Tell me about the Lutheran Chorale—how was it started?
The group actually started in 1957 when Professor Fred Bartel gathered a group of singers for the installation of Rev. Werner Franzmann, who was the editor of The Northwestern Lutheran. It was such an enjoyable experience for the singers that they decided to organize into a more formal group. They asked Pastor Kurt Eggert, who was an outstanding musician, to be the director. They presented their first full-length concert in the spring of 1958 at Grace in downtown Milwaukee, and the program was called “The Christian Life.”

Pastor Eggert’s motto was always “Sermons in song.” It was his goal to really present the gospel in music. And he was innovative in that he was always looking to present works by composers that perhaps nobody in WELS had ever heard of. He opened the eyes of a lot of people to music that they would not have otherwise known.

Tell me more about the members of the chorale.
They are WELS members from several congregations in the Milwaukee area, people who are committed to fine chorale music with strong gospel texts. It’s not only the music and the musical style, but presenting the gospel. In the early years, Pastor Eggert did a lot of explaining and commentary [at the concerts] to help people understand the music and the text. I don’t do that anymore, though occasionally we do include some rationale in our programs as to what the text is about and why we’re singing this song.

How many members are in the chorale?
Our membership always ranges between 60 and 65 and it varies somewhat. And membership is by audition. Part of that reason is we’re simply limited by space in the places we perform, limited by the number of robes, and limited by the amount of music that we have. So the goal is to keep a balanced choir of really the best musicians we can find. We have several current members who have sung in the chorale almost since the beginning, who are close to the 50-year mark. So that is really something.

So how do people find out about the chorale?
We announce in church bulletins. Usually in the fall I send out a notice to all of the congregations in the Milwaukee area that there are some openings, and then the people contact me to get more information or to set up an audition. And some people find out through word of mouth: “My friend sings in the chorale, and I’m interested in singing,” and that kind of thing.

Is there a lot of practicing?
During the school year, we rehearse every Sunday night from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Wisconsin Lutheran College [in Milwaukee]. They let us use their facilities on Sunday night. That’s where we’ve rehearsed for quite a few years now.