The Gift of Music

THE GIFT OF MUSIC—VIBRANCY THOUGH TRANSITION

Pictured L-R: Dr. Emilie Bertram, Travis Beck, Nancy Farndale, & Melissa Phillips

Since the fall of 2020, the Waldorf University Music Department has intentionally embraced the idea of resiliency, forging forward through difficulties posed by COVID-19. On the heel of the pandemic, the 2022 fall semester offered a new challenge: transition. True, every semester brings change. Seniors graduate, new students begin their journey, underclassmen become upperclassmen and degree studies progress. This year added an adjusted academic calendar, changes in department personnel, a new concert experience and potential ownership transfer. Through the variability, Waldorf Music students performed as vibrantly as ever, offering their gifts of music to enrich our greater community.

The semester commenced in early August, complete with fresh faces, the hope of future possibility and a bit of nervousness regarding the months to come. The first of several large-scale departmental events occurred on September 15 as Waldorf Music hosted our annual All-State Piano, Vocal, and Instrumental Workshop, welcoming over 120 high school students from across northern Iowa to our campus. Attending students worked with Waldorf Faculty and invited clinicians in master classes, group lessons, sectionals and mass rehearsals to prepare challenging All-State audition repertoire. On October 18, Waldorf Choir was honored to be featured guests at Clear Lake High School’s fall choir concert, performing both individual selections and collaboratively with the high school ensembles. Waldorf Homecoming weekend quickly followed October 22-23. Music was present throughout the weekend’s celebratory events, with special performances by the Jazz Ensemble, student-led pep band and Schola Cantorum. Alumni Choir and Alumni Band gatherings offered opportunity for generations of Waldorf graduates to share fond stories of their experience, and presented current students a tangible connection to Waldorf Music’s continuing lineage. The weekend closed with the Waldorf Choir providing special music at Immanuel Lutheran, followed by brunch at the Boman and the Homecoming Showcase Concert, “Warrior Strong,” which featured all five Waldorf Music performing ensembles. October ended with three phenominal junior voice recitals: Hanna Ferguson (Music Education), Benjamin Lockwood (Church Music) and Brycen Bohl (Musical Theater).

As November ushered in the conclusion of the semester, the music students continued to shine. Percussion Ensemble presented a mid-morning concert in the Atrium, offering students, faculty, staff and guests the opportunity to hear exciting percussion pieces from around the world. On November 12 and 13 the Waldorf Choir, Schola Cantorum and Wind Symphony presented the first annual Gift of Music Concert: “Make a Joyful Noise!” This concert was blanketed with community involvement as area musi-

Choir Students Gathered for 2022 Fall Music Camp

Waldorf Wind Symphony Playing at the October Homecoming Concert

The Waldorf Choir Singing at the "Make a Joyful Noise!" Concert in November

cians joined the Wind Symphony; and the NordKor Children’s Choir, guest instrumentalists and handbell players from Immanuel Lutheran performed with the Waldorf Choir. Music from a variety of time periods and cultures was presented, from Russian Romanticism to Gospel to traditional Maori culture, delighting those in the audience and viewing online.

Uniting the semester was the opportunity to say “Thank You” to Waldorf’s beloved Nancy Farndale. Nancy announced her retirement after 40 years of service to Waldorf University, where she was currently serving as the composer-in-residence. Through the years, Nancy has filled many roles, including accompanying the choir, teaching organ and oboe lessons and even working in the residence halls. Nancy was lovingly honored during the homecoming showcase concert and with a special Chapel service in the Odvin Hagen Recital Hall in November, during which the choir performed one of Nancy’s original compositions, I Will Extol You, My God. Travis Beck, former Waldorf Music faculty, returned to campus to offer a heartfelt tribute to Nancy during the service. We are thankful for the decades of knowledge, compassion, care and kindness that Nancy has shared with so many who have walked these halls. Nancy fully embodies all that Waldorf is and seeks to be. We are all truly blessed to be a part of her story.

We are looking forward with heightened anticipation to the opportunities that 2023 will bring! In the excitement of performance and events, it is sometimes easy to forget that Waldorf music students are completing daily coursework, practicing their craft in weekly lessons, preparing for juries and finals, performing in studio seminar, attending pre-professional events, working, learning and being human. Our students are resilient, vibrant, striving to improve and offering the best of themselves to their community, truly sharing their gifts of music. If you are interested in supporting our programs so that we may continue to bring music to our community and to create high quality experiences, please consider a financial gift or other gift appropriate to your talents. We would love to hear from you and look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Emilie Bertram, DMA Director of Choral Activities Music Department Co-Chair Assistant Professor of Music emilie.bertram@waldorf.edu