Craig Strasbaugh: Within Zion's Walls

Last Season, I was invited to sing with Sonnenberg Station for the first time. I had heard the group perform before and had been drawn to keep singing. In my first season with the group, we sang "Zion’s Walls." It is a strong, impassioned appeal for the whole family or community to gather to worship God within the walls of the Jerusalem Temple. The men of the choir stand in place of the people's patriarchs. They love to worship God together, and they pass that faith on through the generations.

For me, "Zion's Walls" is a powerful song that leaves your senses buzzing at the end. That description could serve just as well to summarize my experience with Sonnenberg Station.

Sadly, I am missing most of this season’s performances, though I have practiced, and, even now, have my music near me. Yet as I type, I sit within the boundary walls between Jerusalem’s countryside and Bethlehem in Israel.

Today, I walked the streets of the walled, Old City of Jerusalem (Zion). Song bursts forth here in every Quarter, in every language, and from multiple religions. Here is a place people still gather for worship. I can now say that I have sung "Zion’s Walls" within Zion’s walls (and with all of the Sonnenberg Station men in my consciousness). 

As I prayed and sang within Zion’s walls, I was struck by the fact that my singing and worship here are not an end unto themselves, but are indeed preparing me for prayer and worship and singing elsewhere.

God is now dwelling in hearts of flesh in you and me. And that is the faith that we invite others to participate in when we gather together and sing.

Craig Strasbaugh

Music on Market

This evening's concert was held at the wonderful venue that is Wooster United Methodist--a great place for singing choral music. The ensemble sang for a sizable, warm, and receptive crowd, thanks to the efforts of Music on Market's hardworking, energetic Nancy Franck. 

The beautiful crowd at Music on Market in Wooster. 

It's always fun to make connections with the audience. Someone recognizes a singer from their blog post. Someone else expresses interest in booking the group at their church in the fall. And tonight, a six-year-old attendee recognized a song in the program and was excited to hear it, but had to wait until the end of the concert to hear it. When the group had finished performing the song, the girl excitedly turned to her mother and said, "Now that's what I call entertainment!" The song was "Skip to My Lou."

"Skip to my Lou, my darling...."

Just goes to show that there's something for everyone during a Sonnenberg Station concert! 

See you Saturday night, March 22 at 7 pm at St. Mary's in Massillon! 

Travis Pauli: AKA "Ugly Face"

They call me ugly face.

That’s not true.  At least I hope it’s not. I guess you can never really know for sure, but the group members don't seem the type to have that in them.

The only reason I even mention this is because of Bill Seymour. If you've seen his blog post, you'll know that, on occasion, my countenance has been a point of discussion--specifically, my expression when I sing. On a normal day, I'm not going to win any beauty pageants, but when I sing, something happens. Something which I can only hope the vocal stylings coming from my mouth can counter. As Bill mentioned, I do work hard at trying to create the best sound I can, but it comes at the cost of a facial expression which starts off as a sorrow/pain hybrid and morphs into anger/pain as the song gets louder or the notes get higher. It’s something I've been aware of for a very long time and something that I'm always working hard to fix.

Well, kind of.

Okay, um, not really. 

I just sing. If you want to see a nice smile, take a look at Ellis, or Jeremy, or Daniel. They're always smiling, and they look like they love what they're doing. That’s why they're always in the front. If you want to see a guy at the pinnacle of concentration (and with a look of constipation), I'm the guy you want, and they're trying to hide me in the back row. Well, you know what? I'm a giant, and I can't be hidden. So, look whenever.

Actually, it’s probably not a good idea. Nothing good can come of it. Look at the front row and enjoy, and if I ever sing a solo, just close your eyes, picture someone attractive and smiling doing the singing, and soak it in. But always know that I’m up there loving every second of it.

I am not an original member of the group.  I believe I joined in the spring of 2008, but I honestly can't tell you that’s 100% correct.  If it is, that would make this my 13th round of performances with the group. I've never tallied that before. That seems huge!

But singing in this group is one of those things that feels like you've been doing it forever, yet, at the same time, it’s like it just started yesterday. It’s set up perfectly for me. We do a few performances, and then we take some time off. Every time we are ready to get started again, I get excited. It has never felt old or burdensome for a single day, and I think that’s what makes me appreciate the opportunity so much.

Singing has always been a very important part of my life. I was very active in different things in high school, but music was always my favorite. Then, suddenly, graduation happened, and it came to an abrupt end. The college years went by, and through my early 20s, there didn't seem to be an outlet. Then the opportunity came that I could join the group, and what a group it is! Every season is a vocal and mental challenge, and I sing with some very talented and knowledgeable people. I often feel so inadequate with my knowledge of musical history or theory when I'm with these guys. They're discussing pentatonic scales and suspended minor fifths (I don't even know if that’s a real thing), and I'm just here thinking, “I know I go from a C to a G here, and if I do that right and keep my mouth shut, no one will know that I'm kind of an idiot."

