Chamber Singers to represent North America at international gathering

Hymnal sing-through to raise funds for May 2025 trip

Sing-through of Voices Together Where: Martin Chapel, EMU Seminary Building, 1181 Smith Ave., Harrisonburg When: 7-11 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6 | 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 | Noon until finished, Sunday, Sept. 8 Cost: Free (donations encouraged!)

Mennonite World Conference is celebrating a momentous milestone next year—the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism—and it’s chosen the EMU Chamber Singers, along with four other music ensembles from around the world, to commemorate the historic occasion. Each ensemble represents a different continent and culture within the MWC, and will perform throughout the day on May 29, 2025, at the international event held in Zurich, Switzerland.

“We are incredibly honored to be the group selected from North America,” said Benjamin Bergey, assistant professor of music at EMU and director of the Chamber Singers. “We’re excited about how unique an opportunity this is for our students to engage with choirs from all over the world.”

The Chamber Singers will be joined by ensembles from Indonesia, Kenya, Paraguay and Switzerland. Each group will have two performances, with one inside a church and another in the city square. They will then perform together at a worship service in the iconic Grossmünster cathedral.

Rashard Allen, who booked the ensembles, said each one is committed to the work of reconciliation in line with the event’s theme, “The Courage to Love.” “They have a global ecumenical outlook in terms of how they understand their role in being an Anabaptist choir/ensemble,” he said in an article.

The quincentennial celebration will cap off a tour of Europe for the Chamber Singers, who will perform in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland before traveling to Zurich. 

Sing for their support

A sing-through of the Voices Together hymnal at Martin Chapel this weekend will raise funds for the Chamber Singers trip. Join members of the Chamber Singers, music faculty and others in the community as they sing through the 750 hymns in Voices Together over the course of three days: on Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Support the choir by donating at the event and by giving online here.

The Chamber Singers is an auditioned touring chamber choir founded in 1979. The mixed-voice choir is made up of about 20 EMU students of different ages and majors, who tour in the U.S. each spring break and abroad every other May. For more information about the Chamber Singers choir, visit its website or find it on Instagram and Spotify.