The National Lutheran Choir Presents ‘Call to Prayer’

Winter concert ‘Call to Prayer’ collaborates with the Augsburg Choir, Zafer Tawil, as well as commissions new work by Joshua Fishbein.

The National Lutheran Choir will present a winter concert entitled ‘Call to Prayer’ on Sunday, March 4th at 4pm at the Adath Jeshurun Congregation Synagogue, Minnetonka. With performances from a variety of guest artists (the Augsburg Choir, Zafer Tawil, Joshua Fishbein, and Hazzan Joanna Dulkin), this innovative program embodies the music from three sacred prayer traditions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Concluding a landmark season dedicated to the art and legacy of the Protestant Reformation, this program delves into the universal human longing for connection with God expressed through prayer. The intimate, introspective, and communal act of prayer has been tied to musical traditions of cultures for millennia. Call to Prayer opens a door to further explore and experience the music of prayer in three modern religions.

The first guest artist is the Augsburg Choir, in its 84th year, directed by Mark Sedio. Augsburg Choir’s tradition of choral excellence coupled with the University’s role as an active community partner in its urban setting has created an excellent partnership for ‘Call to Prayer’, allowing The National Lutheran Choir to engage the multi-faith and diverse student body.

Joshua Fishbein (b. 1984), based in Baltimore, MD and the second guest artist, is composer of the National Lutheran Choir’s most recent commission entitled Allahu Echad: God is One. A combination of the Islamic adhan (traditional call for worship) and the Hebrew oseh shalom prayer texts, the piece focuses on the “one-ness” of God, and is voiced for SATB choir and violin.

Collaborating on Allahu Echad: God is One will be the third guest artist, Zafer Tawil. A Jerusalem-born Palestinian musician and multi-instrumentalist, Tawil is familiar to Twin Cities’ audiences through his work with The Rose Ensemble (Jordan Sramek, Artistic Director) and frequent Schubert Club performer mezzo-soprano, Clara Osowski.

Augsburg Choir

Director Mark Sedio

Composer Joshua Fishbein

Musician and Instrumentalist Zafer Tawil

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About the National Lutheran Choir

Under the direction of nationally known conductor, composer and organist Dr. David Cherwien, the 62-member National Lutheran Choir’s artistry is rooted in its mission to strengthen, renew and preserve the heritage of sacred choral music through the highest standards of performance and literature. Founded in 1986 by the late Dr. Larry Fleming, the National Lutheran Choir sings a sacred and spiritual story rooted in the Lutheran choral tradition. From early chant and simple folk anthems to complex choral masterworks and new compositions, the choir brings a rich and diverse repertoire of music to its listeners. In addition to concertizing, the National Lutheran Choir enjoys frequent broadcasts on public radio and maintains a YouTube channel with selected performances and concert streams. A discography of 30 recordings showcases the ensemble’s music making over the years and features
hymns, choral classics, contemporary works, spirituals and major new works commissioned by the NLC. Much of this influential new work is featured in “The National Lutheran Choir Series,” published by Morningstar Music.