Concordia University, Nebraska

Selected music students performed vocal and instrumental works at Concordia Nebraska'ssemiannual honor recital on April 26. Honor recitals are designed to allow students who perform at a high level to showcase their musical abilities in front of a live audience. Placement in the honor recital program is determined by auditions that take place earlier in the semester and are judged by music department faculty members. All students who participate in an applied music lesson are eligible and encouraged to audition. This semester's recital included works by composers like Benjamin Culli and Claude Debussy, with performances vocally and on instruments including organ, piano, trombone and flute.

On April 27 at 7 p.m., Concordia Nebraska music students will perform original works on various instruments at the 2025 spring composers' recital. The annual recital offers students a chance to perform their original compositions in front of a live audience. This year, the recital will take place at St. John Lutheran Church. The program features pieces by five different Concordia students and is set to include instruments such as flute, clarinet, piano and organ. Adjunct Professor of Music John Kosch teaches Concordia Nebraska's composition courses and coordinates the annual composers' recital. Kosch has won several composition awards from the NAfME and other organizations. His works have been selected for performances at regional and national Society of Composers conferences as well as the Brevard Music Festival, Charlotte New Music Festival and the Cortona Sessions for New Music.

Concordia Nebraska's theatre department will perform "WhoDunit...and to Whom?" as their spring mainstage play on March 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. and March 30 at 2 p.m. All performances will take place in the Black Box Theatre in the Borland Center for Music and Theatre on campus. The play was originally written by professional writer and actor Robert Frankel, who has published over 30 works in his lifetime.

The theatre department at Concordia University, Nebraska is set to perform "Alice in Wonderland" as its fall mainstage play on November 8-10 and 15-17 in Weller Hall. Performances will take place each Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. "I'm excited about seeing the classic characters from Alice in Wonderland come alive in a new way," said sophomore Claire Horacek, who's serving as the assistant director for the play. "[The actors] put their own personal spin on each character, which makes this production unique and hilariously fun." "Alice in Wonderland" tells the story of a young girl who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world full of anthropomorphic animals and magical adventures. Originally written by English author, mathematician and deacon Lewis Carroll, the classic tale has been translated into over a hundred languages and adapted for film, radio, ballet, opera and more. "This show is fun for all ages!" said Horacek. "Kids can be introduced into a colorful, wacky world of smiling cats and croquet flamingos. Adults can be transported down the rabbit hole once again, remembering the magic of childhood but the necessity of growing up. Come revisit the magic with us!" "People should come and see the fall play because they help make the show better," said sophomore April Abbett, who plays Alice. "We actors get really excited when our audience is excited, happy and enjoying the play as much as we are." "Theatre can be all sorts of things, but I believe it is most powerful when done for God's glory," Horacek said. Tickets to see this production cost $10 for general admission, or $5 for Concordia students and children. Cast and Crew for Alice in Wonderland include: Cast Alice: April Abbett, sophomore, Platte City, Mo. White Rabbit: Jonathan Baumann, sophomore, Chester, S.D. Caterpillar: William Ebel, freshman, Salina, Kan. Frog-Newsie: Nathan Aschmann, sophomore, Kearney, Neb. Fish-Newsie: Joshua Nikodym, sophomore, Grand Island, Neb. Humpty-Dumpty: Sara Erickson, junior, Omaha, Neb. Cheshire Cat: Araceli Regalado, sophomore, Des Moines, Iowa Harley Storie, senior, Valley Park, Mo. Mad Hatter: Caleb Jalas, senior, Deshler, Neb. March Hare: Mackenzie Schepmann, freshman, Macomb, Mich. Dormouse: Catherine Vyhlidal, sophomore, Morse Bluff, Neb. Tweedledum: Aiden Jenik, sophomore, Colorado Springs, Colo. Tweedledee: Duncan Carrasco, freshman, Sidney, Neb. Queen of Hearts: Madeline Hudson-Knowlton, sophomore, Kenai, Alaska King of Hearts: Morgan Davis, freshman, Andover, Kan. Tiny Door/Ensemble: Marieka Kaufman, sophomore, Milwaukie, Ore. Daisy/Ensemble: Sarah Stepp, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb. Lily/Ensemble: Kristen Welling, junior, Atkinson, Neb. Violet/Ensemble: Kerria Wright, freshman, Madison, Neb. Rose/Ensemble: Mi-Ree Zwick, sophomore, Bartlett, Tenn. Guard/Ensemble: Aubrey Burmeister, freshman, Alburquerque, N.M. Crew Director: Bryan Moore, Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts Assistant Director: Claire Horacek, sophomore, Papillion, Neb. Stage Manager: Emilee Price, senior, Columbus, Neb. Assistant Stage Manager: Ella Bradley, freshman, De Soto, Mo. Scenic Design: Natasha Tupper, Staff Scenic shop crew: Andrew Ring, sophomore, Bismarck, N.D. Ernest Clausing, junior, Seward, Neb. Nathan Aschmann, sophomore, Kearney, Neb. Costume Design: Alexa Hatcher, Staff Costume shop crew: Julie Oetting, senior, Belvidere, Ill. Anne Aschmann, senior, Seward, Neb. Claire Horacek, sophomore, Papillion, Neb. Lighting: Vaclav Fiala, freshman, Herculaneum, Mo. Sound: Daniel Ascher, freshman, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Each year, Concordia University, Nebraska art students submit work for the university's annual Student Art Exhibition and are eligible to earn awards and scholarships based on their submitted work. This year's scholarship and award recipients were announced at the Marxhausen Gallery of Art on April 21. The Student Art Exhibition is on display through May 1. Entrance in the Student Art Exhibition is required for all art majors. Senior and junior students must submit seven works, while freshmen and sophomores must submit five. Students with an art minor can submit up to five works. The total amount of money awarded among all scholarships and endowments this year totaled over $20,000.

