MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir and Chamber Choir of Wisconsin Lutheran College, under the direction of Dr. James A. Nowack, performed concerts in Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., March 7-14. The 2025 Spring Concert Tour concluded with a home concert in WLC’s Schwan Concert Hall on Sunday, March 16.

The 90-minute sacred program spanned several periods and genres of choral literature by significant composers, including Felix Mendelssohn, John Amner, Heinrich Schütz, F. Melius Christiansen, Z. Randall Stroope, and Ola Gjeilo. Leading choral composer Elaine Hagenberg’s You Do Not Walk Alone, an ethereal setting of a traditional Irish blessing that offers comfort in a time of uncertainty, was an audience favorite and concert highlight. The tour program also featured inspiring contemporary choral arrangements of well-known hymns and spirituals.

The 24-voice Chamber Choir performed sacred repertoire including William Billings’ I Am The Rose of Sharon, Abbie Betinis’ Carol Of The Stranger, Philip W.J. Stopford’s There Is No Rose, and Randall Thompson’s The Last Words Of David.

Dr. James Nowack, director of choral activities at Wisconsin Lutheran College since 1994, serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Under Nowack's direction, the Wisconsin Lutheran Choir has developed a unified voice and a respected presence in the Midwest.

The tour concerts were free and open to the public. To view the complete tour itinerary, visit the choir's tour page.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is a nationally ranked Christian college in Milwaukee that serves nearly 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students. The college, which prepares students for lives of Christian leadership, is recognized for its academic excellence and superior student experience.