But no one cares anyway. We sing, we enjoy each other’s company, and if there were no concerts at the end of the season, I think most of us would still show up for the camaraderie and the chance to make fun of each other a little bit. The only thing I do know is this: The only way I’m not going to be a part of this group is if they kick me out, and if that happens, there’s going to be a fight. Fists will fly. I’m not real tough, so they may not land anywhere, but they will be a-flyin’.

I've been asked to share some things about myself, and I don't really know where to start. The easiest place is probably with my family. I live with my wonderful wife, Heather, and two amazing daughters, Ellie (3) and Bailey (1). There is always singing going on in the house, but the music of choice is currently most of the soundtrack to Disney’s Frozen. Both of my daughters are in love with the movie, and Ellie has most of the songs memorized, down to the vocal inflection of the characters as they sing. I prefer songs that have a little more soul and grit. Some past Sonnenberg Station favorites include “Nobody’s Fault” and “My God Called." You can really let loose on a song like that without the rigid precision that other songs require. My absolute favorite has to be the song, “Things That Never Die." It’s a beautiful, flowing song (in contrast to what I just said I liked--I'm a walking, talking contradiction) in which I had the opportunity stand beside one of the most talented singers I’ve been around – Hank Rossiter – and got to listen to accompaniment by another of the most talented musicians I've known – Kevin Himes. The opportunity to make music with those two and Tim Shue make singing in Sonnenberg Station so much fun.  Truly some of the most talented people I've ever been around.

Jeremy Braun: Singing as Therapy

Jeremy Braun has discovered what many since the beginning of time have experienced--that music can help us express what we have difficulty putting into words on our own. Singing with Sonnenberg Station has also helped Jeremy work through some difficult life experiences as well as celebrate life's joys.

The Braun family

Jeremy grew up in Goshen, Indiana with his three brothers, Joe, Tim, and, closest to him in age, Marc, an accomplished piano and guitar player, and one of Jeremy's musical heroes who, like Jeremy, loved to sing. As a young boy, Jeremy sang in his church's children's choir and joined a barbershop quartet in high school, which he figures didn't sound nearly as good as they thought they were, but they had fun anyway. His earliest musical memory is of singing German Christmas carols after the family's Boxing Day meal in Canada.

"I still don't know German," Braun says, "but those Canadians sure can sing."

Jeremy and Carli. 

He headed to Northern Michigan University and worked at Camp Friedenswald during college as summer staff and then, after college, spent a full year there as maintenance assistant. There, he met Carli, who was also a summer staff member, and they fell in love. By 2007, Jeremy had decided to move to Ohio to be near Carli, who was then battling Hodgkin's lymphoma. The two married and started a family, and the lymphoma surrendered. In 2013, Jeremy decided to add singing to the mix, so he joined Sonnenberg Station in the fall. 

For Braun, singing with the ensemble is a way to express a side of himself that he doesn't often show people.  While he admits to belting out a tune in the work van (he's an HVAC installer and pipe fitter), Sonnenberg Station gives him the opportunity to polish up a few pieces to share with people who want to listen.  He also enjoys the challenge of joining his voice with the voices of others who sharpen his skills.

"Sonnenberg Station has a great many singers with excellent tone and knowledge of musical theory, most of it that I can't begin to understand," Jeremy says. "This is humbling for me, and I hope I catch on quickly enough that they don't find out I have no clue what they're talking about in Latin, or how to count through the difficult rhythm sections."

Jeremy and his brother Marc. 

When asked to choose his favorite piece, Jeremy says it's difficult to choose. He's a sucker for mushy songs about loved ones, especially missing loved ones. Singing these pieces has been great therapy for Jeremy to work through devastating loss. His brother Marc, who was closest to Jeremy in age and someone he greatly admired, made the decision to leave this earthly life in 2012 after struggling for years with depression and bipolar disease, an illness that carries with it 10 to 20 times the suicide rate of the general population. March 9 marked the two year anniversary of Marc's death, something Jeremy struggles to process and accept. And yet, it continues to shape him in ways he finds it difficult to define. 

"Marc was my role model, and now he's no longer here, which just sucks," Jeremy says. At this year's Frohliche Dorf, Jeremy introduced a song that puts some of his feelings into words. "Wanting Memories," a piece in Sonnenberg Station's repertoire this season, is one he can relate to well.  

"It speaks of missing a person who said they would help us through life but is no longer around. The refrain repeats this, but the verses transition from longing to the realization that this missing person abides within me, declaring, 'I know that I am you, and you are me, and we are one.' That line grabbed me right away.

"It's difficult to sing sometimes," Jeremy says, "but it's good to express these feelings through song.

