Wartburg Choir held an abbreviated version of their choir tour in Mount Vernon Friday, March 28, in a joint choir concert with Mount Vernon Choir.

This was also the first stop on the Wartburg Choir’s tour schedule this year. Their final home concert is April 13 at Wartburg Chapel before they do a tour of the west coast that kicks off during Easter weekend.

Wartburg choir director Dr. Lee Nelson said his continued connection with alum Thad Wilkins sparked the idea for a concert in the Performing Arts Center space, and that coming to the space was like coming home with the many connections the choir has to the area. Four Mount Vernon alum are members of the choir – Milo Olinger, Ty Panos, Ben Nydegger and Trystin Lashley.

Among the pieces performed were “Gloria” by Ily Matthew Maniano, “Der Geist hilft unser schwachheit auf” by Johann Sebastian Bach, and “His Eye is on the Sparrow” by Zanaida Stewart Robles.

The choir also performed “Love Is…” a piece written by Wartburg alum Connor Koppin (class of 2013) in honor of a former student of Wilkins’ and Wartburg alum the late Austin “A.J.” Zaruba (class of 2009). The choir finished the set of that piece with “I Will Rise” arranged by Craig Courtney and Lynda Hassler.

Mount Vernon’s choirs performed “Water Night” by Eric Whitacre, “Domine ad adjuvandum me festiva” by II Padre G.B. Martin, “Nda Wana” arranged by Michael Barrett and “Witness” arranged by Jack Halloran.

Wartburg returned to conclude with a few more songs from the “Hallelujah” portion of their concert, including arrangements by Marques L.A. Garrett of “Hold On!” and “Soon I Will Be Done” and then concluded with “Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal” and “Give Me Jesus,” which they invited choir alum to come and join them in singing.