Holocaust Immersion Weekend Helps Choir Understand

LINCOLN, NE — In his 37 years as choral director at Nebraska Wesleyan University, William Wyman has experienced countless special opportunities.  But one recent experience has topped Wyman’s list.  “By far this was the most profound 24 hours spent with the choir,” he said.  Last month, the University Choir traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, for an immersion weekend to help them better prepare for their invited performance at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Convention.

Joining the choir for the immersion weekend were the Minnesota State and Wartburg choirs, Dr. Lee Nelson, the conductor for the ACDA showcase concert, and the piece’s composer, Stephen Paulus.  Paulus wrote “To Be Certain of the Dawn” to honor the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps. The song — which mourns the victims of the Holocaust — was a gift to Joseph Edelheit, a Minnesota rabbi who lost 27 members during the Holocaust.  Edelheit joined the choir in Des Moines where he openly shared personal survival stories and reflections.

“To see over 200 singers in dead silence and tears running down their faces,” Wyman recalled. “It was absolutely astonishing.”