Women's World Music Choir to perform concerts on spring break tour

GOSHEN, Ind. – The 45-voice Goshen College Women's World Music Choir is touring during spring break, sharing music that reflects on the theme of "Magnificat!" at churches in Illinois and Ohio during its 2011 tour, Feb. 25-March 6, as well as performing a concluding home concert in Goshen.

Led by Goshen College Professor of Music Deb Brubaker, the goals of the Women's World Music Choir are to discover and perform spiritual music of many cultures, both national and international, particularly indigenous cultures. 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 the tour, the choir's worship service program will feature pieces from such countries as Kenya, Hungary, Australia, Spain and Haiti.

The Goshen College Women's World Music Choir features the following members: (Soprano I) Karin Fast, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario (Canada); Kate Friesen, Archbold, Ohio; Lisa Horst, Dillon, Mont.; Brook Hostetter, Harrisonburg, Va.; Melissa Kauffman, Goshen, Ind.; Kelly Miller, Harrisonburg, Va.; Breanna Ries, Freeman, S.D.; Elizabeth Ruth Speigle, Harleysville, Pa.; Sarah Toews, Goshen; Adrienne Yoder, Lititz, Pa.; and Allison Yoder, Middlebury, Ind.; (Soprano II) Jenny Boehs, Fort Collins, Colo.; Sarah Dieter, Minneapolis, Minn.; Christa Graber, Hesston, Kan.; Eliza Graber, Plain City, Ohio; Emily Grimes, Goshen; Hannah Lake-Rayburn, Champaign, Ill.; Sarah Lake-Rayburn, Champaign, Ill.; Justine Maust, Lancaster, Pa.; Katie Miller, Goshen; Emma Ruth, Harleysville, Pa.; Kate Stoltzfus, Goshen; Ana Yoder, Elkhart, Ind.; and Arielle Zerger, Moundridge, Kan.; (Alto I) Erin Bontrager, Corvallis, Ore.; Hannah Clemmer, Harleysville, Pa.; Andrea Detweiler, Goshen; Emily Hedrick, Telford, Pa.; Alicia Hofer, Freeman, S.D.; Sara Klassen, Goshen; Rachel Mast, Corvallis, Ore.; Gabriella Mendoza-Hydes, Cayman Islands; Sarah Gotwals Rody, Bellefontaine, Ohio; Lauren Treiber, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Ashley Walker, Kirklin, Ind.; Mara Weaver, Bloomington, Ill.; and Laurel Woodward, North Newton, Kan.; (Alto II) Becca Augsburger, Nicholasville, Ky.; Alisha Bender, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Jessie Gotwals, Telford, Pa.; Molly Kellogg, Candor, N.Y.; Sophie Lapp, Goshen; Lavonne Shetler, Goshen; Emily Trapp, Canby, Ore.; and Chelsea Wimmer, Telford, Pa.

At Goshen College, Brubaker is involved in the choral and opera theater programs, teaches church music courses and serves as department co-chair. Since coming to Goshen in 1999, she has directed the Goshen College Chorale and Chamber Choir, and created the Women's World Music Choir, which made its debut in the spring of 2004. Brubaker and her choirs have collaborated and performed with such noted conductors as Alice Parker, Vance George, Donald Neuen and Gregg Smith.

Goshen College's Music Department offers a bachelor of arts degree with concentrations in music education, music technology, piano pedagogy and music in worship. The department's 60 majors and minors enjoy participation in five choirs, staged musicals and operas, orchestra, wind ensemble and jazz band. The Music Department is housed in the Goshen College Music Center, built in 2001. The Music Center features the 1,000-seat Sauder Concert Hall, the 300-seat Rieth Recital Hall, rehearsal and practice rooms, classrooms, teaching studios, a recording studio and an art gallery. The Community School of the Arts, located in the Music Center, provides teaching experience and leadership training for Goshen College students. The Performing Arts Series regularly brings prominent national and international musicians to the Music Center.

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.