Every spring break, Concordia University Chicago’s Wind Symphony and Kapelle perform a separate series of concerts across the United States. While last spring’s tour was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year both groups will hit the road again — in a shortened, three-day run.

In 2020, Wind Symphony planned a 10-day tour to Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas, but performers were sent home early. Kapelle was headed to Florida before their tour was canceled.

For 2021, Wind Symphony will play at three Lutheran high schools in Wisconsin from March 9 through March 12. The number of audience members will be limited, but the concerts will be livestreamed. 

Meanwhile, Kapelle will travel downstate for their concerts. “We will be doing a mini-tour from March 6 through March 9, performing at two congregations in the St. Louis area and Christ, Our Rock Lutheran Highschool to perform with their choir on the way home,” said Dr. Charles Brown, conductor of Kapelle.

Normally during the tours, locals would provide temporary housing for members of Kapelle and Wind Symphony so they have a place to sleep overnight. This year, however, both tours will have to sleep in hotels. 

“We’re going to hotels instead of homestays because we don’t know how safe it would be to stay at strangers’ houses,” said Alexander Richard, CUC junior, and baritone in Kapelle. 

Not only are the performances affected by new COVID safety guidelines, but rehearsals also look a little different than in the past. “We are now spread out all over the chapel, not in the band room where I have rehearsed 46 out of my 47 years here,” said Dr. Richard Fischer, Wind Symphony conductor. 

The length of the concerts will also be shortened and there are fewer performers present due to some staying home because of the pandemic.

On March 12 at 7:30 p.m., The Wind Symphony concert, titled “From Coast to Coast: Praising Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,”  will be livestreamed from Sheboygan Lutheran Highschool in Wisconsin. Wind Symphony will perform pieces such as “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Who Puts His Trust in God is Most Just,” and “The Symphonic Gershwin.”

Wind Symphony’s home concert at CUC will be livestreamed on March 19 at 8:00 p.m. and Kapelle’s home concert will be livestreamed on March 21 at 4:00 p.m. Both concerts can be found on CUC’s Vimeo. 

Churches can become a partner congregation at no cost by visiting this site. Becoming a partner congregation means spreading the word of the Wind Symphony concerts. CUC’s goal is to have a partner congregation in all 50 states.