When senior Jordan Degerness sits down to compose a piece of music, he has a lot to consider. When creating music, he prefers to use composition notebooks instead of music writing software. When looking for a place to focus, he’d rather write in a big room than in a small, confined space — so he…
Halloween. The word conjures up masked figures and haunted houses, jack-o’-lanterns and witches flying on broomsticks. Now picture a vampire playing violin, a goblin playing cello, a ghost playing double bass — and you might be imagining how the Concordia Orchestra, will look this Halloween. “My stand partner and I are going to do something…
On Christmas Day in 1961, Dr. Bill Snyder received a guitar from his parents. He began teaching himself how to play by listening to Joan Baez records and to folk music on the radio. He already knew how to play the ukulele, which made it easier for him to pick up the guitar. “I don’t…
Each year on Homecoming Weekend, alumni return to campus to watch the football game, but this year, one alum will be playing percussion in the Cobber Athletic Band, rather than just sitting in the stands. Joey Bjornson, ‘15 alum will be the percussionist joining The Cobber Athletic Band, also referred to as the pep band….
Her mother is a parish liturgist, conducts children’s and adult’s church choirs, and brought her straight to the church when she was born; there, the choir sang to her, their voices echoing off the church walls and surrounding her with harmonic sound. Her siblings all play instruments, and they are connected through the expression of…
Cobbers are preparing for their last few days of the school year. For the senior student musicians, their to-do lists include stepping down so younger musicians can take over. Senior violinist Conor Roche plays in the Symphonia Orchestra. Roche received a scholarship for Concordia’s music program and has been a member of Symphonia for all…
This year, Concordia Choir bids a temporary farewell to a beloved colleague and conductor and welcomes an old friend. Dr. René Clausen will be taking time off this year to focus on his own projects while Michael Smith returns for his last year as a conductor but his first time conducting Concordia Choir. “I really…
Concordia played host to several world-renowned musicians this past Saturday for the 24th annual Day of Percussion, which brings professional percussionists to campus to provide clinics and perform with students. Among this year’s clinicians was Chester Thompson, best known for stints drumming with 1970s and 80s progressive rock group Genesis, along with Genesis leader Phil…
Concordia Theatre and SAGA collaborate Concordia’s Straight and Gay Alliance teamed up with the theater honor society, Alphi Psi Omega, to host Concordia’s first-annual drag show. Alphi Psi Omega President Hannah Wehlage was excited to do something new this year for the theater’s annual dance. “We have a dance at the end of the year,”…
After a four year undergraduate career, senior Chris Kenney is topping off his list of accomplishments with a full ride to the University of Kentucky graduate opera program, with an additional $12,000 stipend each year. The competition was hosted and funded by Alltech, a privately owned company dedicated to agricultural engineering. “The CEO (of Alltech)…