57-voice Women’s World Music Choir to perform concerts on first tour, Feb. 21-March 2, concluding with a home concert

 

GOSHEN, Ind. – Four years after forming, the 57-voice Goshen College Women’s World Music Choir is touring for the first time, sharing spiritual music from many cultures at churches and schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York City during its 2008 spring break tour, Feb. 21-March 2, as well as performing a concluding home concert in Goshen.

Led by Goshen College Professor of Music Debra Brubaker, the large choir of women has performed music from India, Mexico, the Philippines, Ireland, South Africa, Swaziland, Guatemala, Pakistan, the Republic of Georgia, Ukraine and Czech Republic. Their current program features songs in 10 languages. The choir highlights the role of women in these cultures, celebrating the unique spirit, faith and energy that women bring to the world as creators and sustainers of life and art. During performances, the women sing barefoot and wear fabrics from around the world to affirm their connection to God’s creation and their solidarity with women from all cultures.

The Goshen College Women’s World Music Choir also has a newly-released CD, “A World of Singing,” available for purchase on the tour. It will also be available after the tour by calling the Music Center Office at (574) 535-7361.

The tour begins with a performance at the 2008 American Choral Director’s association Central Division Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. The ACDA Central Division represents Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. Each year the ACDA invites outstanding high school, collegiate and professional choirs to perform at its annual division convention. The Goshen College Women’s World Music Choir will share the stage this year with choirs from Michigan State University, Bowling Green State University, Andrews University and the St. Joseph Valley Camerata, among others.

The Goshen College Women’s World Music Choir features the following members:

(Soprano I) Karissa Brown, Naperville, Ill.; Laura Dick, New Paris, Ind.; Kimberly Glick, Millersburg, Ohio; Christa Graber, Hesston, Kan.; Karen Graber, Freeman, S.D.; Caitlin Helmuth, Harrisonburg, Va.; Vanessa Hershberger, Akron, Pa.; Eileen Hilty, Phoenix, Ariz.; Elena Histand, Telford, Pa.; Chelsea Kaufman, Racine, Wis.; Laura Leatherman, Goshen; Michelle Miller, Bellefontaine, Ohio; Melissa Plucinski, Mundelein, Ill.; Emily Swora, St. Paul, Minn.; Allison Yoder, Middlebury, Ind.;

(Alto I) Ingrid Derstine, Blooming Glen, Pa.; Lauren Derstine, Blooming Glen, Pa.; Krista Ehst, Bally, Pa.; Ali Gotwals, Telford, Pa.; Betsy Houser, Phoenix, Ariz.; Andrea Kraybill, Elkhart, Ind.; Allison Landis, Mason, Mich.; Joanna Landis, Akron, Pa.; Kristina Mast, Corvallis, Ore.; Jenni Miller, Goshen; Elizabeth Nussbaum, Goshen; Mikki Saltzman, Jamestown, Kan.; Karla Santiago, Lancaster, Pa.; Anna Showalter, Waynesboro, Pa.; Ana Yoder, Elkhart, Ind.;

(Soprano II) Elizabeth Buschert, Goshen, Ind.; Alyson Dyck, Thomasboro, Ill.; Anna Hade, State College, Pa.; Fjaere Harder, Mountain Lake, Minn.; Meghan Hoover, Akron, Pa.; Lesli Kennell, Eureka, Ill.; Sae Jin Lee, Goshen; Ellen McCrae, Akron, Pa.; Kelly Miller, Harrisonburg, Va.; Melody Musser, Winchester, Va.; Alicia Schwartzentruber, Goshen; Elizabeth Speigle, Telford, Pa.; Kaila Swartley, Elkhart, Ind.; Sara Thögersen, Goshen; Kristen Ulery, Allentown, Pa.; Bethany Yoder, Elkhart, Ind.; Crystal Zook, Willow St., Pa.;

(Alto II) Charlotte Barnett, Goshen; Kate Friesen, Freeman, S.D.; Emily Graber, Red Hill, Pa.; Tara Hershberger, Hesston, Kan.; Dara Joy Jaworowicz, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Jill Kauffman, Goshen; Molly Kellogg, Candor, N.Y.; Meg Kennell, Roanoke, Ill.; Anna Pasquarello, Greencastle, Pa.; and Ashley Walker, Kirklin, Ind.

Goshen College Professor of Music Debra Brubaker oversees the choral and opera theater programs, serves as department co-chair and teaches church music and music education courses. She holds a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree of music from the University of Northern Colorado and a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College. Brubaker has taught as assistant professor of music at Bluffton (Ohio) University, and in public schools in Indiana and Colorado. In addition to touring many parts of the United States and Canada, Brubaker's choirs are in demand regionally, having performed with the Toledo Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra and South Bend Symphony. She and her choirs have worked and performed with such noted conductors as Vance George, Alice Parker, Donald Neuen and Gregg Smith.

Goshen College’s Music Department features four choral ensembles, an orchestra, jazz band, an opera scenes program and a growing chamber music program.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.