April 2008
The nine-voice acappella vocal ensemble, Shekinah, sang at the annual Harmonies benefit concert, Saturday, 7:00 p.m., April 12, 2008, at the Blossom Hill Mennonite Church. The concert included traditional congregational singing of both old and new songs, including selections from Sing the Story.
Shekinah formed in 2003 to provide music for Eastern Mennonite University’s chapel. Five years later these nine singers are still rehearsing weekly and getting more invitations than they can accept. Their unique blend of women's voices and exciting arrangements has created worship experiences and rave reviews for audiences on many campuses and churches. Shekinah's repertoire includes folk hymns, spirituals, classical sacred, and some secular pieces
"We have grown incredibly as a group and make the music our own,” said Heidi Bowman of the ensemble. “Each woman brings a distinct personality to the group, and each individual contributes in her own way to Shekinah's success and growth. Above all, we raise our voices to give back to God the talents God blessed us with."
Besides Heidi, the vocalists are: Andrea Kniss Stutzman, Eve Knepp, Joanna Showalter, Jenny Hartwig, Sara Gingerich, Katie Derstine, Chris Kniss, and Shannon Blosser, all of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The April 12 concert was a benefit for the music ministries of Harmonies, which promotes hymn singing.
> Shekinah on the Web
August, 2007
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Harmonies again has been tapped by national media. The NPR show On Point asked for Amish music to illustrate its story about an Amish group in Ohio. |
> Listen Online: Stream the story from On Point
> Amish music in our catalog
May, 2007
Photo by Kenny Pellman
View more photos from the concert on Flickr
Spare Parts (a.k.a. The Akron Quartet) wowed a crowd at Forest Hills church, Leola, Pa., the evening of May 19, 2007. The event was the Harmonies Ascension Benefit Sing, the annual fund-raiser for the music ministry.
After the last applause, Glenn Lehman, director of Harmonies, asked the four men to remain on stage. Board member Rachel Pellman presented each quartet member with a blown up image of the disc. Then Lehman announced the release of the new CD, "Ain't Got Time to Die." The quartet gathered at the sales table to autograph CD as requested. This CD is the first to come out in the digipak format, which Lehman said, "is friendlier to the earth."
Between Spare Part's two sets, the Forest Hills Mens Ensemble sang several pieces and Treasurer Earl Rohrer announced the kick-off of the annual fund. This year the goal is $10,000.00. Said Lehman, "Most of the energy and time in Harmonies administration and products and live events is volunteer. However the board of directors plans a budget every year to keep a simple office functioning and to have a minimum staff time in place to keep all the various parts flowing together.."
March, 2007
Glenn Lehman led hymn singing at the Friday and Saturday sessions of the March 16 and 17, 2007, sessions of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference held on the campus of Lancaster Mennonite High School. Here he is seen leading from the piano. Many of the hymns were led vocally, without accompaniment.
Photo by Jonathan Charles.
