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Concordia University's Vocal Jazz Choir to tour throughout the Southeast

Seward, NE (04/26/2019) — Concordia University, Nebraska, Vocal Jazz Choir will travel to Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma for its performance tour May 5-12.

Under the direction of Dr. Kurt von Kampen, Concordia University Nebraska's Vocal Jazz Choir, a 13-voice select ensemble which performs standard jazz and pop influenced choral music, will perform in eight cities on their weeklong tour. Concert sites include Kansas City, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Flower Mound, Dallas, Tomball, San Antonio and Houston, Texas.

Twice each year, the choir collaborates with Concordia's Jazz Ensemble to perform a winter and spring JazzFest on Concordia's campus. The choir, comprised of mostly music majors, has performed concerts and school assemblies throughout the Midwest including performances at the Nebraska Music Educator's annual conference, the Columbus NCDA Jazz Festival, The Creston, Iowa FoxFest and in the historic Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, Mo.

Concerts have featured performances of pieces such as Jerome Kern's famous ballad "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," the Toto classic "Rosanna," several Broadway musical numbers including "The Song of Purple Summer" from Spring Awakening and "Singin' in the Rain" from the musical of the same name, and other well-known hits spanning nearly eight decades.

Von Kampen earned a bachelor's degree in music from Concordia University, Nebraska, a master's degree in choral conducting from Oakland University and a doctorate in choral music education from the University of Nebraska.

Admission to concerts is free and open to the public.

Members of the Vocal Jazz Choir include (in alphabetical order by state, city, last name):

Jacob Roggow, senior, Cottage Hills, Ill., bass

Alex Kaldahl, junior, Spencer, Iowa, bass

Austin Theriot, senior, Lake Charles, La., bass

Sarah Mueller, senior, Hemlock, Mich., alto

Brooke Ann Duerr, freshman, Warren, Mich., alto

Zachary Mueller, freshman, Frankenmuth, Minn., tenor

Vanessa Marsh, senior, Concordia, Mo., soprano

Megan Kroeker, sophomore, Henderson, Neb., soprano

Shanda Fujan, sophomore, Oakland, Neb., soprano

Avery Kesar, junior, Omaha, Neb., bass

Christian Watters, sophomore, Panama, Neb., tenor

Noah Freeman, sophomore, Bend, Ore., tenor

Nicholle Harstad, freshman, Norfolk, Neb., alto

Performance Tour Itinerary

Monday, May 6

The Lutheran High School of Kansas City

12411 Wornail Rd.

Kansas City, Mo., 64145

Assembly time: 10 a.m.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

600 N. Greenwich Rd.

Wichita, Kan., 67206

Concert time: 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 7

Holy Cross Lutheran School

600 N. Greenwich Rd.

Wichita, Kan., 67206

Assembly time: 8:30 a.m.

Lamb of God Lutheran Church

1401 Cross Timbers Rd.

Flower Mound, Texas, 75028

Concert time: 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 8

Zion Lutheran Church and School - Dallas

6121 E. Lovers Ln.

Dallas, Texas, 75214

Assembly time: 9:15 a.m.

Concordia Lutheran High School

700 E. Main St.

Tomball, Texas, 77375

Concert time: 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 9

Concordia Lutheran High School

700 E. Main St.

Tomball, Texas, 77375

Assembly time: 10 a.m.

Friday, May 10

Lutheran South Academy

12555 Ryewater Dr.

Houston, Texas, 77089

Concert time: 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 11

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

308 NW 164th St.

Edmond, Okla., 73013

Concert time: 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 12

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

308 NW 164th St.

Edmond, Okla., 73013

Sunday services: TBA

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 2,500 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

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