Pre-seminary and music junior Hunter Remington treasures Concordia Nebraska’s rich Lutheran heritage

Junior Hunter Remington from Bristow, Oklahoma, is in Concordia Nebraska’s pre-seminary program and is also pursuing a bachelor of arts in music with emphasis in organ. He sings with the university’s famed A Cappella Choir, works for the Concordia Nebraska Center for Liturgical Art and leads weekly evening prayer services on campus. 

Remington attended a Higher Things youth conference on the Concordia Nebraska campus in 2019. That was his first exposure to the Seward, Nebraska, campus, but he said when he decided to study music and pursue church work, he knew without a doubt that the university was the right place for him. He said he chose to attend Concordia Nebraska because he wanted an education that was distinctly Lutheran and reflected those values. 

“Ultimately, Concordia Nebraska offered the exact kinds of programs I was looking for and actively fosters an environment for you to flourish in what you want to study,” he said. “Concordia is distinct from other universities because you have a campus that is essentially all on the same page. You have a Christian, but more importantly, a Lutheran culture that grows and lives its life together in that way. The campus worship life is also something that I believe to be different. Not in many other places do that many people of my age regularly gather to worship together.” 

Concordia is distinct from other universities because you have a campus that is essentially all on the same page. You have a Christian, but more importantly, a Lutheran culture that grows and lives its life together in that way.

He said that the university music department offerings and professors have made a tremendous impact on him during his time on campus. 

“The music department at Concordia Nebraska is special,” he said. “The professors in the music department are widely known and so well learned in their respective disciplines. Students are able to glean a firehose of information from them. Each professor knows you so well and truly cares about seeing your growth not only as a musician but also as a person. The student side of the department is also very tight knit. After all, living life together, such as during a two-week A Cappella Tour, brings together such lasting and special connections.” 

Although he speaks highly of his musical experiences at the university, he said the opportunity to regularly worship with fellow students is even more incredible. 

“My favorite part of my Concordia Experience is probably two-fold. The first would be having the opportunity to be in and to tour with the A Cappella Choir across the nation,” he said. “But worshipping twice a week at Evening Prayer is also incredibly important to my life at Concordia. Choosing to gather outside of the normal chapel time to pray, sing and worship with close friends builds up your faith like no other.” 

He said academics at Concordia are of such a high caliber, he is able to get ahead of future classes required the seminary, since he has started Biblical Languages and needed classes during his time at the university. 

Following graduation from Concordia Nebraska, he intends to attend Concordia Theological Seminary – Fort Wayne and eventually dreams of being a Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod pastor in a very musical parish that also has a school.  

Remington’s mother, Stephanie Kelly, also attended Concordia Nebraska for a period of time and studied art, so he said working in the university’s Center for Liturgical Art is extra special for him.  

Remington said his Concordia Nebraska professors have continually pushed him to become a better musician, student and person.  

“They reassure of my purpose at Concordia Nebraska and to the church regularly as church workers themselves,” he said. “[My time at Concordia] has taught me to realize how big our Lutheran world truly is. And Concordia has put me in a place where I am regularly around a worshipping community. I’m able to attend chapel, Evening Prayer and Divine Service with my friends every week. Being in communion with one another in that setting builds everyone up in their faith tremendously.” 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s pre-seminary program prepare students for admission to a theological seminary, so they can become a member of the ordained pastoral ministry. Designed to coordinate specifically with the Master of Divinity program of both seminaries of the LCMS, Concordia’s pre-seminary program is rooted in the liberal arts tradition and includes an emphasis in the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew, along with a background in philosophy and the humanities.