Sonnenberg Station Hosting Instructions and Press Kit

Thank you for your interest in hosting Sonnenberg Station. On this page, you will find the information and contents you need to successfully present a Sonnenberg Station concert. 

Press Release

Sonnenberg Station is a 16 member men’s ensemble. We have given over 160 programs in more than 80 venues over the course of 18 years. We continue to sing to appreciative audiences without the aid of amplification, simply by focusing on the timeless power and beauty found in the transformative act of singing.

Deriving our name from a local landmark in the Sonnenberg valley northeast of Kidron, we strive to weave a thread of local culture to an area where many of our ancestors lived. As before, audience members can expect to hear songs from all singing traditions; from high church traditions to mountain spirituals, sea chanteys to big city gospel, folk songs and much more. The ensemble is directed and accompanied by Tim Yoder. Here are this season’s concert venues.

Concerts and details are subject to change. Please confirm dates, times, and venues before attending. Please check back here and at www.sonnenbergstation.org and on our Facebook page for updates. A love offering will be taken at each performance.

Pictures

The following pictures may be used for any promotional material.

Poster

Use the poster below for the Fall 2024 season (the download link is above the poster). Feel free to post them to your venue's Facebook page, website, or print for placing around your community. You can find our posts on our Facebook page here. 

Preshow Requirements

For Sonnenberg Station to perform at your venue, we will need the following:

  • An in-tune, unlocked piano;

  • A single, hand-held, wireless microphone with fresh batteries;

  • 4-6 people to serve as ushers to welcome people and hand out programs (we provide the programs);

  • Access to the church and performance area 2 hours before the show;

  • A room where the guys can rehearse and prepare just prior to the show (separate from the performance area);

  • Drinking water for 19 men (either bottled water, or filtered water in pitchers with cups);

  • A phone number for someone who will be available up to two hours before the show;

  • A listing of area newspapers, radio stations, or other appropriate outlets for us to press releases;

  • We ask that you print the posters we provide and distribute them around your church and community;

  • We ask that you send the following blurb to area churches to include in their bulletins, and include blurbs in your own bulletin as well:

Sonnenberg Station is a 16-voice men's choral ensemble based in Kidron, Ohio. For more than 18 years, the group has performed in over 80 different venues to appreciative audiences throughout Ohio. Each season offers diverse selections from contemporary to classical, hallowed to lighthearted, including arrangements by the group's director, Tim Yoder.

As the crisp autumn air settles in, Sonnenberg Station once again seeks to celebrate the rich tapestry of fall through song. From traditional choral arrangements to spirited folk tunes, our repertoire reflects the beauty of nature and the camaraderie of community. Together, we’ll explore themes of gratitude, reflection, and of course, love. We invite our audiences to share in the joy and nostalgia that autumn brings. Let our harmonies paint the vibrant landscape of this cherished time, as we welcome the season with open hearts and resonant voices.

The day of the performance

  • The men will arrive and practice in the performance area about two hours prior to the performance.

  • Please be sure they have access to the performance and rehearsal areas and piano at that time;

  • If piano is normally locked, please be sure it is unlocked;

  • We ask that the doors remain closed to the performance area and no audience members are admitted until 15 minutes prior to the concert start time, or that the group is given a separate rehearsal room that they can move to after blocking and rehearsing with the piano;

  • We ask that a representative of your organization introduce the group right at start time, and also release the audience after the last song. You can use information from the press release to include in the introduction and whatever else you would like to say.

Finances

  • Checks are to be made to Sonnenberg Mennonite Church and earmarked Sonnenberg Station.

  • Checks can be given to the group's manager the night of the performance or mailed to:

Sonnenberg Mennonite Church
P.O. Box 226
Kidron, OH  44636

 If you have any questions, please contact me via email, text, or phone. 

Many thanks for hosting Sonnenberg Station, and we look forward to seeing you! 

Shaun Rufener

Management and booking
Sonnenberg Station Men's Ensemble
330.485.6311 (c)