When Emulate, Eastern Mennonite University’s traveling choral ensemble, was honored with an invitation to sing the prelude for the Evensong service on Sunday, Nov. 20, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., they had no idea their ringing sounds would pair so meaningfully with the words of homilist The Rev. Andrew K. Barnett.
Barnett, the cathedral’s associate for music and worship, spoke about climate change. “On a hot and crowded planet, we can no longer talk responsibly of loving our neighbor until we fight with all we have for stable climate and just society,” he said in his homily. “In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells all the gathered nations, ‘I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, and sick.’ Dear friends in Christ, climate change affects every single one of those issues.”
Barnett is uniquely qualified on the topic: a jazz musician, he earned degrees in music and environmental studies at Oberlin, and then master’s degrees from Yale Environmental School and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He researched and wrote for the Presidential Climate Action Project and has served on the Episcopal delegation to the UN climate summits in France and Morocco.
Emulate performed seven pieces, to the delight of regular worshipers, tourists, and about 30 EMU alumni, parents and administrators who joined the event.
Among their offerings (click on the link to watch and listen) were: O Radiant Light, by James MacMillan; O Nata Lux Thomas Tallis; Lux Aurumque, by Eric Whitacre; Holy is the True Light, by William Harris; Mother of God, Here I Stand and Alleluia by John Tavener and Fredrik Sixten, respectively; and My Song in the Night, by Paul Christiansen.
“It’s a valuable experience to sing and perform at one of our nation’s greatest treasures,” said director Ryan Keebaugh, professor of music. “Also, it gives the choir an opportunity to serve, lead and represent EMU as a valued part of the National Cathedral’s music ministry.”
Ensemble members said they enjoyed performing in the vast space of the cathedral, which amplified both sound and sacred words.
“I’d never had the opportunity to sing in a cathedral or take part in an Evensong service. It was an amazing experience,” said Brandon Chupp, a sophomore computer science major from Canby, Ore.
Emulate’s singers are chosen by open audition in the fall. The group includes music and non-music majors from five states. Three pairs of siblings sing in the group.
Members include Brooke Bevington, of Grottoes, Virginia; Jonathan Bishop, Blooming Glen, Pennsylvania; Megan Bishop, Blooming Glen, Pennsylvania; Perry Blosser, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Clara Bush, Souderton, Pennsylvania; Brandon Chupp. Canby, Oregon; Rachel Holderman, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Michaela Mast, Broadway, Virginia; Sylvia Mast, Broadway, Virginia; Jacob Rhine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Emma Roth, Goshen, Indiana; Caleb Schrock-Hurst, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Andry Stutzman, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Eli Wenger, Broadway, Virginia; Leah Wenger, Broadway, Virginia; and Ben Zook, Canton, Ohio.
Upcoming performances
Emulate will also perform a candlelight concert on Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m, at the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Virginia followed by a concert on Thursday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg.