Annual Musical Arts Day Brings High School Students to Concordia

High school students from around the United States join Concordia’s University A Cappella Choir members during the concert that concludes Musical Arts Day. Photo by John Hicks.

by Miriam Lipke

Around two hundred high school musicians from around the country arrived on Concordia’s campus on Oct. 28 to participate in Concordia’s annual Musical Arts Day.

Musical Arts Day is the music department’s annual tradition of hosting high school students on campus for a day, rehearsing with them and performing a concert at night. Students audition for the opportunity to be in the honor band and honor choir.

“We see students from around the state of Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin and other states,” Professor Andrew Schultz said. Schultz directed the honor band and Dr. Kurt von Kampen directed the honor choir. The two professors selected participants via recorded audition and placed individuals into sections several weeks prior to the event.

Participants had the opportunity to work with Schultz and von Kampen throughout the day. Students began rehearsal at 9:00 AM and worked in the ensembles until mid-afternoon.  That evening, both honor ensembles performed a concert in Walz Arena.  The University A Cappella Choir and the University Symphonic Band also participated in the concert.

According to Schultz, Musical Arts Day is an outreach opportunity for Concordia to high school-age musicians. From the event, participants are able to experience Concordia and the music department. In addition, the participants are granted a musically-enriching experience.

Robert Cody, a music educator from Living Word Lutheran High School in Jackson, Wisconsin and a Concordia alumnus, brings his students annually to MAD.

According to Cody, it’s exceptional that his students are able to work with great musicians like von Kampen and Shultz and said he himself benefits from watching the two professors during MAD.

“It’s a way for them to see what great music is like,” Cody said.

Also, participants are able to meet other high school students with similar interests.

“The kids actually want to play,” Abigail Jeppesen, first clarinetist in the MAD Honor Band said. “You get to learn more about who you are as a player.”

MAD participants also receive the opportunity to meet and work with current Concordia students in rehearsals and sectionals. This allows participants to meet CU students who play their instrument or sing their voice part. It also opens the opportunity to share insight and give advice.

The honor choir opened the evening, performing four musical selections: “A Festive Sanctus” by John Purifoy, “The Oak and the Ash” a traditional folk song, “Jenny” arranged by John Earwaker and “African Alleluia” John Leavitt.

The University A Cappella Choir followed with three of their own selections: “They Shall Rise Up On Wings” by Carl J. Nygard Jr., “Be Thou a Smooth Way” by Ralph M. Johnson and “Kyrie (African Mass)” by Norman Luboff.

The high school choir then joined the A Cappella choir to sing, forming a mixed ensemble of the two groups.  The combined choir sang An Irish Blessing by James F. Moore.

Following a brief intermission for set change, the University Symphonic Band performed Ascension by Robert W. Smith.

The concert concluded with the high school honor band playing The Thunderer by John Philip Sousa (arr. Brion and Schissel), Salvation is Created by Pavel Tschesnokoff (arr. Houseknecht), Rain by Brian Balmages, and Joy Revisited by Frank Ticheli.

A new addition to this year’s Musical Arts Day, the University Jazz Ensemble performed for the high school participants during an afternoon break.  This was the first time  this year that the Jazz Ensemble had performed for the high schoolers this year and provided a unique musical experience. for MAD participants.

Von Kampen, Schultz, student workers, the entire music department, and others put in countless hours of work to prepare for and host the event, and more MAD participants showed serious interest in attending Concordia than in years past.