"Truth is," Jeremy says, "I just love to sing, and this group enables me to do just that. I feel like so much of our popular music is made great by recordings and computer calibrated intonation, but Sonnenberg is raw.  A cappella singing is such a naked expression of art that it becomes intimidating to perform sometimes, but when the performance is strong, it feels great." 

Jeremy lives in Dalton with his sweet children and his beautiful wife, who has been cured of Hodgkin's lymphoma. And, whenever he gets the chance, he grabs the opportunity to lift his voice in song, whether sharing it with an audience at a Sonnenberg Station concert, or singing for himself alone in the work van, because music is a significant and healing part of Jeremy Braun's life. 

Skip to My Lou

This Season's Poster

Bill Seymour: Why I Love Singing About Clowns (even though I hate clowns)

I love singing with Sonnenberg Station for several reasons. I'll let you in on a few of them here. 

First, Tim Shue is one of the finest musicians I have ever met, AND he is an extremely enjoyable director to sing under.

Second, the men of Sonnenberg Station are incredibly talented, and we like to have a lot of fun, even as we are serious about making excellent music.

Third--and I am assuming this is true of all of us -- I love hearing the laughter and joy of the audience when we get something right, when they feel like we have connected with them. That's a pretty cool feeling. For this reason, Johnny Schmoker has to be a favorite, because the audience laughs with us so well. Otherwise, I hope never to have to sing it again.

Okay, there is one more reason--Travis Pauli has an awesome face when he sings, and no one puts more effort into singing well than Travis.

Speaking of Travis, he and I were talking at practice the other night, and we both agreed that our motivation for singing is pretty shallow. We recognize that there are words in the songs, and sometimes those words are deep, meaningful or even worshipful; nevertheless, the ones we enjoy are the ones with fun tenor lines. I could more easily hum a few bars of my favorites than I could quote the lyrics. A piece I really like to sing is the one where the basses start out "hum, humm, hm hm hm. Do bat deee." No clue what the title is.

But really, I think the piece I've liked most is the one I like the least. "Send in the Clowns" has lyrics that do not attract me at all, and I find the melody schmaltzy, and I'm afraid of clowns. The arrangement we sang a few years back, though, was out-of-sight good with lush chords and big sound. That was fun.

I majored in voice performance and pedagogy at Heidelberg College in the 1980s. Soon after, I felt and followed a call to ministry, and music took a seat to the side. Sonnenberg Station helps fill the need in my soul to make great music. I like it when we sing a straight-up classical piece, because it feels right in my wheelhouse, but I appreciate it more when we sing (and we usually do) songs in styles I have little experience with because I learn new things and grow musically.

Seymour as a singing lad. 

This season, our concert music is the hardest we've had since I've been with the Station. It's vocally difficult, especially for guys like me pretending to be tenors. There are complicated chords and rhythms and lines. Yet, I have never been as excited for a season as I am this spring. If we get this right, it will be fantastic. Of course, there is always a chance that we could crash and burn, and that adds to the fun. But we won't. In fact, I think we'll sing better than ever this spring.

Bill Seymour and his wife Allison. 

Bill Seymour has been singing with Sonnenberg Station since the 2011 spring season, predominantly as second tenor, although, he says, when director Tim Shue wants to torture him, he jumps up to first tenor. He also likes to join the low basses when they go over a part because "they are real men and I like to pretend."

"One season," Seymour says, "they let me play the egg for a song. Oddly, I have not been asked to do that again." 

Bill Seymour has lived in Ohio since 1983, but grew up in Connecticut. Seymour has been married to Allison, who hails from western New York, for 25 years. They have two boys, 21 and 15. For the past 10 years, Seymour has served as lead pastor of Orrville Mennonite Church. Prior to that, he served churches in Millersburg and Canton. 

One fun fact. about Seymour's Sonnenberg career. "Tim enjoys trying to get me to mess up words and entrances during at least one concert every season."

You can catch Sonnenberg Station at any of this season's upcoming concerts. Hope to see you there! 

Sonnenberg's 2014 Spring Season: The Wait and the Walk

Sonnenberg Station men's choral ensemble has performed in more than 30 different venues to appreciative audiences throughout Ohio, from churches and businesses to universities and concert halls. Their repertoire features beloved classical pieces,  contemporary tunes and everything in between, including several original arrangements by the group's director, Tim Shue.

This season's six performances offer selections exploring the theme of "the wait and the walk," songs seeking a balance between moving forward and standing still. Some pieces focus on being content with waiting while pondering and being introspective, while others represent the walk--energizing, inspirational, and entertaining. All are delivered with Sonnenberg Station's own spin on traditional spirituals, familiar folk songs, and, as always, a few lighthearted surprises while representing a variety of cultures, eras, and styles.

Catch Sonnenberg Station at any of this season's performances.