Christmas spirit fills the air during 2023 Christmas at Concordia concerts

by Hope Nelson

Seward, NE (12/04/2023) — The 2023 Christmas at Concordia weekend took place from December 1-3 and included four concerts and a Christmas buffet.

Across the four 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 A Cappella Choir, Handbell Choir, Men's Choir, Cantamus Women's Choir, and Wind Symphony.

The program included Scripture readings, original music from faculty members, and traditional hymns presented in different arrangements by the various music groups. The congregation listened to songs including Gustav Holst's "In the Bleak Midwinter" and Jonathan Dove's "The Three Kings" while joining in on hymns such as "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Each concert closed with a combined performance of "Joy to the World" that incorporated the congregation and each performance group.

On Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2, Concordia hosted a Christmas buffet that preceded each night's 7 p.m. concert. The meal was held in the Cattle Conference Room and featured live music from Concordia's String Ensemble as well as a full menu of traditional holiday foods.

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, freshman, Kenai, Alaska, soprano II

Alleah Struble, senior, Heber Springs, Ark., soprano II

Ella Gilzean, junior, Placerville, Calif., soprano II

Isabella Peperkorn, junior, Rocklin, Calif., soprano II

Ami Pritchett, senior, Denver, Colo., alto I

Chloe Dahn, senior, Decatur, Ill., alto I

Anna Maxson, sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind., alto I

Rachel Ada, sophomore, DeSoto, Kan., alto I

Olivia Craig, freshman, Kansas City, Kan., alto I

Rachel Postier, sophomore, Newton, Kan., soprano II

Amy Crow, freshman, Wichita, Kan., alto II

Emma VanTol, sophomore, Unionville, Mich., alto I

Brianna Pike, freshman, Vassar, Mich., soprano I

Hannah Ethridge, sophomore, Fulda, Minn., soprano I

Emma Borgschatz, junior, Plainview, Minn., soprano II

Rachel Brinkman, sophomore, Plymouth, Minn., soprano I

Kyla Schleusener, sophomore, St. Paul, Minn., soprano I

Reagan Martens, freshman, Kansas City, Mo., alto I

Alison Galchutt, freshman, O'Fallon, Mo., alto II

Hannah Fasnacht, senior, St. Charles, Mo., alto I

Makayla Adams, senior, St. Louis, Mo., soprano II

Carrie Meyr, sophomore, St. Louis, Mo., soprano II

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

Grace Donnelly, sophomore, Three Forks, Mont., alto II

Abby Nugent, senior, Wake Forest, N.C., alto II

Abby Hemenway, sophomore, Clearwater, Neb., soprano II

Trista Hemenway, sophomore, Clearwater, Neb., alto I

Megan Endorf, sophomore, Columbus, Neb., alto I

Delaney Baker, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., soprano II

Cadence Fulfs, sophomore, Plattsmouth, Neb., soprano II

Gabrielle Dean, sophomore, Tecumseh, Neb., soprano II

Ellen Klintworth, freshman, Seward, Neb., alto II

Felicity Junge, freshman, Eugene, Ore., alto I

Marieka Kaufman, freshman, Milwaukie, Ore., soprano I

Julia Hitz, freshman, Dallas, Texas, soprano I

Emma Williamson, freshman, Franklin, Tenn., alto I

Abby Dueck, junior, North Richland Hills, Texas, alto II

Emma Shane, junior, Bloomington Wis., alto I

Elizabeth Leapley, senior, Delafield, Wis., alto II

