EMU Chamber Singers. Photo by Jim Bishop
The Chamber Singers, a select student choir at EMU, will present its annual spring program of worship in music 7 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 20, at Park View Mennonite Church, 1600 N. College Ave.
The 34-member choir, directed by Dr. Kenneth Nafziger, will present a repertoire centered around a cycle of pieces for a cappella chorus by South Carolina composer Dan Forrest, “Words from Paradise.” Each piece in the cycle is on one word used prominently in the Bible: Holy, Hallelujah, Selah, Hosanna and Amen.
The concert will include music from many sources that explores these five words, including traditional classical as well as modern choral music, music from Africa and New Zealand and colorful hymn singing with the congregation.
Dr. Nafziger is professor of music at EMU. His teaching responsibilities include directing the EMU Chamber Singers and courses in conducting, interdisciplinary humanities and world music. Nafziger is also artistic director and conductor of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival held in June each year on the EMU campus.
Nafziger was music editor of “Hymnal: a Worship Book,” released in 1992, and editor of its Accompaniment Handbook (1993). He was assistant to the editor for both “Sing the Journey” and “Sing the Story” and producer and director of four CDs of music from these hymnal supplements. He is also co-author of the book, “Singing: a Mennonite Voice.”
Admission is free. Contributions are welcomed for the EMU music department student scholarship fund.