“I’m so glad we get to sing it,” she says. “It’s so beautiful and it blossoms into this huge sound that expresses everything we can do. It’s very moving and emotional, and I love being able to share it.”
Mischtian is also happy to be performing in the church she grew up in, where she was baptized and where her parents were married – a rare opportunity to sing at home.
“It’s a special time for me and my family,” she says.
Beyond that, this spring tour is also an opportunity to bring new music to places that normally don’t get to hear the choir.
“I know many audiences haven’t heard us yet, but they are aware of the reputation of Dr. Clausenand the choir, so there’s a sense of excitement around our concerts,” she says. “I think people will love hearing our sound and our message.”
The elementary education major first began dreaming of singing at Concordia after hearing the choir while she was in middle school, and she was aware of the Lutheran choral tradition because her dad sang at a Lutheran college that had deep roots in the Christiansen family tree of conductors.
“My family is super musical and music is a big part of our lives, so there was always this thought that Concordia might be the place for me,” she says.
During her junior year of high school, Mischtian and her dad visited several colleges and sat in on a rehearsal of The Concordia Choir. She was immediately impressed that everyone was working as hard as they could to make each piece better.
“I had never seen such commitment before and I thought this is how choir should be,” she says.
About halfway through the rehearsal, she turned to her dad and said, “Here’s where I belong. I need to come to Concordia.”
Mischtian says she now has two families – her own in Texas and her choir family in Moorhead.
“We’re a tight-knit group. We trust each other and rely on each other. Choir at Concordia is one big, caring family,” she says. “It’s been the perfect choice for me.”
The Concordia Choir national tour runs through March 11.