The Concordia Theatre Department performed two student-directed performances on April 4-6, 2024 in the Black Box Studio Theater in the Borland Center for Music and Theatre for Concordia Nebraska's annual One Act Play Festival. The festival is the practical component of the communication and theatre arts play production class. The class takes the students through the process of analyzing their play from multiple perspectives, including design, technical and acting choices so they are prepared to work with their peers to direct and produce a complete performance. This year's plays included "But We Don't" by Alan Haehnel and "Odds Are" by Keith J. Powell. "But We Don't" was directed by Emily Loseke and assistant director was Makayla Finecy. The acting ensemble included Timothy Baker, Jonathan Baumann, Jason Church, Brett Determan, Aiden Jenik, Brianna Pike, Araceli Regalado, Ethan Reynolds, Amanda Steinke, Sarah Stepp, Alleah Struble, Catherine Vyhlidal and Kristen Welling. "Odds Are" was directed by Elizabeth Ascher and stage manager was Julie Oetting. The acting ensemble included Jonathan Baumann, Madeline Hudson-Knowlton, Marieka Kaufman, Joshua Nikodym, Sara Erickson, Jason Church, Harley Storie, Brett Determan and Sarah Stepp. "I enjoy providing the opportunity for these student directors to learn the process and develop the skills needed to produce a show, and for other students to participate in additional, smaller shows" said Professor Bryan Moore, director of Concordia Nebraska's theatre department. "Many of our former one act directors have directed plays and musicals in their jobs at schools, churches, and community theaters, so it's exciting to know that this course and production were a part of their training. I can imagine the same opportunities and success for Emily and Elizabeth in their future teaching careers."

Thirteen Concordia Nebraska students currently have art work on display at the 2024 CINCF/Lincoln Industries Student Art Show in Omaha. The 2024 CINCF/Lincoln Industries Student Art Show is open through April 26, 2024, in the Hillmer Art Gallery on the College of Saint Mary campus located at 7000 Mercy Road in Omaha. The exhibition is open to the public Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Concordia Nebraska students exhibiting in the show art Ava Bartels, Sophia Bossio, Abby Gerber, Matt Hawes, Hannah Helmer, Elizabeth Lee, McKenzie Moore, Isabella Peperkorn, Kaitlyn Porter, Hannah Schaefer, Harley Storie, Heidi van der Heijden and Aiden Weishaar.

On Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m., Concordia's music department hosted its spring 2024 honor recital. The honor recital allows students who perform at a high level to showcase their vocal and instrumental talents in front of a live audience. Placement in the honor recital program is based on students' performance at auditions held by music department faculty members. The department holds auditions and recitals twice per year, or once each semester. This semester's recital featured pieces from composers from across several centuries and many countries, and pieces performed vocally or on instruments including clarinet, trombone, piano and organ.

Concordia University, Nebraska's Vocal Jazz ensemble is set to travel to locations across Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and South Dakota during their spring 2024 tour from May 5-10. The 14-voice choir, comprised of mostly music majors, is selected from among the A Cappella choir members and has performed concerts and school assemblies throughout the Midwest including performances at the Nebraska Music Educators' annual conference, the Columbus NCDA jazz festival, and in the historic Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, Mo. The choir is under the direction of Concordia's director of vocal music, Dr. Kurt von Kampen. Von Kampen has served at Concordia since 1998. He earned his bachelor's degree from Concordia Nebraska, a master's in choral conducting from Oakland University and a doctorate in choral music education from the University of Nebraska.

On Friday, March 22, the Concordia Music Department hosted its Spring 2024 composers' recital. The composers' recital provides a unique opportunity for students who have composed original musical works to debut them in front of an audience. The program featured pieces by five different Concordia students. Performances included arrangements for voice, saxophone, organ, piano, violin and viola.