Madeline Janetzke, freshman, Milwaukee, Wis., alto II

Julia Baker, junior, Poy Sippi, Wis., alto II

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

Christopher Kandt, senior, Daphne, Ala., bass I

Timothy Dose, freshman, Arcadia, Iowa, bass I

Brett Determan, senior, Cedar Falls, Iowa, bass I

Jordan Fasnacht, junior, Clarinda, Iowa, bass II

Nathan Hoft, senior, Eldridge, Iowa, bass I

Andrew Castens, freshman, Fort Wayne, Ind., bass I

Aarin Dean, junior, Fort Dodge, Iowa, tenor I

Rocco Fritz, freshman, Breckenridge, Minn., bass I

Alexander Johnston, senior, White Bear Lake, Minn., bass II

Adam Prince, senior, O'Fallon, Mo., bass I

Jacob Deines, sophomore, St. Charles, Mo., bass II

Jack Hagan, sophomore, St. Charles, Mo., bass I

Matthew Koenig, sophomore, Kalispell, Mont., bass II

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

Kai Olbrich, freshman, Bennington, Neb., bass I

Caleb Jalas, senior, Grand Island, Neb., tenor I

Joshua Nikodym, freshman, Grand Island, Neb., tenor I

Stephen Duffy, senior, Kenesaw, Neb., bass II

Devon Reitz, senior, Milford, Neb., bass II

Andrew Brosius, freshman, North Platte, Neb., tenor I

Tyler Velkly, freshman, Lititz, Pa., tenor II

Jacob Huber, post-baccalaureate, Canton, S.D., bass II

Ernest Clausing, sophomore, Moshi, Tanzania, tenor II

Jason Church, freshman, Auburn, Wash., tenor II

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

Bailey Bianco, freshman, Loveland, Colo.

Brianna Bianco, sophomore, Loveland, Colo.

Thomas Schulteis, senior, Parker, Colo.

Amanda Munzert, senior, Edwardsville, Ill.

Sadie Henson, junior, Herrin, Ill.

Caleb Zeckzer, senior, New Haven, Ind.

Amy Crow, freshman, Wichita, Kan.

Matthew Feusse, senior, Clearwater, Neb.

Abigail Bimler, senior, Seward, Neb.

Anna Grass, senior, Seward, Neb.

Nathaniel Mueller, senior, Austin, Texas

Magdalene Hall, senior, Spring, Texas

Ethan Gillespie, junior, Random Lake, Wis.

Timothy Mars, junior, Cody, Wyo.

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

Bailey Bianco, freshman, Loveland, Colo., clarinet

Amanda Munzert, senior, Edwardsville, Ill., flute

Arabella Blakeley, freshman, Havana, Ill., clarinet

Sadie Henson, junior, Herrin, Ill., flute

Andrew Schroeder, senior, Kendallville, Ill., trombone

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

Caleb Zeckzer, senior, New Haven, Ind., clarinet

Nathan Hoft, senior, Eldridge, Iowa, alto saxophone

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

Taylor Beal, freshman, Wichita, Kan., trumpet

Lydia Schultz, senior, Bay City, Mich., baritone

Alannah Stahl, senior, Saginaw, Mich., horn

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

Nathaniel Demlow, senior, St. Paul, Minn., trombone

Kayla Kisker, senior, Platte City, Mo., horn

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

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

Katheryn Rice, junior, Bellevue, Neb., clarinet

Matthew Feusse, senior, Clearwater, Neb., trumpet

Nathan Feusse, sophomore, Clearwater, Neb., horn

Megan Endorf, sophomore, Columbus, Neb., tenor saxophone

Miriam Ganoug, sophomore, Halsey, Neb., trombone

Jackson Munter, junior, Ithaca, Neb., trombone

Matthew Guilford, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., trombone

