents and gifts to serve the church and the world through God’s gift of music. Thousands of alumni serve across the globe in Lutheran High Schools, elementary schools and middle schools, in church music ministry and beyond.