Wartburg Choir

The Wartburg Choir is an 80-voice select auditioned a cappella choir from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. The choir sings during regular concert tours throughout the Midwest as well as through Europe.

Founded in 1937 under the direction of Dr. Edwin Liemohn, the choir became one of the first American college choral groups to tour Europe. Liemohn’s successor, Dr. James Fritschel, directed the choir from 1968 to 1984, expanding its reputation for excellence and international exposure. Dr. Paul Torkelson director from 1984 to 2009, conducted the choir at nearly every major concert hall in the United States and led the group on numerous international tours. During Torkelson's 2008-2009 sabbatical, Prof. Weston Noble, acclaimed director of choirs from Luther College, stepped in to conduct and teach The Wartburg Choir. Dr. Lee Nelson became the Wartburg Choir’s fourth conductor in 2009, continuing to build upon the tradition of choral excellence. ^[1]

The Wartburg Choir performs sacred music from all historical periods and styles and often premieres new works by contemporary composers. Called a “mighty fortress of skill” by the Washington Post,^[2] the Wartburg Choir is one of Wartburg's three musical ensembles that tour internationally on a triennial basis. Beyond tours, the choir receives invitations for special appearances in the United States and abroad, most recently to participate in the December 2011 White House Holiday Concert Series.^[3] As part of that trip to Washington, D.C., the choir also sang at the National Cathedral’s Bethlehem Prayer Service, which was simulcast worldwide.^[4] In 2006, the choir performed with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Prague at the invitation of Maestro Paul Freeman, CNSO music director and chief conductor, who had attended a Wartburg Choir concert at Orchestra Hall in Chicago.^[5]

The Wartburg Choir tours annually throughout the United States and has made showings at many major music centers and concert halls in the country, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; Avery Fisher Hall of Lincoln Center, New York City; Carnegie Hall in New York City; Symphony Center in Chicago; and Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, MN. The choir competed in the Cork International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland on two separate occasions and is the only American choral group to win first place honors.^[6] The Wartburg Choir has been invited to perform at two national and two divisional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. In 2012, the choir was featured at the North Central ACDA convention spotlight concert, singing Stephen Paulus’ Holocaust oratorio, "To Be Certain of the Dawn".

Beginning in 1959, the choir has toured internationally every 3–4 years, performing in a total of 21 European countries, three Canadian provinces, Scandinavia, and South Africa. The choir frequently performs with Simon Estes, a world-renowned opera star who also serves as distinguished professor and artist-in-residence at Wartburg College. Dr. Estes joined the choir on two international tours to South Africa, which included performances at the Simon Estes Music High School in Cape Town. Most recently, Dr. Estes joined the choir in a 2010 concert at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with special guest Madame Denyce Graves, an internationally recognized mezzo-soprano and opera star.

Not to forget one's roots, the choir also has a number of performances every year on campus including Christmas with Wartburg, the college's annual Christmas celebration, performing with the Castle Singers, Ritterchor, Saint Elizabeth's Chorale, and the Wartburg Wind Ensemble

Performance Highlights

The Past 30 Years:^[7]

• 2014: The choir is invited to give a solo concert at the 2014 North Central ACDA Convention in Des Moines, IA.
• 2011: The Wartburg Choir commissioned Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo to write a new work called "Sacred Origins" with text by Charles Anthony Silvestri. In December, the choir performed at the White House and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
• 2009: Weston Noble, renowned conductor of the Nordic Choir, became interim conductor of the Wartburg Choir and described one of the concerts on tour as "one of two GREATEST EXPERIENCES" of his entire 67-year teaching career.
• 2006: The choir performed at the Chicago Symphony Center as a part of its Midwest concert tour. Because of the success of this concert, the choir performed with the Czech National Orchestra in Prague in December over Christmas break.
• 2005: The choir was one of three invited to perform for the Iowa Choral Directors Association Weston Noble Endowment Fund Concert in Ames. In addition, the choir traveled to southern Europe and South Africa, performing at the Simon Estes School in Cape Town. The choir was also invited for an audience with Pope John Paul II. Unfortunately, he died about two weeks before the tour began.
• 2004: Concert tour with opera star Simon Estes included performances in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minn. and a return performance at Avery Fisher Hall at New York City's Lincoln Center.
• 2002: Choir invited for an audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome. However, due to scheduling conflicts the concert did not occur. The concert in the Wartburg Castle was recorded for German National Radio.
• 2000: Invitation for a special event celebrating musical revolutions from Bach to Louis Armstrong. The choir and alumni choir were invited by Bishop Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan to sing in Manger Square in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. However, due to increased violence in the Middle East, the trip was cancelled.
• 1999: Iowa Public Television filmed the 1999 concert at the Wartburg Castle, which was later broadcast on public television stations throughout the United States.
• 1998: Performance at the National ACDA Convention in Minneapolis, Minn.
• 1995: Wartburg Choir performance in the Wartburg Castle is the first time a non-professional group is allowed to perform. Due to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, the choir was allowed to perform in the Great Hall for the first time in its history.
• 1994: Choir invited to perform at the International Choral Contest in Tolosa, Spain.
• 1993: Performance in Carnegie Hall, New York City
• 1992: Performance at the North Central ACDA Convention in Des Moines
• 1991: European tour included a formal concert in Notre Dame de Paris
• 1989: Performance in Carnegie Hall, New York City
• 1987: Performance at the National ACDA Convention in Minneapolis, Minn.
• 1980: First American choral group to win the International Trophy at the Cork International Folk Dance and Choral Festival, now known as the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition in Cork, Ireland.
• 1959 Wartburg Choir first European Tour covering six countries over six weeks.

See also

• Wartburg College
• Wartburg College Concert Bands

External links

• Official Page

References

1. Keller, Reid. "The Wartburg Choir". Wartburg College. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
2. Porter, Cecelia. "Wartburg Choir, A Might Fortress of Skill" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-19.
3. "Wartburg choral group performs at White House". WCF Courier. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
4. "America and Bethlehem unite at the National Cathedral in prayer". WTOP. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
5. "Choir to perform in Prague with Czech symphony". Wartburg College. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
6. "Fleischmann International Trophy Competition: Past Winners". Retrieved 2012-03-19.
7. Keller, Reid. "The Wartburg Choir". Wartburg College. Retrieved 2012-03-18.