Student musicians display composition and performance talents in two recitals

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SEWARD, NE (11/02/2018) Concordia University, Nebraska, will hold its Fall Composer Recital at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and its Fall Honor Recital at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7 in the Recital Hall of the Music Center on campus.

Six students have composed original pieces for the Composer Recital. The recital comprises a variety of music written for vocals, piano, winds and strings.

"This recital is important because it's a great opportunity for the student composers to practice organizing a performance by recruiting performers and leading rehearsals of their own music," said David von Kampen, music instructor in composition. "All of the music has been composed or arranged this semester, so every piece in the recital is a world premiere."

The music is listed below with the composer first, followed by the performers (listed alphabetically by state, city and then last name):

"Can You Imagine"
Composed and performed by Albert Boldt, senior, Hewitt, Minn., piano

"Etudes for Flute and Live Electronics: II. Echo, III. Quiet, IV. Canopy"
Composed and performed by Austin Theriot, senior, Lake Charles, La., flute
Electronic composition

"Katabasis & Grace"
Composed and conducted by Jacob Sumpter, junior, Superior, Neb.
David Krueger, senior, Aurora, Colo., bass
Bethany Schilling, junior, Littleton, Colo., soprano
Bethany Zeckzer, freshman, New Haven, Ind., alto
Josiah Schultz, senior, Bay City, Mich., tenor
Zachary Mueller, freshman, Frankenmuth, Mich., bass
Sarah Mueller, senior, Hemlock, Mich., alto
Nathan Klaumann, senior, Fairbury, Neb., tenor
Alyssa Hoeft, sophomore, Garland, Neb., soprano
Nicholle Harstad, freshman, Norfolk, Neb., alto
Thomas Johnson, senior, Omaha, Neb., bass
Caleb Silcott, senior, Seward, Neb., piano
Melody Niemoth, senior, South Bend, Neb., alto
Tabitha Ristvedt, freshman, Utica, Neb., soprano

"Tavern"
Composed and conducted by Thomas Johnson, senior, Omaha, Neb.
Bethany Zeckzer, freshman, New Haven, Ind., alto
Jeramy Willis, senior, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, tenor
Isaiah Armbrecht, senior, Williamsburg, Iowa, bass
Josiah Schultz, senior, Bay City, Mich., tenor
Brooke Ann Duerr, freshman, Warren, Mich., soprano
Brandon Holmes, junior, Waconia, Minn., bass
Megan Kroeker, sophomore, Henderson, Neb., soprano
Cecilia Minchow, freshman, Lincoln, Neb., alto
Audrey Rich, senior, Lincoln, Neb., alto
Shanda Fujan, sophomore, Oakland, Neb., soprano
Avery Kesar, sophomore, Omaha, Neb., bass
Christian Watters, sophomore, Panama, Neb., tenor

"The Garden"
Composed and performed by Austin Theriot, senior, Lake Charles, La., bass
Elizabeth Lange, junior, Topeka, Kan., alto
Sarah Mueller, senior, Hemlock, Mich., soprano
Albert Boldt, senior, Hewitt, Minn., tenor
Caleb Fischer, sophomore, Jefferson City, Mo., bass
Paige Stadler, senior, Columbus, Neb., soprano
Avery Kesar, sophomore, Omaha, Neb., bass
Christian Watters, sophomore, Panama, Neb., tenor
Sophia Hoelz, junior, Jackson, Wis., alto

"Twas Midnight"
Composed and conducted by Aaron Huesmann, junior, Jackson, Wis.
Brooke Ann Duerr, freshman, Warren, Mich., soprano
Albert Boldt, senior, Hewitt, Minn., tenor
Charlotte Lines, sophomore, Marshall, Mo., piano
Nate Klaumann, senior, Fairbury, Neb., tenor
Trent Bruntz, freshman, Hastings, Neb., tenor
Megan Kroeker, sophomore, Henderson, Neb., soprano
Thomas Johnson, senior, Omaha, Neb., bass
Keziah Bruns, sophomore, Waco, Neb., alto
Timothy Rasch, senior, Denton, Texas, bass
Melinda Buhler, senior, Fort Worth, Texas, soprano
Josh Frerking, sophomore, Tomball, Texas, bass
Sarah Benz, sophomore, Campbellsport, Wis., alto

"Wind and Rain"
Composed and performed by Caleb Silcott, senior, Seward, Neb., piano
Thomas Johnson, senior, Omaha, Neb., clarinet
Angel Silcott, community member, Seward, Neb., cello

"Wundra Gihwaes (For Every Wonder)"
Composed and performed by Austin Theriot, senior, Lake Charles, La., piano
Matthew Gerhold, senior, Atkins, Iowa, tenor

Students audition for an opportunity to perform in the biannual honor event showcasing top music students as selected by Concordia's music faculty. This year, 10 student musicians were selected to perform.

Students performing in the Honor Recital include (alphabetical by state with Nebraska first, city, last name):

Alexandra Ryks, freshman, Bellevue, Neb., singing mezzo-soprano on "When I am ladi in earth" from Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas

Allison Mackie, senior, Columbus, Neb., playing "Chorale and Variations: Andante Sostenuto-Allegro Molto" from Felix Mendelssohn's Sonata VI on the organ

Caleb Staehr, senior, Grand Island, Neb., playing "Postlude on Puer Nobis Nascitur" by Aaron David Miller on the organ

Gabriel Jofre, junior, Sterling, Colo., playing both movements of Eugene Bozza's Improvisation Et Caprice on the saxophone

Jacob Roggow, senior, Cottage Hills, Ill., playing "Sonetto 104 del Petrarca" by Franz Liszt on the piano

Matthew Gerhold, senior, Atkins, Iowa, singing countertenor on "Giulio Cesare" by George Frederic Handel's Presti omai L'Egizia terra

Austin Theriot, senior, Lake Charles, La., playing "Pagodes" from Claude Debussy's Estampes on the piano

Charlotte Lines, sophomore, Marshall, Mo., playing "Spoon River" by Percy Grainger on the piano

Cadence Klemp, senior, Winona, Minn., playing "Jardins sous la pluie" by Claude Debussy on the piano

Sarah Benz, sophomore, Campbellsport, Wis., playing "Diversion" by Bernhard Heiden on the saxophone


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.

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