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The EMU Chamber Singers have been chosen to represent North America at the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism celebration in Zurich, Switzerland, in May 2025.
The choir is one of five, each representing a different continent, that will perform at the international event, which will draw visitors from all corners of the world.
EMU’s Martin Chapel will host a hymnal sing-through this weekend to raise funds for the Chamber Singers‘ trip to Europe.
A sing-through of the Voices Together hymnal at Martin Chapel Friday, September 6 from 7 to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 7 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from noon until finished on Sunday, September 8 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.
Mennonite World Conference is celebrating a momentous milestone next year with the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism and has 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,” Benjamin Bergey, assistant professor of music at EMU and director of the Chamber Singers, said. “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,” Allen 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.
Support the choir by donating at the event and by giving online.
The Chamber Singers is an auditioned touring chamber choir founded in 1979. The mixed-voice choir is approximately 20 EMU students of different ages and majors, who tour the U.S. each spring break and abroad every other May.
Admission is free for Sing-through of Voices Together at Martin Chapel, EMU Seminary Building, 1181 Smith Ave., Harrisonburg.
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Rebecca Barnabi
