LCA Past and Future

I am very excited! The opening concert of the 

is just around the corner. The energy and joy of singing is happening every week in rehearsal. We are so thankful to First United Methodist Church and First Plymouth Church offering their facilities to us for rehearsal. And we are so grateful for the continued support of Nebraska Wesleyan University for the use of their space for rehearsals and performance. 

For those who may not know here is a little of the history of Lincoln Choral Artists:

Lincoln Civic Choir was founded in 1979 at Union College, as a part of the Lincoln Civic Experience.

Dr. William Wyman took over the 60-voice, auditioned community choir in 1990.

Under Wyman’s direction, the choir left the umbrella of the Lincoln Civic Orchestra and formed its own nonprofit designation. Its membership grew and moved into residency at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

During his run, the choir performed three or more concerts a year and collaborated with such groups as Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, TADA, Omaha Symphony and the Military Band of the Heartland. Its holiday concert has become a popular Lincoln pastime, with the choir often featuring youth ensembles at it -- another source of pride to Wyman.

In 1992, the Lincoln Civic Choir, presented the area premiere of Ron Nelson's "Te Deum Laudamus" with the Military Band of the Heartland along with one of the first performances of Omaha composer Randall Stroope's "Hodie" with the Plymouth Brass. In the spring of 1995, the choir appeared in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City along with the NWU Choir, the choirs of the four Lincoln public high schools and New York's Westside Orchestra. We also performed the piece in Lincoln with the Lincoln Symphony. In May, 1997, the choir performed with the Military Band of the Heartland in a concert featuring the music of Howard Hansen.

LCC regularly joined the Nebraska Wesleyan University Choir and Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra in concerts at the Lied Center and other performance venues. Recent performances of this type have included Rachmaninoff's "Vespers," Orff's "Carmina Burana" and Mozart's "Grand Mass in C Minor." In March, 2006, the choir made its first guest appearance with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra.

I am so proud to have opportunity to build on this history in our upcoming concert. We will really stretch the listener's ear with music from around the world that reminds us of the joy of coming together in music and fellowship.