On Sunday, March 24, Concordia's music department hosted its spring chamber recital. Chamber recitals, given once each semester, allow students to facilitate, practice, and perform pieces of their choice in small, or "chamber," ensembles. Students' ability to choose their own pieces opens the recitals to a variety of musical genres, instrumentations and arrangements. Six ensembles performed at this spring's event, which included both vocal and instrumental performances in the recital hall of the newly renovated Borland Center for Music and Theatre.

Concordia University, Nebraska's theatre department will perform the play "Little Women" in the Black Box Studio Theater in the Borland Center for Music and Theatre March 22-24.

Four members of Concordia's Wind Symphony participated in the 2024 Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Convention held in Lincoln, Neb. on March 2. The annual NSBA convention brings together middle schools, high schools and colleges from across the state to partake in several days of music-making and other activities. The intercollegiate band takes place during this convention.

On November 12, 2023, Concordia's music department hosted its fall honor recital. The semiannual honor recital at Concordia showcases the vocal and instrumental talents of student musicians. Musicians are chosen to perform based on auditions judged by music department faculty members. The recital is held twice a year, once each semester.

On November 7th, Concordia University, Nebraska's music department hosted its Fall 2023 Composers Recital. Included in the program were pieces composed by six different Concordia students. The pieces included works for organ, voice, flute, and piano.

Concordia University, Nebraska's theatre department will be performing the musical, "The Addams Family," in Weller Hall on November 4th and 5th and November 10th - 12th.

The Concordia University forensics department hosted the university's annual fall Bulldog Tournament speech and debate event on the Concordia campus on Saturday, September 30.

The Concordia Theatre department presented six student-directed performances on Thursday, April 20th, Friday, April 21 and Sunday, April 23rd in the Weller Chapel for Concordia's Annual One Act Play Festival.

The Concordia University, Nebraska forensics team competed in several national championship events in March and April 2023. The team attended the Asynchronous Speech Championship March 22-26, the AFA National Speech Tournament March 31-April 3 and the National Christian College Forensics Association Tournament March 30-April 1.

During this year's honor recital program, three students were inducted into the Iota Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, the national honor society for higher education music students.

The Concordia Nebraska Theater Department performed three showings of 12 Angry Jurors from March 31-April 2. The play depicts a group of 12 jurors in a room as they debate whether a young man is considered innocent or guilty of murder. Emotions arise and the true personalities of the jurors come to the surface while they discuss their decision.

On April 4th, Concordia University, Nebraska hosted the Spring 2023 Honor Recital

Concordia University, Nebraska held its Spring Composer's Recital on Tuesday, March 24 at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Nebraska.

On Sunday, March 26th, Concordia's music department hosted their spring chamber recital.

On Saturday, February 11, Concordia Nebraska hosted the Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Association (NIFA) State Tournament. The prestigious tournament featured competition from many of the nation's top forensics programs. Several Concordia speech and debate team members achieved noteworthy success at the event.

Concordia's A Cappella Choir represented the university at the Nebraska Music Education Association conference on Nov. 18.

Concordia University Nebraska performed three showings of Twelfth Night from October 28-October 30.

On Friday, October 21st, Concordia's music department hosted their fall chamber recital. There was a wide variety of acts hosted, boasting a range of genres of music, including a range from a bold, flirty vocal quartet to a somber, bombastic trombone duet.

The Concordia University forensics department hosted a speech and debate tournament on the Concordia campus on Saturday, October 1. This was the first in-person forensics event for the department since 2019. "It was a pleasure to welcome other colleges to our campus to compete in the 11 AFA-NST Individual Speech Events as well as team Parliamentary Debate," said Concordia's Director of Forensics Joe Davis. Concordia faculty and staff helped judge the event. Participating schools were from Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and South Dakota. "Being back in person for a competition was a reminder as to why I love the activity and enjoy getting to connect with competitors from other schools," said senior Sabrina Reed who placed second in prose interpretation. "I am grateful we were able to compete in person again on our home campus for the first time since I was a freshman and I look forward to what the season brings." Freshman Matt Koenig and sophomore Aarin Dean were named parliamentary debate champions. Three Concordia Nebraska students also received parliamentary debate speaker awards: Zipporah Johnson received third place, Koenig received second place, and Dean received first place. "It was so exciting to have debate back on campus after a decade away," said Forensics Graduate Assistant and Interim Director of Debate Malia Frerking. "It was a bonus that we won, but honestly, just having the program back on campus was the best part of the weekend. I'm very proud of the progress that our debaters have made, and how they are working to shape the future of our team." About Concordia University, Nebraska Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Nebraska, that 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.

Concordia University, Nebraska's Vocal Jazz Choir will travel to Missouri, Indiana and Iowa for its performance tour May 7-11. Under the direction of Dr. Kurt von Kampen, Concordia University Nebraska's Vocal Jazz Choir, a 14-voice select ensemble which performs standard jazz and pop-influenced choral music, will perform in five cities on their tour. Concert sites include Kansas City, Missouri; St. Peters, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana and Cedar Falls, Iowa.