Concordia Chamber Choir opens for world-renowned VOCES8 vocal ensemble

The Concordia University Chamber Choir prepares to perform an arrangement of the Beatles’ “Penny Lane.”

Photo credit: Josiah Ceyanes

By Josiah Ceyanes

The Concordia Chamber Choir set the tone for a concert performed by world class choir VOCES8 at First Plymouth Church in Lincoln on Sunday afternoon.

Before the event Chamber Choir member sophomore Jacob Speckhard commented on his excitement and the choir’s preparation.

“I’m very excited to open for VOCES8 because they’re a world-renowned group, they’re one of the best choirs in the world,” Speckhard said. “Ever since the school year started and since we’ve been rehearsing for chamber, this has been on the calendar.”

Many members of the Concordia community attended the concert, both to support Concordia’s choir and for the opportunity to hear VOCES8 perform live. Sophomore Josh Oberdieck loved seeing a choir from his own school open for the well-known choir.

“It was a very exciting experience to have them open for such renowned choir,” Oberdieck said. “Listening to VOCES8 was like listening to magic. I was taking notes for my off-campus recital credit, and I didn’t even know how to put into words what I was hearing.”

Oberdieck also commented on the excitement of seeing some of his own friends in the choir on stage.

“It was really cool seeing them on the same stage where a professional choir was about to sing.” Oberdieck said.

Concordia Choir Director Dr. Kurt Von Kampen was glad to see the hard work pay off.

“I was really pleased,” Von Kampen said, “we’ve spent a lot of time preparing for that concert and for others leading up to it.”

Von Kampen was also excited for the choir, specifically for the opportunities of a good audience and a model choir for the Chamber Choir to observe.

“We got to sing for a very discerning musical audience, and that excites me,” Von Kampen said. “My choir also had a chance to sit in front of one of the finest vocal ensembles in the world, and that changes you.”

Chamber Choir member sophomore Yeabsira Yidnekachew had some nerves ahead of their set, but that he was prepared to perform once he began to sing.

“I was a little nervous at first,” Yidnekachew said, “but I eventually ended up getting up there and actually singing and looking at people, and I felt excited and ready to go.”

Yidnekachew also got an opportunity to meet some members of VOCES8 after the concert, who complimented the Chamber Choir’s performance.

“All the members said we sounded good,” Yidnekachew said, “so I really appreciated them for making us not feel blown out of the water.”

The Chamber Choir opened the concert with a two-piece set, Philip Stopford’s “Ave Verum” followed by an arrangement of the Beatles’ “Penny Lane.” The contrasting pieces mirrored the course of the VOCES8 concert, which alternated between works by great composers like Felix Mendelssohn and Franz Schubert and more modern pieces by artists such as Nat “King” Cole and The Beatles.

After the concert, members of the Chamber Choir and attendees of the concert had opportunities to meet members of VOCES8 and get signatures on concert programs and merchandise.

The Chamber choir consists of senior Sean Duffy, junior David Eatherton, junior Lydia Edmonds, junior Lydia Fink, junior Michaela Gibbs, junior Melissa Oblinger, sophomore Timothy Pester, sophomore Jacob Speckhard, sophomore Samantha Vogel, sophomore Naomi Weber, sophomore Yeabsira Yidnekachew and junior Micah Zeckzer.