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

Isaac Weander, senior, Norfolk, Neb., alto saxophone

Abbey Kudrna, freshman, Omaha, Neb., trumpet

Ellie Lehr, sophomore, Omaha, Neb., clarinet

Garrett Erickson, senior, Seward, Neb., percussion

Joshua Jurchen, sophomore, Seward, Neb., baritone

Bailey Hidy, freshman, Trenton, Neb., trumpet

Psalm Richters, junior, Utica, Neb., flute

Aleksa Chambers, freshman, Wilber, Neb., percussion

Shasta Tonniges, sophomore, York, Neb., percussion

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

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

Madeline Peters, junior, Sioux Falls, S.D., trumpet

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

Micah Scott, freshman, El Lago, Texas, baritone

Walker Ranada, senior, McKinney, Texas, oboe

Elizabeth Leapley, senior, Delafield, Wis., flute

Karalynn Pingel, freshman, Janesville, Wis., flute

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

Timothy Mars, junior, Cody, Wyo., percussion

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

Eliya Moldenhauer, sophomore, Madison, Ala., soprano II

Lillian Alwood, freshman, Long Beach, Calif., alto I

Soren Widmann, sophomore, Long Beach, Calif., bass II

Robert Wagner, freshman, Elizabeth, Colo., bass II

Brianna Bianco, sophomore, Loveland, Colo., alto II

McKenna McSpadden, sophomore, Parker, Colo., soprano I

Thomas Schulteis, senior, Parker, Colo., tenor II

Naomi Faile, freshman, Rome, Ga., soprano I

Micah Willweber, senior, Kailua, Hawaii, bass II

Sadie Henson, junior, Herrin, Ill., alto I

Andrew Schroeder, senior, Kendallville, Ill., bass I

Isabella Schmid, junior, Rockford, Ill., soprano I

Sophia Ball, freshman, Worden, Ill., soprano I

Evan Moloney, freshman, Fort Wayne, Ind., bass I

Grace Pennekamp, senior, Fort Wayne, Ind., alto II

Morgan Rohde, freshman, Fort Wayne, Ind., alto II

Daniel Oberdieck, senior, Lanesville, Ind., bass I

Caleb Zeckzer, senior, New Haven, Ind., tenor I

Joel Smith, sophomore, Earlham, Iowa, bass II

Rachel Smith, senior, Earlham, Iowa, alto II

Lydia Armbrecht, sophomore, Williamsburg, Iowa, alto I

Grace Miller, senior, Marysville, Kan., alto I

Taylor Beal, freshman, Wichita, Kan., bass II

Carolyn Bromlow, freshman, Wichita, Kan., soprano II

Calvin Rohde, senior, Reed City, Mich., bass I

Grant Rohde, sophomore, Reed City, Mich., bass II

Alannah Stahl, senior, Saginaw, Mich., alto II

Emily Klemp, senior, Winona, Minn., soprano II

Cristoph Marsh, senior, Concordia, Mo., tenor I

Avery Rothert, sophomore, Kansas City, Mo., alto I

Logan Walgate, junior, St. Charles, Mo., tenor I

Katheryn Rice, junior, Bellevue, Neb., soprano II

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

Abby Wurdeman, freshman, Columbus, Neb., alto I

Kailyn Paul, freshman, Daykin, Neb., soprano II

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

Cory Ruybalid, senior, Fremont, Neb., bass II

Miriam Ganoug, sophomore, Halsey, Neb., alto I

Jordan Head, freshman, Hastings, Neb., soprano I

Alina Sankey, freshman, Hayes Center, Neb., alto I

Gabrielle Krutsinger, senior, Imperial, Neb., alto II

Jackson Munter, junior, Ithaca, Neb., tenor II

Sean Duffy, senior, Kennesaw, Neb., bass II

Matthew Guilford, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., tenor II

Isaac Weander, senior, Norfolk, Neb., tenor I

Ellie Lehr, sophomore, Omaha, Neb., alto I

Keegan Beisel, sophomore, Seward, Neb., soprano II

Abbey Bimler, senior, Seward, Neb., alto II

Ian Fiala, sophomore, Seward, Neb., bass I

Bethany Gebhardt, sophomore, Seward, Neb., soprano II

Anna Grass, senior, Seward, Neb., alto I

Jonathan Grass, senior, Seward, Neb., bass I

Kirsten Horne, junior, Seward, Neb., soprano I

Joshua Jurchen, sophomore, Seward, Neb., bass II

Jessica Landrey, senior, Seward, Neb., soprano I

Sam Matthias, sophomore, Seward, Neb., bass I

Tara Pester, freshman, Seward, Neb., alto II

Jenna Potratz, senior, Seward, Neb., alto II

Abigail Van Velson, senior, Seward, Neb., alto II

Owen Anson, sophomore, Staplehurst, Neb., bass I

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

Samuel Dunbar, junior, Lambertville, N.J., tenor II

Hunter Remington, sophomore, Bristow, Okla., tenor II

Aubrey Baumann, junior, Chester, S.D., soprano II

Jonathan Baumann, freshman, Chester, S.D., bass I

Colin Thuringer, junior, Sioux Falls, S.D., bass II

Nathaniel Mueller, senior, Austin, Texas, bass II

Meredith Boster, sophomore, Fulshear, Texas, alto II

Karsten Quinton, freshman, Pearland, Texas, bass I

Aaron Cumming, sophomore, Plano, Texas, bass II

John Merritt, junior, Plano, Texas, tenor II

Abigail Merritt, sophomore, Wylie, Texas, alto II

Dylan Parker, sophomore, Fairfax, Va., tenor I

Timothy Baker, freshman, Poy Sippi, Wis., tenor II

Ethan Gillespie, junior, Random Lake, Wis., bass I

Timothy Mars, junior, Cody, Wyo., tenor I

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